Grenada mayor is making city history being 1st Black male in office
GRENADA, Miss. (WCBI) – Since its founding, more than 20 people have served as Mayor of the City of Grenada.
But among those, the current Mayor, Charles Latham, has made history.
When he was elected, Charles Latham became the first Black man to fill the post.
He said others paved the way for him; now it’s his time to serve his community.
While Mayor Charles Latham made history by being the first black man to be elected, his inspiration to run for the position was Dianna Freelon-Foster, who was the first African American and, so far, the only woman to serve as mayor of the city.
“Whether it is to become the mayor of the city, or whether it’s become a state representative, state senator, US congressman, US senator, pursue it,” Latham said.
Charles Latham ran for mayor of Grenada three times before finally winning the election in 2024.
His victory marked the first time in more than 20 years that an African American had been in the Mayor’s Office.
That predecessor was Dianna Freelon-Foster.
Latham said her election motivated him to start serving in the community and ultimately, to run for mayor.
“You can’t be thinking about yourself, you see,” Latham said. “And people have to be first and foremost in your mind. God has to be in your man and has to come from your heart. She has such a eloquent way of articulating her thoughts and feelings about the community. When she gets up and speak in front of the community, they embrace her. And I watched her.”
Latham was born and raised in Grenada and says he appreciates those who paved the way for him to be in office, or to even vote or go to school.
“I think about the civil rights movement here in Grenada,” Latham said. “When Dr. King came through in 1966, I was a 12 year old boy at the time. And I did much to help integrate the schools, I was part of the first group to integrate, the schools, and it made me feel that all the sacrifices that people who look like me had made in this community, was somehow rewarded. I mean, I stand on their shoulders.”
Now he wants to inspire the next generation of African Americans who want to pursue public office.
“Cover all your bases, do all the things, get involved locally with politics, get involved with the your local, party affiliation, whatever that may be,” Latham said. “The Democratic Party, but the Republican Party, whoever it is, get involved with the voting process, get involved with helping other people registered to vote. Let yourself be known in the community that you’re there to serve the people.”
Mayor Charles Latham is also the founding member for the 100 Black Men of Grenada, which is a non-profit that focuses on mentoring youth and the African American community in Grenada and surrounding areas.
