Mfume, Kweisi (1948- ), president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) (1996- ), the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the United States. Mfume stepped in to manage the NAACP at a time when the organization was suffering a severe loss of prestige. In 1986 Mfume, a Democrat, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he earned a reputation as a skillful and articulate lawmaker. He gained national attention as a leader of the Congressional Black Caucus from 1992 to 1994. In Congress, Mfume focused on the economic problems of the cities. In the 104th Congress (1995-1997), he served on the Banking and Financial Services Committee, as well as the Small Business Committee and the Joint Economic Committee. Mfume resigned from the House on February 18, 1996, to become president of the NAACP, which is based in Baltimore.
Kweisi Mfume