Carrie Meek
Carrie Meek | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 17th district | |
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003 | |
Preceded by | William Lehman |
Succeeded by | Kendrick Meek |
Member of the Florida Senate from the 36th district | |
In office November 2, 1982 – November 3, 1992 | |
Preceded by | Redistricted |
Succeeded by | William H. Turner |
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 106th district | |
In office March 27, 1979 – November 2, 1982 | |
Preceded by | Gwen Cherry |
Succeeded by | Redistricted |
Personal details | |
Born | Carrie Mae Pittman April 29, 1926 Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. |
Died | November 28, 2021 Miami, Florida, U.S. | (aged 95)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouses |
|
Children | 3, including Kendrick Meek |
Alma mater | (MS) |
Occupation |
|
Carrie Mae Pittman Meek (April 29, 1926 – November 28, 2021) was the
Early life and education
Carrie Mae Pittman
Meek was a graduate of
Academic career
After graduation from the University of Michigan, Meek was hired as a teacher at
Throughout her years as an educator, Meek was also active in community projects in the Miami area.[6]
Political career
Florida Legislature
When state representative Gwen Cherry, Florida's first woman African American legislator, died in a car crash in 1979,[7][8] Meek decided to run in the special election to succeed her. She was elected to the Florida House as a Democrat.[9] As a state representative, she introduced a bill criminalizing stalking.[2] She served until 1982.[9]
In 1982, Meek ran for a newly drawn state senate seat based in northern Dade County. She became the first African American woman elected to the Florida Senate.[3][10] As a state senator, Meek served on the education appropriations subcommittee. Her efforts in the legislature led to the construction of thousands of affordable rental housing units.[5]
U.S. House of Representatives
In 1992, a court-ordered congressional redistricting plan drew three districts with a substantial African American population that were designed to elect black candidates of choice to comply with the federal
Upon taking office, Meek faced the task of helping her district recover from Hurricane Andrew's devastation. Her efforts as the only freshman Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee helped to provide $100 million in federal assistance to rebuild Dade County.[12][10] Also while in the House, Meek successfully focused her attention on issues such as economic development, health care, education, and housing. She led legislation through Congress to improve Dade County's transit system, airport, and seaport; to construct a new family and childcare center in northern Dade County; and to fund advanced aviation training programs at Miami-Dade Community College. Meek emerged as a strong advocate for Haitian immigrants and senior citizens.[6]
Meek believed that her district was undercounted in the 1990
Meek never lost a race for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives.[12] She announced that she would not seek re-election in the 2002 election, and retired from the House at the end of her term in January 2003. Her son, Kendrick Meek, ran for her vacated seat and succeeded her.[11][10][14]
Personal life
Meek was married twice. Her husbands were Lucius Davis and Harold Meek. Both marriages ended in divorce.[3][15] She had three children, two daughters, Lucia Davis-Raiford and Sheila Davis, and a son, Kendrick Meek.[12]
Renown for liberal opinions, folksy yet powerful oratory, and colorful Republican bashing, once while discussing why she was a Democrat, she said, "The last Republican that did something for me was Abraham Lincoln".[16]
After her retirement from politics, she spent much of her time running the Carrie Meek Foundation, which she had founded in 2001 to provide resources and opportunities for those living in her Miami-Dade community. She stepped down due to health reasons in 2015.[12]
She died at her home in Miami on November 28, 2021, at the age of 95.[4][11][10]
Awards and honors
The Carrie Meek – James N. Eaton, Sr. Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum in Tallahassee, Florida, on the campus of Florida A&M University, was co-named in Meek's honor.[17]
She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, and an honorary member of Iota Phi Lambda sorority.[18]
Meek was also awarded honorary degrees by a number of institutions, including Florida A&M University, University of Miami, Barry University, Florida Atlantic University, and Rollins College.[12]
Electoral history
Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1992
|
Carrie P. Meek | 102,784 | 100% | (no candidate) | * | ||||
1994
|
Carrie P. Meek | 75,756 | 100% | (no candidate) | * | ||||
1996
|
Carrie P. Meek | 114,638 | 89% | Wellington Rolle | 14,525 | 11% | * | ||
1998
|
Carrie P. Meek | * | (no candidate) | ||||||
2000
|
Carrie P. Meek | 100,715 | 100% | (no candidate) | * |
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
References
- ^ "University of Michigan Official Publication". 51 (15–24). University of Michigan. 1949: 157. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
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(help) - ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Godown, Jan Florence (April 7, 1991). "A Few Moments With... Sen. Carrie Meek". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ a b LeBlanc, Paul; Fortinsky, Sarah (November 28, 2021). "Carrie Meek, trailblazing Black former congresswoman, dies at 95". CNN. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Booth, William (December 16, 1992). "The Strong Will of Carrie Meek". Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ a b Bade, Rachael, In Memoriam, Former Rep. Carrie Meek, Politico, November 29, 2021
- ^ Gaines-Carter, Patrice (February 14, 1979). "Gwen Cherry eulogized as a "deacon of hope"". The Miami News. palmbeachpost.newspapers.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ "Gwendolyn Sawyer Cherry". Florida Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
Gwendolyn Sawyer Cherry, The first African-American woman elected to the Florida Legislature, was also Dade County's first black female attorney. ... Cherry died in a Tallahassee car accident in 1979.
- ^ a b "1979 Journal". Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Langer, Emily (November 29, 2021). "Carrie P. Meek, pathbreaking Florida congresswoman, dies at 95". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ a b c Frisaro, Freida (November 28, 2021). "Carrie Meek, pioneering Black former congresswoman, dies". WJXT/Associated Press. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Padro Ocasio, Bianca; Charles, Jacqueline (November 29, 2021). "Carrie Meek, pioneering Miami congresswoman and champion of Black communities, dies at 95". Miami Herald. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ Electoral College Ballot Count (Video). Washington, D.C.: C-Span. January 6, 2001. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ^ "Black-American Familial Connections in Congress | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
Members Whose Children and Grandchildren Have Served in Congress ... Kendrick B. Meek of Florida, (2003–2011), son of Carrie P. Meek of Florida (1993–2003)
- ^ "B-CU series teaches students about show biz". Daytona Times. February 7, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ Frisaro, Freida, Carrie Meek, pioneering Black former congresswoman, dies, Associated Press (AP), November 28, 2021
- ^ "The Meek-Eaton Black Archives Founders | Those who laid the foundation for the Creation of the Meek-Eaton Black Archives". www.famu.edu. Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ "The Honorable Carrie P. Meek's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
External links
- United States Congress. "Carrie Meek (id: M000628)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives: "MEEK, Carrie P." history.house.gov.
- Appearances on C-SPAN