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The first member of South Fulton's City Council born, raised and educated South Fulton, Georgia, Councilman khalid (pronounced cuh-LEED) is "From here. For here." America's first #BlackLivesMatter organizer elected to public office, khalid is leading a generation of young activists from protests to politics in South Fulton, Georgia — Atlanta's new twin city & the Blackest City in America. This self-proclaimed Elected Activist has featured by CBS, The Nation, Jacobin, Governing Magazine and other national media.
With a population that is 90 percent African American, South Fulton, Georgia is now the blackest big city in America. khalid is a mission to make America's Blackest City Black. On Purpose — which means a city that is not just unapologetic about its demographics, but moving on purpose to be a laboratory for economic, housing and restorative justice policies aimed at improving the lives of African Americans. His vision is to build a real-life Wakanda that empowers its citizens' success like legendary African-American cities of Greenwood (Tulsa), Oklahoma or Rosewood, Florida. |
One of the first events khalid organized as a co-convener of Atlanta's #BlackLivesMatter chapter was an intergenerational dialogue with 1960 Civil Rights Leaders, including Congressman John Lewis
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Raised on Old National Highway, khalid attended the original Old National Christian Academy (on the grounds of what is now World Changer's Ministries), Love T. Nolan Elementary and Ronald E. McNair Middle schools. His father, Steve, is a retired City of Atlanta accountant, working under every Atlanta mayor from Kasim Reed to the legendary Maynard Jackson. His mother Elsie, who managed of Grady's Bankhead clinic for nearly 30 years, instilled in khalid Christ's teaching that "whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me."
khalid's lower-cased name comes from the Yoruba tradition, where the community is emphasized over the individual. Many people stumble over his Yoruba last name — pronounced cuh-MAH-oo — so citizens simply refer to him as "Councilman khalid." |
At Ithaca College in New York, khalid became well-known as a passionate defender of the working poor, women, LGBT people and the environment. A college semester abroad studying South Africa's post-Apartheid democracy sealed his lifelong commitment to social justice.
After college, khalid spent his early adulthood working as a Financial Analyst and Operations Manager for non-profit agencies in New York, Los Angeles & Atlanta, including Harlem United, Girls Prep Charter Schools, Morehouse College and the Black AIDS Institute before attending John Marshall Law School in Atlanta. khalid first became involved in City government through Maynard Jackson's Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) system. In 2005, under the tutelage of the inimitable Peggy Harper, he organized renters in Atlanta's rapidly gentrifying Mechanicsville neighborhood.  Atlanta Activists Shut Down KKK Rally at Stone Mountain Park
"When there’s a call to action on issues of social justice, some people stand silent while others lead. One such person who is ready to act is khalid."
-RollingOut.com When the economy took a downturn, khalid took a series of blue-collar jobs, working as bus driver for MARTA, and an AT&T Wire Tech, installing & repairing service in every weather condition. These jobs gave him first-hand experience with organized labor and unions fighting to hold on to living wages and employee benefits that are vanishing due to corporate greed. khalid's personal experience with America's — and Atlanta's — shrinking middle class, increased his compassion for working class families.
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What is in a Name?The Origin of Councilman khalid's unique name.
By middle school, khalid — a voracious reader since birth — began studying African History from the books in my father’s library. At 16, khalid asked his parents' permission to take African name as a way of reclaiming their family's African heritage & culture. His quick-witted mother responded: “When you turn 18 you can do anything you want.” So when he turned 18 during his first year at college, khalid went down the courthouse — and with the help of a friendly clerk in Fulton County's legal library — changed his name. He selected khalid, the name of a prince who united the Arabian peninsula and defeated European invaders during the Crusades. khalid means “Eternal.” kamau, his last name, is common Yoruba first name meaning, “Quiet Warrior.” It is all lower-cased in accordance with a Yoruba spiritual tradition that prioritizes the Community over the individual. For khalid, that a child activist would one day become an "Eternal Quiet Warrior" prioritizing Community over individuals would grow up in — and one day become the Councilman of — the heart of the largest commercial district of the Blackest City in America is evidence of the divine providence of God. |
Click Picture to Read New York Times Article
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khalid with Senator Bernie Sanders & President Jimmy Carter at Carter Center's Human Rights Forum
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Click Picture above to Listen to The Nation Magazine Interview
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In fact, it was his experience fighting the outsourcing of MARTA's Mobility Service workers that lead khalid into politics full time; first as labor activist with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), then as a volunteer with the Bernie Sanders campaign, the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America.
An activist with prophetic vision to pursue progressive policies ' in the streets & the suites,' khalid enrolled and graduated from Fulton County Citizens University, while being an active member of Atlanta Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) V (Mechanichsville), where he organized a neighborhood watch program; and NPUs P (Camp Creek) & L (Vine City), where he participated in Economic Development negotiations around the new Mercedes-Benz arena. khalid helped organize the Atlanta chapter of #BlackLivesMatter and served as a Field Organizer for the Georgia House Democratic Caucus. In 2016, he was elected as an At-Large Delegate to the Democratic National Convention. |
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After living and working in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, khalid returned to his childhood home in 2015 to help his mother take care of an aunt dying from congestive heart failure. In 2016, his mother Elsie was diagnosed with State 4 breast cancer. khalid took care of her at home, driving her to and from appointments while campaigning for City Council. Unfortunately, Elsie lost her battle with cancer in 2017, just one month after Councilman khalid was sworn into office.
In keeping with his promise on the campaign trail, Councilman khalid has never held another full-time job while in office, even though City Council paid only $13,000 per year. However, the demands of building a new city and staying connected to the 15,000 constituents of his Old National district forced him to quit his part-time work as a political consultant and sell his family home. As he turned 40 — entering his peak earning years and carrying over $60,000 of law school debt — khalid went on food stamps to continue serving his community. (Many families in his Old National district are on food stamps as well). |
His transparency about his financial struggles on social media gained national attention and garnered support from other local electeds, including Georgia Democratic Party Chair-turned Congressional candidate Nikema Williams. "I no longer use the term public servant," khalid explains. "Servant is a slave term. I am a public accountant. Any organization with $100 million in revenues who is paying their accountants $13,000 per year will not have good accountants for long."
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Studies published in 2000 and 2004 found states whose legislators are paid full-time salaries and are given more resources in terms of staff and budget meet more frequently, are more efficient, pass more legislation, have more contact with constituents and are more attentive to their concerns. They are also more likely to write their own legislation, as opposed to presenting legislation written by outside lobbyists. Low-paying legislatures tend to be less diverse, with fewer working-class representatives.
After co-sponsoring legislation to raise the minimum wage for all City employees to $15 per hour, khalid fought to raise City Council salaries to $27,000 per year. (Several current members of Mayor & Council voted against the move, but none have refused to accept the higher pay). khalid announced his campaign for Mayor to improve the quality of life for working class African Americans in front of his childhood home. |
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khalid & Dr. Cornel West at 2016 DNC Platform Meeting
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In his first three years in office, Councilman khalid authored legislation to make Election Day a full, paid Holiday — making South Fulton the first city in the South, and one of the first in the nation to do so. He created an annual, companion event called the Electoral College to teach citizens how local & state government works. He then led South Fulton to create a second, Paid City Holiday for Juneteenth.
A self-declared "Sewer Socialist," khalid created a Blighted Property Fund to demolished blighted & abandoned properties left standing for decades by county government, and sponsored legislation to secure $500,000 in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for affordable housing. He also co-sponsored and supported 8 Can't Wait legislation to end no-knock warrants and high-speed police chases in South Fulton, decriminalize marijuana for less than an ounce, "ban the box" asking applicants for city jobs about their previous criminal history and eliminate Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous People's Day. |
Councilman khalid Remembers Congressman John Lewis in CBS Tribute
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Days before his death, Congressman John Lewis penned a letter, published in the New York Times, in support of the Movement for Black Lives. This week Councilman khalid joined Oprah, Tyler Perry, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Trevor Noah and more to remember the legacy of John Lewis and discuss his marching orders for the next generation.
The one-hour special is currently re-airing on BET and OWN. Check your local listings or click the link below to watch on CBS All Access On Demand. |
A college-educated, community activist with a career in nonprofit management and experience in blue-collar jobs; a Southern, Black, Christian Socialist — Councilman khalid brings a unique blend of professionalism, passion and authenticity to government to build a table big enough for everyone to have a seat.
Help Councilman khalid make America's Blackest City Black On Purpose.