Keith Ellison is an American politician who made history as the first black Muslim to be elected to Congress. Keith is a Minnesota Representative to the United States Congress, a record he broke for being the first black person to represent the state. His interest in politics might have been sparked by growing up in a family interested in civic activism and the law. Keith, a lawyer, is also the Democratic Chief Congressional Whip.
Who is Keith Ellison?
Keith Ellison was born on August 4, 1963 in Detroit, Michigan to Leonard Ellison (social worker) and Clida Ellison. Born into a family of social activism consisting of five brothers, three of them became lawyers, one in the medical field and the other in the pastor’s order of the New Covenant Baptist Church in Detroit .
Keith who was raised as a Catholic converted to Islam when he was 19 and was studying at Wayne State University in Detroit. A graduate of the University of Detroit Jesuit College and Academy, he was active in athletics and student union government in 1981. He earned an arts degree in economics, married, and moved in Minneapolis to study law. at Minnesota Law School, graduating in 1990.
He began his legal career with Lindquist & Vennum Law Firm where he worked for three years before being appointed Executive Director of the Legal Rights Center and then moving into private practice.
Besides his law practice, he was actively involved in community service, hosting a radio program on public affairs for a few years before winning the 2002 election and becoming a representative in the Minnesota House of Assembly.
Four years later, he progressed to the NationalIn 2006, he was elected the first Muslim to serve in the United States Congress and the first black to be elected as a representative from Minnesota. During his tenure, he contributed to stem cell research and raising the minimum wage.
Allegations of his girlfriend and domestic abuse
Keith was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-girlfriend, Amy Louise Alexander (in 2006) and is currently battling an allegation by his former girlfriend, Karen Monahan. In 2017, Karen posted a medical document on social media revealing a report from her doctor regarding her abusive relationship with Congressman Keith.
Karen’s son, Austin Monahan also broke the news on social media, he claimed to have seen a video in which Keith physically assaulted his mother. A story confirmed by his mother. Keith, however, denied ever abusing her and the alleged footage was not made public as Karen felt it was too traumatic.
Keith is divorced and has four children, three sons named Jeremiah, Isaiah, Elijah and a daughter named Amirah with his ex-wife, Kim Ellison. Kim, who started her career as a math teacher and swimming coach, met Keith when she moved from Maryland to Detroit as a teenager. She does not practice the Islamic religion, however, she allowed her four children to be raised in their father’s religion.
After her divorce, she became a member of her school board in 2012. It is unclear what led to their divorce, with Kim herself claiming that there was never any abuse in her marriage.
Other facts about Keith Ellison
1. Keith Ellison insisted on being sworn in with the Koran, which drew a lot of criticism, but he succeeded.
2. In addition to his interests in politics, he takes time to volunteer as a track coach with youth ages 5-18.
3. He was arrested in April 2009 along with four other Democratic members of Congress outside the Sudanese embassy in Washington for protesting against the expulsion of humanitarian groups from Darfur.
4 Keith is no stranger to controversy and has been publicly declared as affirmative action, a sneaky way to compensate black people for years of slavery. Instead, he prefers white Americans to pay reparations to blacks.
5. According to Keith, President Donald Trump acted in a way that necessitated an impeachment speech.