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Charles RangelAmerican politician, member of the US House of Representatives
Date of Birth: 11.06.1930
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Charles Rangel
Early Life and EducationCharles Bernard "Charlie" Rangel, an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives, was born on June 11, 1930, in Harlem, New York. He was the second of three children in a Roman Catholic family. Rangel's father was unemployed and left the family when he was six years old, while his mother worked as a maid and a seamstress in a garment factory. Despite the challenges, Rangel excelled academically in elementary and high school.
Early Career and Military Service
At the age of eight, Rangel started working at a local pharmacy. In his later years of high school, he frequently skipped classes and often returned home accompanied by the police. Fortunately, Rangel's maternal grandfather had connections with judges and lawyers, which helped him avoid more serious legal problems. At the age of 16, Rangel dropped out of school and earned a living through various odd jobs, including selling shoes.
From 1948 to 1952, Rangel served in the United States Army during the Korean War as a soldier in the 503rd Field Artillery Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Division. He participated in battles, received multiple awards, and suffered several injuries. After returning from the army with the rank of Staff Sergeant, Rangel completed high school and obtained a Bachelor's degree from the New York School of Commerce in 1957. He went on to earn a Juris Doctor degree from St. John's University School of Law in 1960.
Political Career
Upon graduation, Rangel joined the prominent New York law firm "Weaver, Evans & Wingate," where he earned a modest income but gained a good reputation among African-American activists. He later held positions as a lawyer in a New York organization dealing with housing construction and restoration, Chief Counsel in the New York State Assembly, Assistant to Judge James L. Watson, and General Counsel in the National Advisory Commission on Selective Service.
Over time, Rangel's involvement in politics continued to grow. In 1964, he collaborated with his political mentor, Percy Sutton, a member of the New York State Assembly, to establish the John F. Kennedy Democratic Club in the city, later renamed the Martin Luther King Jr. Democratic Club. In 1970, Rangel ran for the United States House of Representatives and ultimately succeeded charismatic Democrat Adam Clayton Powell. He has held this position to this day.
As a politician, Rangel has demonstrated himself as a staunch liberal and a pragmatic deal-maker. He has consistently supported programs for more open trade relations. In the late 1950s, Rangel met his future wife, Alma Carter, at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. They married in July 1964 and have a son named Stephen, a daughter named Alicia, and three grandchildren.
