Adolph Mongo

Adolph Mongo
Personal details
Born (1954-01-15) January 15, 1954 (age 70)
Detroit, Michigan
Political partyDemocratic Party
Residence(s)Detroit, Michigan
Alma mater
OccupationNewspaper reporter, radio host, political consultant, podcaster
WebsiteOfficial Website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Awards

Adolph Mongo (born January 15, 1954) is “a prominent political voice in Detroit,”[1] who has served as a political advisor, newspaper reporter, radio host, and podcaster. As of August 2023, Mongo resides in Detroit, Michigan.

Personal life

Mongo was born on January 15, 1954, in Detroit, Michigan, and was raised in Royal Oak Township where he attended Oak Park public schools.[2]

While a junior at Oak Park High School, Mongo was managing editor of "The Eagle American," the high school newspaper. Mongo was the first African-American student to hold the position. During his senior year, Mongo helped to lead the school to its first state championship in track, where he earned All State Honors.[3]

Education

In 1972, Mongo was awarded the WJR Scholarship in Broadcast Journalism as an incoming freshman at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.[3] In May 1976, Mongo graduated, receiving his bachelor's degree with honors.[3] Mongo later attended Wayne State University, where he received a master's degree in labor history in 1999.[3]

Military service

Following undergraduate, Mongo joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. Mongo received a certificate in photo journalism from the Defense Information School (DINFOS) in 1978.[3]

Media career

From 1978 until 1983, Mongo worked as a reporter for the "Colorado Springs Sun", "Frederick News-Post," the "South Haven (Michigan) Daily Tribune" and the "Michigan Chronicle" newspapers.[4][5]

For seven years, Mongo hosted "Detroit in Black & White," a two-hour radio show on 910 AM Superstation/WFDF.[6][7] In February 2023, Mongo left 910AM Superstation/WFDF and started a podcast titled "Detroit in Black and White."[1] The podcast first aired on February 25, 2023, and the first two podcasts had over 3,000 hits.[1]

Mongo has also appeared on the CNBC television program "American Greed," as well as CNN's "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown."[8]

Mongo has been featured as an expert in Detroit politics by newspapers and publications throughout the United States, including: "PBS,"[9] "The Weekly Standard," "The New York Times," "The Washington Post," and "GQ."

Mongo has contributed as a columnist to "The Detroit News," "The Michigan Chronicle," "The Michigan Citizen," "Deadline Detroit," and has been a regular guest on 92.3 FM (WMXD), Fox 2 News "Let It Rip,"[10] WDIV (NBC) "Flash Point," CBS Detroit,[11] and "The Detroit News" web program "Hold the Onions."

Two of Mongo's newspaper advertisements, "Lynching is Still Legal in America" and "Sometimes a handshake and an acknowledgment makes a difference," sparked nationwide controversy in 2005 and 2006.[3]

Mongo is spotlighted in chapter thirteen of Tim Skubick's book, "See Dick and Jen Run" (2006).[12] Skubick highlights Mongo's involvement in the 2006 race for Michigan governor. Mongo is also featured in Charlie LeDuff's, book, "Detroit: An American Autopsy," in a chapter titled "Mongo."[3]

Political career

In April, 1968, after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Mongo organized a walkout in his school to protest the administration's decision not to let students leave early to attend church service. During his senior year in high school, Mongo was elected student mayor of Oak Park. Mongo won, making him the first African-American student to hold that office.[citation needed]

From 1984 until 1991, Mongo was deputy director of public information under Detroit mayor Coleman A. Young.[13]

Mongo was also a consultant for Matty Moroun, the owner of the Ambassador Bridge that links Detroit to Canada.[14] The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest international crossing in the U.S.

In 1998, Mongo led a protest against the Detroit Medical Center after a supervisor at Sinai Hospital posted a sign stating "no black people allow" outside a patient's room. The supervisor was later fired.[15][better source needed]

In 2007, Mongo campaigned for the release of three black students falsely accused of killing a woman from Taylor, Michigan.[15][better source needed]

In April 2011, Mongo led a boycott against the Detroit NAACP's 56th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner and called for NAACP president Rev. Wendell Anthony to resign his position after Anthony had honoured Kid Rock at a dinner. Mongo said that Anthony's actions were "making it OK for people like Kid Rock to fly the … confederate flag".[16] Kid Rock had previously displayed the Confederate flag in concerts.[17]

In 2016, Mongo ran State Senator Coleman Young II's campaign for mayor of Detroit, against incumbent Mayor Mike Duggan.[18] In 2018, Mongo was the campaign manager for Coleman Young II's campaign for the Democratic nomination in Michigan's 13th Congressional District. The seat was vacant, due to the resignation of John Conyers.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b c Marina Johnson (March 15, 2023). "Prominent political pundit, radio host launches new podcast about Detroit". Detroit Free Press.
  2. ^ Adolph Mongo (November 14, 2013). "Adolph Mongo: Warts and All, Bourdain's Show Good For Detroit". Deadline Detroit.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g LeDuff, Charlie (2013). "Mongo". Detroit:An American Autopsy. Penquin. ISBN 978-0143124467.
  4. ^ "Adolph Mongo: Key player in Kwame Kilpatrick trial". Click On Detroit. September 10, 2012.
  5. ^ Steve Neavling (March 14, 2023). "Ex-radio host Adolph Mongo launches new podcast to take on Detroit politics, current events". Detroit Metro Times.
  6. ^ "Full On-Air Line Up". 910AM. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  7. ^ Steve Neavling (March 14, 2023). "Ex-radio host Adolph Mongo launches new podcast to take on Detroit politics, current events". Detroit Metro Times.
  8. ^ "Adolph Mongo". IMDb.
  9. ^ Orlando Bailey (February 21, 2023). "Detroit's Black political representation: Past and present". PBS.
  10. ^ Charlie Langton (October 26, 2021). "Political insider Adolph Mongo breaks down the Detroit City Council election races". Fox 2 Detroit.
  11. ^ Jeff Skversky (July 25, 2023). "Jamie Roe, Adolph Mongo examine Jan. 6 special counsel investigation". CBS Detroit.
  12. ^ Skubick, Tim (2013). See Dick and Jen Run: The 2006 Michigan Race for Governor. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0472116072.
  13. ^ "Who would want this job?". No place to go, but up. ESPN.
  14. ^ Dave Battagello (August 25, 2009). "Bridge consultant moves to oust Detroit political foe". Windsor Star.
  15. ^ a b "Adolph Mongo, Announces Upcoming Book". Adolph Mongo, Political Consultant. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015.
  16. ^ "Prominent Political Consultant Tells Detroit To Shuck Off UAW, Democratic Party". CBS Detroit. July 9, 2014.
  17. ^ "Kid Rock: Confederate flag was dropped years before protest". Freep.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  18. ^ Chad Livengood (February 24, 2017). "Young to take on Duggan in Detroit mayoral bid". Crain's Detroit Business.
  19. ^ Paul Egan. "Sen. Coleman Young of Detroit to seek congressional seat vacated by John Conyers". Detroit Free Press.
    - "Governor calls special election for Conyers seat". ABC 2. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.