Ronald Chisom

Ronald Chisom (also known as Ron Chisom) is an African American author, civil rights activist and a community organizer who was involved in fighting for justice and equality for marginalized communities in the United States.[1][2] He was a co-founder of People's Institute for Survival and Beyond.[3][1][4] and a medical researcher at Louisiana State University Medical School.[5] Born in 1941 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Chisom grew up in a segregated society that was affected by racism and discrimination.[5][6]

Ronald Chisom
Born1941
New Orleans
NationalityAmerica
CitizenshipAfrican-American
Known forChisom V. Roemer case
Co-founding People's Institute for Survival and Beyond
Scientific career
FieldsMedical researcher
InstitutionsLouisiana State University Medical School

Family

Chisom is married to Jerolie Encalade Chisom with whom they have one daughter, Tiphanie Chisom-Eugene.[1]

The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond: PISAB

Chisom was involved in the civil rights movement in the 1960s,[6] working alongside leaders such as Saul Alinsky[7] to advance the cause of racial justice. In 1980, Chisom and Dr. Jim Dunn co-founded the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond, an organization that pursued anti-racism education and community organizing.[8][4][3] The organization held trainings and workshops in communities, churches and schools.[9]

Chisom v. Roemer

In 1986, Ronald Chisom filed a case to challenge the at-large voting system[10] used in Louisiana's 4th congressional district against Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer, the Louisiana Secretary of State, and other state officials.[11] In the case, Chisom argued that the at-large voting system violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibited voting practices that discriminate based on race.[12][13]

The US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana ruled in favor of Chisom, finding that the at-large voting system had a discriminatory effect on African American voters and violated the Voting Rights Act. The court ordered that the 4th congressional district be redrawn with single-member districts to provide better representation for African American voters.[14]

In 1991, the case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which reversed the district court's ruling. The Supreme Court held that the plaintiffs had not met their burden of proof in showing that the at-large voting system was intentionally discriminatory.[15][16]

Following the ruling, the federal court adopted the Chisom Consent Decree 1992[17] to allow Black voters in the state to have an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the Louisiana Supreme Court.[18] In 2022, Louisiana AG’s moved a motion to dissolve Chisom Consent decree.[19][20]

Awards and honors

Publications
  • Undoing Racism: A Philosophy of International Social Change · Volume 1 (1997)[25]
  • Undoing Racism: An International Philosophy of Social Change by the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond (1996)[26]

References
  1. "Our Founders – PISAB". Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  2. "Our History – PISAB". Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  3. Lovchik, John (October 11, 2018). Racism: Reality Built on a Myth. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN 978-1-5326-4822-9.
  4. Fong, Rowena; Dettlaff, Alan J.; James, Joyce; Rodriguez, Carolyne (November 25, 2014). Addressing Racial Disproportionality and Disparities in Human Services: Multisystemic Approaches. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-53707-0.
  5. "The Petra Foundation | Ron Chisom". petrafoundation.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  6. Tabachnik, Sam (December 13, 2013). "What's 'white privilege' all about? The People's Institute offers tough insights". The Lens. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  7. "Ron Chisom | Ashoka | Everyone a Changemaker". www.ashoka.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  8. Arena, John (2012). Driven from New Orleans: How Nonprofits Betray Public Housing and Promote Privatization. U of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0-8166-7747-4.
  9. "Workshop aims to undo racism".
  10. Wesley, Ruth Bailey (1991). "The Louisiana Judiciary and the Voting Rights Act: Casting a Vote of Import, Chison v. Roemer". Southern University Law Review. 18: 255.
  11. "Ronald Chisom, et al., Plaintiffs-appellants, United States of America, Plaintiff-intervenor-appellant, v. Charles E. "buddy" Roemer, Iii, in His Capacity As Governor of the State of Louisiana, et al., Defendants-appellees, 917 F.2d 187 (5th Cir. 1990)". Justia Law. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  12. "Arguments on deal that put Black justice on Louisiana court". AP NEWS. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  13. Stole, Bryn (September 22, 2019). "District lines for Louisiana's Supreme Court justices are under fire; here's why". NOLA.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  14. Muller, Wesley (February 28, 2023). "5th Circuit will hear decades-long case over Black seat on La. Supreme Court". Louisiana Illuminator. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  15. Jones, Daryl (January 1, 1991). "Recent Developments: Chisom v. Roemer: Judicial Elections Covered within Meaning of "Representatives" in Voters' Rights Act". University of Baltimore Law Forum. 22 (2).
  16. "Ronald CHISOM, et al., Petitioners, v. Charles E. ROEMER, Governor of Louisiana, et al. UNITED STATES, Petitioner, v. Charles E. ROEMER, Governor of Louisiana, et al". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  17. Franckiewicz, Victor J. Jr (1992–1993). "Chisom v. Roemer - The Elected Judiciary Is Subject to Vote Dilution Claims under the Voting Rights Act". Loyola Law Review. 38: 211.
  18. "United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit" (PDF). September 17, 2021.
  19. "LDF & Other Advocates Oppose Louisiana AG's Motion to Dissolve Historic Decree Ensuring Black Electoral Representation on Louisiana Supreme Court". Legal Defense Fund. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  20. "Black Voters At Risk If La. Decree Ends, 5th Circ. Told – Law360". www.law360.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  21. "HSA2013". Seattle Human Services Coalition. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  22. "Undoing Racism Workshop". Welcome to Mary Pender Greene, LCSW-R, CGP President and CEO of MPG Consulting. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  23. Bean, Jason (November 21, 2016). "Undoing Racism Speakers Series Part 4". Child Advocates. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  24. "2019 Thomas Merton Award". thomasmertoncenter. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  25. Chisom, Ronald (1997). Undoing Racism: A Philosophy of International Social Change. People's Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-9653305-1-0.
  26. Washington, Michael; Chisom, Ronald (August 1996). Undoing Racism: An International Philosophy of Social Change by the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond. Michael Washington. ISBN 978-0-9653305-0-3.

Further reading
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