Wiley Immanuel Lash - first African American Mayor
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fatcat161
N 35° 40.097 W 080° 28.131
17S E 548071 N 3947287
Plaque honoring Wiley Immanuel Lash, Salisbury's first African American Mayor.
Waymark Code: WM6317
Location: North Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 03/24/2009
Views: 6
Wiley Immanuel Lash
Businessman * Political Activist * Humanitarian
First African-American Mayor of Salisbury
Wiley Immanuel Lash (1908-1995), son of Reverend Wiley Hezekiah and Mayzonetta “Mary” Grundy Lash received his education at a local black parochial school and Livingstone College. He rose to political prominence in the Negro Civic League where he spearheaded a drive to register voters and worked for better facilities, jobs, and schools for black citizens. Widely respected in the community, Lash advocated peaceful integration in the 1960s. After serving 15 years on the Board of Education, he was elected to the City Council in 1979 and was appointed mayor pro tem. Lash became mayor in 1981 and upon finishing his term in 1985, he was named Salisbury’s first honorary mayor.
For years Lash owned and operated a self-service grocery at 129 East Council Street. The store was an informal hub for political activism and a place where the deserving poor were never turned away.
“Let us start anew, and so live that all our ties bind us to the life that is noble for ourselves and for humanity” – Wiley Lash
FIRST - Classification Variable: Person or Group
Date of FIRST: 01/01/1981
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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