The first popularly elected African American mayor of Flint, Michigan, James A. Sharp, Jr. was born in New York City on May 28, 1933. His parents were James Alfred Sharpe and Clementine Banks Sharpe.
At the age of 18, James Sharp joined the United States Marines and remained with them until his retirement in 1977. Sharp saw military action in Korea and later in Vietnam. He was awarded three Navy commendation medals all inscribed with a “V” denoting valor. He also received a Purple Heart medal for wounds he received while stationed in Vietnam.
After his service in the Marines, Sharp settled in Flint, Michigan. He served as the principal aide to U.S. Senator Donald Reigle from 1971 to 1983. Riegle was a long-term Democratic politician who served five terms in the U.S. House or Representatives and three terms in the United States Senate.
In 1983 Sharp decided to enter politics and ran for mayor of Flint, Michigan. He was successful in his first attempt at elected office defeating the incumbent James W. Rutherford and became the first African-American elected to the office in a city-wide election. He served until 1987 when he was defeated in his campaign for re-election by Matthew S. Collier. In an interview Sharp stated, “I’m not a politician. I’m an administrator more than anything. I come from the problem-solving side of politics.”
During his time in office Sharp championed efforts to padlock drug houses and was recognized by the Urban League of Flint for affirmative action gains. Sharp guided Flint at a time when crime was high and the economy, hit by General Motors layoffs, was suffering. He was instrumental in the development of the Bishop Airport Authority. After his term as mayor ended, Sharp became a member of the Oakland University Board of Trustees. Oakland University is a public university situated in the greater Detroit area. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in numerous academic disciplines. Sharp served as Oakland University’s Board’s Chair from 1992 to 1994. In 2017 he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities Honoris Causa from Oakland University.
James Sharp was married to Tessie Baltrip Sharp for 55 years. His two sons, Oliver Quinton Sharpe and James Alfred Sharp III, preceded him in death. The couple also had two daughters: Dolly Sharpe-Barney and LaTanya Sharp. James A. Sharp, Jr. died on July 2, 2023 in Flint at the age of 90.
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“Flint Mourns Former Mayor James A. Sharp Jr 1933-2023”. https://focov.org/2023/08/flint-mourns-former-mayor-james-a-sharp-jr-1933-2023/
“Former Mayor James A. Sharp Jr.” https://www.lawrenceemoonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Mayor-James-Sharp-Jr/#!/Obituary
“Gracious and Grounded: Late Mayor James A. Sharp steered Flint through tough times”, https://www.lawrenceemoonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Mayor-James-Sharp-Jr/#!/Obituary
