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{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Short description|American politician}}

[[Image:Van Freeman White Statue.JPG|thumb|A statue of White that sits in City Hall]]
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Van Freeman White
| honorific_suffix =
| image = 11.17.2023 - Van Freeman White Bust at Minneapolis City Hall (53432000511).jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Bust of Van White at Minneapolis City Hall
| birth_date = August 2, 1924
| death_date = July 14, 1993
| order =
| office = Alderman of the [[Minneapolis City Council]] from Ward 5
| term_start = 1980
| term_end = 1989
| party = [[Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party|Democratic (DFL)]]
| spouse = Javanese White
| children = 2
| predecessor =
| successor = Jackie Cherryhomes
}}

'''Van Freeman White''' (August 2, 1924 – July 14, 1993) was a [[politician]] from [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]. He was the first [[African-American]] to be elected to the [[Minneapolis City Council]], serving from 1980–1989.
'''Van Freeman White''' (August 2, 1924 – July 14, 1993) was a [[politician]] from [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]. He was the first [[African-American]] to be elected to the [[Minneapolis City Council]], serving from 1980–1989.


==Life and career==
==Life and career==


White was born in North Minneapolis in 1924. His father died when he was 10 years old leaving him, the eldest of his five siblings, responsible to help take care of the family. He attended [[Patrick Henry High School (Minneapolis)|Patrick Henry High School]], graduating in 1943 and later working in construction. He became involved with several North Minneapolis community organizations and also began working with the [[Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development|Minnesota Department of Economic Security]].<ref name=obit>{{cite news|last1=Duchschere|first1=Kevin|title=Van White, Minneapolis' first black on council, dies|work=Minneapolis Star-Tribune|date=15 July 1993}}</ref>
White was born in North Minneapolis in 1924. His father died when he was 10 years old leaving him, the eldest of his five siblings, responsible to help take care of the family. He attended [[Camden High School (Minneapolis)|Camden High School]], graduating in 1943 and later working in construction. White married his wife Javanese White in 1955 and had 2 children: son Perri White and daughter Javoni White. Before going into politics, White worked with the [[Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development|Minnesota Department of Economic Security]].<ref name=obit>{{cite news|last1=Duchschere|first1=Kevin|title=Van White, Minneapolis' first black on council, dies|work=Minneapolis Star-Tribune|date=15 July 1993}}</ref> He also became involved with several North Minneapolis community organizations; in 1971, he founded the Willard Homewood Organization in [[Willard-Hay, Minneapolis|Willard-Hay]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Biographical note: Van F. White |url=http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00299.xml |website=Minnesota Historical Society |access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref>


White won a city council seat in 1979. He encouraged commercial development in his North Minneapolis ward and also supported new housing developments, parks and school buildings. White died in 1993 at his home in North Minneapolis.<ref name=obit/> He is survived by his wife Javanese White, 2 children son Perri White and daughter Javoni White children and 1 granddaughter Kapria White
White won a city council seat in 1979, in a race guaranteed to elect the city's first Black alderman.<ref name="legacy-minnpost-2012">{{cite news |last1=Boros |first1=Karen |title=Van White’s legacy runs deeper than his historic Minneapolis City Council breakthrough |url=https://www.minnpost.com/two-cities/2012/06/van-whites-legacy-runs-deeper-his-historic-minneapolis-city-council-breakthrough/ |access-date=4 December 2024 |date=June 13, 2012}}</ref> He encouraged commercial development in his North Minneapolis ward and also supported new housing developments, parks and school buildings. White died in 1993 at his home in North Minneapolis.<ref name=obit/>


Van White Memorial Boulevard, a street in Minneapolis's [[Near North, Minneapolis|Near North]] community, is named in his honor.<ref name=road>{{cite web|last1=Boros|first1=Karen|title=Minneapolis’ new Van White road is a short one with long legacy|url=https://www.minnpost.com/two-cities/2012/06/minneapolis%E2%80%99-new-van-white-road-short-one-long-legacy|website=MinnPost}}</ref>
Van White Memorial Boulevard, a street in Minneapolis's [[Near North, Minneapolis|Near North]] community, is named in his honor.<ref name=road>{{cite web|last1=Boros|first1=Karen|title=Minneapolis' new Van White road is a short one with long legacy|url=https://www.minnpost.com/two-cities/2012/06/minneapolis%E2%80%99-new-van-white-road-short-one-long-legacy|website=MinnPost}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:1993 deaths]]
[[Category:1993 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Minnesota politicians]]

Latest revision as of 04:43, 19 December 2024

Van Freeman White
Bust of Van White at Minneapolis City Hall
Alderman of the Minneapolis City Council from Ward 5
In office
1980–1989
Succeeded byJackie Cherryhomes
Personal details
BornAugust 2, 1924
DiedJuly 14, 1993
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
SpouseJavanese White
Children2

Van Freeman White (August 2, 1924 – July 14, 1993) was a politician from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the first African-American to be elected to the Minneapolis City Council, serving from 1980–1989.

Life and career

[edit]

White was born in North Minneapolis in 1924. His father died when he was 10 years old leaving him, the eldest of his five siblings, responsible to help take care of the family. He attended Camden High School, graduating in 1943 and later working in construction. White married his wife Javanese White in 1955 and had 2 children: son Perri White and daughter Javoni White. Before going into politics, White worked with the Minnesota Department of Economic Security.[1] He also became involved with several North Minneapolis community organizations; in 1971, he founded the Willard Homewood Organization in Willard-Hay.[2]

White won a city council seat in 1979, in a race guaranteed to elect the city's first Black alderman.[3] He encouraged commercial development in his North Minneapolis ward and also supported new housing developments, parks and school buildings. White died in 1993 at his home in North Minneapolis.[1]

Van White Memorial Boulevard, a street in Minneapolis's Near North community, is named in his honor.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Duchschere, Kevin (15 July 1993). "Van White, Minneapolis' first black on council, dies". Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
  2. ^ "Biographical note: Van F. White". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  3. ^ Boros, Karen (June 13, 2012). "Van White's legacy runs deeper than his historic Minneapolis City Council breakthrough". Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  4. ^ Boros, Karen. "Minneapolis' new Van White road is a short one with long legacy". MinnPost.
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