Charles Evers
| Charles Evers | |
|---|---|
Evers in October 2009
|
|
| Mayor of the City of Fayette | |
|
In office 1985–1989 |
|
| Preceded by | Kennie Middleton |
| Succeeded by | Kennie Middleton |
|
In office 1969–1981 |
|
| Preceded by | R. J. Allen |
| Succeeded by | Kennie Middleton |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Charles Evers September 11, 1922 Decatur, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican (1978–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent (1969–1978) Democratic (before 1960s) |
| Spouse(s) | Christine Evers (annulled) Nannie Laurie (m. 1951; div. 1974) |
| Relations | Medgar Evers, Myrlie Evers-Williams |
| Residence | Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Alcorn State University |
| Occupation | Civil rights activist |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Battles/wars | World War II |
James Charles Evers (born September 11, 1922) is an American civil rights activist and former politician. A Republican, Evers was known for his role in the Civil Rights Movement along with his younger brother Medgar Evers. He was made the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) State Voter Registration Chairman in 1954. After his brother's assassination in 1963, Evers took over his position as field director of the NAACP in Mississippi. As field director, Evers organized and led many demonstrations for the rights of African Americans.
In 1969, Evers was named “Man of the Year” by the NAACP. In 1969, Evers was elected in Fayette, Mississippi as the first African-American mayor in the state in the post-Reconstruction era, following passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which enforced constitutional rights for citizens. He unsuccessfully ran for governor in 1971 and the United States Senate in 1978, both times as an Independent candidate. In 1989, Evers was defeated for re-election after serving nearly twenty years as mayor.
Evers was born in Decatur in Newton County in east central Mississippi, Evers was reared by devoutly Christian parents, Jesse (Wright) and James Evers. He had a younger brother Medgar, with whom he was close. They attended segregated public schools, which were typically underfunded in Mississippi following the exclusion of African Americans from the political system by disenfranchisement after 1890. Evers graduated from Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi.
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