American political advisor
Adolph Mongo (born January 15, 1954) is “a prominent political voice in Detroit,”[1] 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.[2]
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.[3]
Education
In 1972, Mongo was awarded the WJR Scholarship in Broadcast Journalism as an incoming freshman at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.[3] In May 1976, Mongo graduated, receiving his bachelor's degree with honors.[3] Mongo later attended Wayne State University, where he received a master's degree in labor history in 1999.[3]
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.[3]
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.[4][5]
For seven (7) years, Mongo hosted "Detroit in Black & White," a two-hour radio show on 910 AM Superstation/WFDF.[6][7] In February 2023, Mongo left 910AM Superstation/WFDF and started a podcast titled "Detroit in Black and White."[8] The podcast first aired on February 25, 2023, and the first two (2) podcasts had over 3,000 hits.[9]
Mongo has also appeared on the CNBC television program "American Greed," as well as CNN's "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown."[10]
Mongo has been featured as an expert in Detroit politics by newspapers and publications throughout the United States, including: "PBS,"[11] "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,"[12] WDIV (NBC) "Flash Point," CBS Detroit,[13] and "The Detroit News" web program "Hold the Onions."
Two (2) 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.[3]
Mongo is spotlighted in chapter thirteen (13) of Tim Skubick's book, "See Dick and Jen Run" (2006).[14] 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."[3]
Political career
Mongo organized his first protest in April 1968, at the age of 14. When Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the administrators at Clinton Junior High School refused to allow students to leave school early to attend a church service. Mongo led a walkout by black students in protest. During his senior year in high school, Mongo ran a last minute write-in campaign for student mayor of Oak Park. Mongo won, making him the first African-American student to hold that office.
From 1984 until 1991, Mongo was deputy director of public information under Detroit mayor Coleman A. Young.[15]
Mongo was also a consultant for Matty Moroun, the owner of the Ambassador Bridge that links Detroit to Canada.[16] The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest international crossing in the U.S.
In 1998, Mongo led a protest against the Detroit Medical Center when a nursing supervisor at Sinai Hospital posted a sign outside a 74-year-old patient's room demanding that African-Americans, including medical personnel, be excluded from entering his room. The supervisor was later fired.[17]
In 2005, Mongo's attack advertisements were credited for Kwame Kilpatrick's upset win over Freman Hendrix.[citation needed]
In 2007, Mongo was instrumental in forcing the release of three (3) students wrongly accused of killing a woman from Taylor, Michigan. Mongo organized several protests that culminated in the Wayne County prosecutor, Kym Worthy, dropping the charges. The real killers were later arrested and sentenced to long prison terms.[18]
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. Mongo's complaint surrounded the "Great Expectations" Award Anthony gave to Kid Rock, a native metropolitan Detroiter, who has been known to fly the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. Mongo said. "Rev. Anthony is making it OK for people like Kid Rock to fly the ... flag." Mongo continued, "That flag stands for hate, racism and bigotry."[19]
In 2016, Mongo ran State Senator Coleman Young II's campaign for mayor of Detroit, against incumbent Mayor Mike Duggan.[20] 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.[21]
United States
United States Marine Corps
