R.I.P Marion Barry

Marion Barry was very influential politician in DC. He was well known and respected across the world. He was the cause of things like the summer youth employment program and an advocate for African- Americans during the civil rights era, president of the city's old board of education, placed many women and African-American in middle class and high power positions in the city government. He was a key player in the overall betterment of DC.

Although Marion had trouble with the law he was still a completely capable leader. He should not be judged on his tribulations because everyone has their own issues. He proved himself to be a great leader in DC and that should not be over looked because of some problems he ran into in the past. One of the reason he was such a great leader was because he was a common man. He remained an active community member even after his reputation was tarnished by the media. In the words of Marion Barry he was still able to “walk with kings” and not “lose the common touch,” a quote from “If” a poem by Rudyard Kipling. TMZ reporting his death as "Crackhead Mayor dies" is just an example of ignorance of the media and why people should'nt judge others based off of what they hear.