Adolph Mongo

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Adolph Mongo

| image =

| caption = Adolph Mongo

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1954|1|15}}

| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan

| death_date =

| death_place =

| residence = Detroit, Michigan

| occupation = Newspaper reporter, radio host, political consultant, podcaster

| party = Democratic Party

| spouse =

| alma_mater = {{Plainlist|

University of Michigan (B.G.S.)
Defense Information School {{Small|(Photo-Journalism Certificate)}}
Wayne State University {{Small|(MA)}}

}}

| allegiance = {{Flagu|United States}}

| branch = {{flag|United States Marine Corps}}

| serviceyears =

| rank =

| unit =

| battles =

| mawards = 35px

| website = [http://adolphmongo.biz Official Website]

}}

Adolph Mongo (born January 15, 1954) is “a prominent political voice in Detroit,”{{cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2023/03/15/detroit-black-white-adolph-mongo-political-podcast/70012769007/|title=Prominent political pundit, radio host launches new podcast about Detroit|author=Marina Johnson|date=March 15, 2023|website=Detroit Free Press}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/7219/adolph_mongo_warts_and_all_the_anthony_bourdain_show_was_good_for_detroit#.WdUsoVRSzcs|title=Adolph Mongo: Warts and All, Bourdain's Show Good For Detroit|website=Deadline Detroit|author=Adolph Mongo|date=November 14, 2013}}

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.{{cite book|last=LeDuff|first=Charlie|date=2013|title=Detroit:An American Autopsy|chapter=Mongo|publisher=Penquin|isbn=978-0143124467}}

Education

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

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.

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2012/09/10/adolph-mongo/|title=Adolph Mongo: Key player in Kwame Kilpatrick trial|author= |date=September 10, 2012|website=Click On Detroit}}{{cite news|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/news/ex-radio-host-adolph-mongo-launches-new-podcast-to-take-on-detroit-politics-current-events-32608848|title=Ex-radio host Adolph Mongo launches new podcast to take on Detroit politics, current events|author= Steve Neavling|date=March 14, 2023|website=Detroit Metro Times}}

For seven years, Mongo hosted "Detroit in Black & White," a two-hour radio show on 910 AM Superstation/WFDF.{{cite web|url=http://www.910amsuperstation.com/on-air-hosts/full-on-air-line-up/|title=Full On-Air Line Up|publisher=910AM|access-date=December 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223234645/http://www.910amsuperstation.com/on-air-hosts/full-on-air-line-up/|archive-date=December 23, 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/news/ex-radio-host-adolph-mongo-launches-new-podcast-to-take-on-detroit-politics-current-events-32608848|title=Ex-radio host Adolph Mongo launches new podcast to take on Detroit politics, current events|author=Steve Neavling|date=March 14, 2023|website=Detroit Metro Times}} In February 2023, Mongo left 910AM Superstation/WFDF and started a podcast titled "Detroit in Black and White." The podcast first aired on February 25, 2023, and the first two podcasts had over 3,000 hits.

Mongo has also appeared on the CNBC television program "American Greed," as well as CNN's "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown."{{cite news|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9320122/|title=Adolph Mongo|author= |date= |website=IMDb}}

Mongo has been featured as an expert in Detroit politics by newspapers and publications throughout the United States, including: "PBS,"{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/video/detroits-black-political-representation-past-and-present-skm/|title=Detroit's Black political representation: Past and present|author=Orlando Bailey|date=February 21, 2023|website=PBS}} "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,"{{cite news|url=https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/994279|title=Political insider Adolph Mongo breaks down the Detroit City Council election races|author=Charlie Langton|date=October 26, 2021|website=Fox 2 Detroit}} WDIV (NBC) "Flash Point," CBS Detroit,{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/video/jamie-roe-adolph-mongo-examine-jan-6-special-counsel-investigation/|title=Jamie Roe, Adolph Mongo examine Jan. 6 special counsel investigation|author=Jeff Skversky|date=July 25, 2023|website=CBS Detroit}} 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.

Mongo is spotlighted in chapter thirteen of Tim Skubick's book, "See Dick and Jen Run" (2006).{{cite book |last=Skubick|first=Tim|date=2013|title=See Dick and Jen Run: The 2006 Michigan Race for Governor|publisher=University of Michigan Press|isbn=978-0472116072}} 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."

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|date=October 2024}}

From 1984 until 1991, Mongo was deputy director of public information under Detroit mayor Coleman A. Young.{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=090430/bing|title=Who would want this job?|website=No place to go, but up|publisher=ESPN}}

Mongo was also a consultant for Matty Moroun, the owner of the Ambassador Bridge that links Detroit to Canada.{{cite news|url=https://windsorstar.com/news/bridge-consultant-moves-to-oust-detroit-political-foe|title=Bridge consultant moves to oust Detroit political foe|author=Dave Battagello|date=August 25, 2009|website=Windsor Star}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.adolphmongo.biz/p/adolph-mongo-announces-upcoming-book.html|title= Adolph Mongo, Announces Upcoming Book |website=Adolph Mongo, Political Consultant|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923013835/http://www.adolphmongo.biz/p/adolph-mongo-announces-upcoming-book.html|archivedate=September 23, 2015}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=October 2024}}

In 2007, Mongo campaigned for the release of three black students falsely accused of killing a woman from Taylor, Michigan.{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=October 2024}}

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".{{cite news|url=http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/07/09/prominent-political-consultant-tells-detroit-to-shuck-off-uaw-democratic-party/|title=Prominent Political Consultant Tells Detroit To Shuck Off UAW, Democratic Party|website=CBS Detroit |date=July 9, 2014}} Kid Rock had previously displayed the Confederate flag in concerts.{{cite web |title=Kid Rock: Confederate flag was dropped years before protest |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/07/16/kid-rock-flown-confederate-flag-five-years/30226159/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619114450/https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/07/16/kid-rock-flown-confederate-flag-five-years/30226159/ |archive-date=June 19, 2018 |access-date=February 1, 2018 |website=Freep.com}}

In 2016, Mongo ran State Senator Coleman Young II's campaign for mayor of Detroit, against incumbent Mayor Mike Duggan.{{cite web|url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20170224/NEWS/170229899/young-to-take-on-duggan-in-detroit-mayoral-bid|title=Young to take on Duggan in Detroit mayoral bid|author=Chad Livengood|date=February 24, 2017|website=Crain's Detroit Business}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2017/12/08/coleman-young-detroit-john-conyers-election/933968001/|title=Sen. Coleman Young of Detroit to seek congressional seat vacated by John Conyers|work=Detroit Free Press|author=Paul Egan|date= }}
- {{cite news|url=http://www.wbay.com/content/news/Son-of-late-Detroit-Mayor-Young-to-run-for-Conyers-seat-462810773.html|title=Governor calls special election for Conyers seat|website=ABC 2|access-date=December 9, 2017|archive-date=December 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208211049/http://www.wbay.com/content/news/Son-of-late-Detroit-Mayor-Young-to-run-for-Conyers-seat-462810773.html|url-status=dead}}

References

External links

{{IMDb name|9320122}}
{{YouTube|jv_nqM1upDk|Political Round Table}}
[http://www.theaapc.org/membership/join/ The Association of Political and Public Affairs Professionals]
[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-99611930.html PR News wire Press Release]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
[https://archive.today/20070510150322/http://www.mediamouse.org/griid/electionwatch2006.php?tv_id=342 Media Mouse Election Watch]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20090307221043/http://www.dptv.org/ondemand/air/airvod0507.shtml Detroit Public TV]
[http://content.usatoday.com/topics/more+stories/Adolph+Mongo/1 USA Today]
[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/adolph/mongo LinkedIn]