Parren James Mitchell

Congressman Parren Mitchell served Maryland’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1971 to 1987 (92nd-99th Congresses). He was the first African American to represent Maryland in Congress. He chaired the Congressional Black Caucus for the 95th Congress and was known for his support of small and minority businesses. He successfully advocated that minority contractors receive a designated percentage of public works projects. Mitchell served on the Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee, which provided a legislative voice for minority businesses, and chaired the Small Business Committee during the 97th-99th Congresses. He served on several other committees, including the Banking and Currency, Budget, Joint Defense Production, and Joint Economic committees. Mitchell was the first African American graduate student at the University of Maryland in College Park. He was able to attend the university and earn a master’s degree in sociology after suing the University of Maryland Graduate School for admittance with the advice of his brother Clarence Mitchell Jr., an NAACP official, Clarence’s mother-in-law, Lilly Mae Carroll Jackson, the Maryland State NAACP Director and Thurgood Marshall, future Supreme Court Justice, as counsel. During World War II, Mitchell served in the United States Army, receiving a Purple Heart for his service.