Mel King embodied a paradox: he was a massively influential activist, organizer and candidate — but he also believed politics work best when ordinary people stop looking to leaders for solutions and take control of their own destinies instead.
Adam Reilly is joined by former Mayor Ray Flynn, who ran against King in Boston's landmark 1983 mayoral race, and former Mayor Kim Janey, who volunteered for King's 1983 campaign and later became the first woman and Black Bostonian to lead the city. They discuss King's achievements over a career that spanned decades, the unique worldview that drove him throughout his time in public life, and how the civic fabric of Boston today reflects King's work.
"The fact that there was a Mayor Janey — that is in ... Iarge part because of the doors that he opened up in the city," Janey said. "The fact that there's a Mayor [Michelle] Wu...those were the seeds that Mel King planted."
How do you think Mel King changed Boston? And what other topics would you like to see discussed on Talking Politics? Send us a message at TalkingPolitics@wgbh.org, or share your thoughts via the Talking Politics page.
You can watch the discussion below right now, or catch the full show at 7 p.m. on GBH 2 or on the GBH News YouTube Channel. Subscribe to the GBH News’ YouTube channel to get alerted to future episodes.
