Influential NC political group gets new leaders. You may know some of their names.
A new leader is taking the helm of one of Durham’s most prominent political-advocacy organizations.
Attorney Floyd B. McKissick Jr. will become chair of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People in January. He said in an interview that he will work “to make Durham a better place to live for everyone.”
“I look forward to serving and look forward to, more importantly, listening attentively to the voices in our community,” he said.
The Durham Committee dates to 1935 and is influential in local politics, where its endorsements can weigh heavily during election and budget seasons. Most of Durham votes Democratic, and historically the city has about an even number of Black and white residents.
McKissick will take over from Walter Jackson, who served for two years. Jackson told The News & Observer he hopes the Durham Committee will serve an even bigger role in “shaping the future of our city and particularly its African American citizens.”
“Mr. Jackson has done a great job. The thing to do is to build upon that,” McKissick said.
Jackson, who is now retired after a long and varied career, said his chairmanship was always meant to be temporary.
“I think I have done what was needed from me, and I’m ready to move on to what’s next,” Jackson said. “I’ve gotten very behind in my personal life in many ways, so the main thing I need to do is start catching up some.”
Who is Floyd McKissick Jr.?
McKissick, 72, is the son of the late Floyd McKissick Sr., a key leader in the Civil Rights Movement. In his youth, he helped integrate the local public schools.
“We have made tremendous progress in the last 60 years,” McKissick Jr. said in a 2023 interview. “But we’re not where we need to be. We’re not yet that colorblind society where people are judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. We still have a lot of work to do.”
McKissick served in the North Carolina Senate from 2007 to 2019, and was on the Durham City Council before that. He is now on the N.C. Utilities Commission and has remained active in local politics.
His experience gives him a deep understanding of how the various layers of government function, which will help on issues like economic development, affordable housing, public education and anti-violence initiatives, he said.
McKissick said he will prioritize building relationships with elected officials and getting more young people involved in local politics.
“We have a lot of people who have been active and involved for many years, but I think the extent to which we can engage younger people would be excellent, to get their ideas, but more importantly, to get them into leadership positions,” McKissick said.
Several other former elected officials were chosen as Durham Committee officers and committee chairs during the group’s December meeting:
- Former County Commissioner Nimasheena Burns
- Former Mayor Elaine O’Neal.
- Former City Council member Monique Holsey-Hyman
- Former Board of Education member Fredrick Davis
- Former City Council and Board of Education member Jackie Wagstaff
Terms last two years.
