Horace Sheffield III (born December 28, 1954) is an American pastor and media personality. Sheffield is the Pastor of New Destiny Christian Fellowship.

Reverend
Horace Sheffield
III
Personal details
Born (1954-12-28) December 28, 1954 (age 69)
Detroit, Michigan
Political partyDemocratic
ChildrenHorace Sheffield IV, Mary Sheffield
Parent(s)Rev. Horace Sheffield, Jr. & Mary
Alma materWayne State University
University of Michigan
OccupationBaptist minister
civil rights/social justice activist
Radio & TV talk show host

Sheffield as of 2018 serves as the Co-Chair of the MDP Community Democratic Caucus.[1]

Personal life

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Sheffield was born in Detroit, Michigan. He is the son of Mary (née Otto), and Rev. Horace Sheffield, Jr., a supervisor at Ford Motor Company. The elder Sheffield fought to create the UAW's Inter-Racial Committee. Later, he was instrumental in helping stage the legendary April 1941 workers strike at Ford.[2]

Sheffield is the father of Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Mary Sheffield.[3]

Education

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After graduating Cass Tech High School, Sheffield attended Wayne State University, where he received his B.A. in History & English[4] In 1995, Sheffield earned a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Michigan Dearborn.[5] In 2000, the University of Michigan awarded Sheffield its "African American Alumni Affiliate Alumnus of the Year" award.[6] In 2016, the University of Michigan awarded Sheffield its "Making A Difference (M.A.D.)" Award.[citation needed]

Community activism

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Sheffield is the CEO of the Detroit Association of Black Organizations,[7] Chairman of the Detroit Ecumenical Ministers Alliance and Founder/Former President of both the Detroit and Michigan Chapters of the National Action Network.[8] He is also the pastor of the New Destiny Christian Fellowship.[9]

Sheffield also founded the Detroit Cares Alternative Academy.[10]

In 2003, Sheffield co-wrote a letter with Al Sharpton to American Honda, complaining that the company did not hire enough African-Americans in management. "We support those that support us," the letter said. "We cannot be silent while African-Americans spend hard-earned dollars with a company that does not hire, promote or do business with us in a statistically significant manner."[11]

In 2009, Sheffield led the National Black Leadership Commission, a conference by African-American clergy about the spread of HIV/AIDS.[12]

Sheffield served as a member of the organizing committee for the 2009 NCAA Final Four, that was hosted at Ford Field in Detroit.[13]

In 2016, Sheffield started the "Bust the Ball" campaign, which held protests August 17 in Detroit, and on August 29 in New York over his concerns that the NBA was engaging in "Green-lining", or being exclusionary of non-white agents and staff.[14]

On Christmas morning 2016, a man left a message on a New Destiny Christian Fellowship prayer hotline, using racial slurs and threatening to firebomb Sheffield's church.[9]

Political career

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In 1979, Sheffield was a founding co-chair of The Commission for the Advancement of Policy Affecting Youth, the Disadvantaged and the Poor.[15]

In 2014, Sheffield was called by a federal grand jury to talk about what he knew regarding efforts to influence the selection of Detroit City Council leaders.[16] The FBI was investigating rumors that Thomas Hardiman, President and CEO of A&H Contractors, was reportedly trying to bribe Detroit City Council members, in an attempt to influence the outcome of the vote for Council President.[17] Sheffield said he was angry because Hardiman approached his daughter, Councilwoman Mary Sheffield, about the vote.[18]

2014 13th Congressional District Primary Election

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In April 2014, Sheffield filed to run in the Democratic Primary Election for Michigan's 13th Congressional District, against incumbent John Conyers. During the election, Sheffield challenged the signatures Conyers had gathered after it was discovered that the signature collectors were not registered to vote in the district. Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett ruled that the signatures were invalid, which would have made Conyers ineligible. Conyers and the ACLU filed a successful lawsuit claiming that the law was unconstitutional, and Conyers was allowed to run.[19][20] On August 5, 2014, John Conyers won the primary election, receiving 86% of the vote.[21]

Electoral history

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2014 Michigan 1st House District Primary Election[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Conyers 42,005 86.3
Democratic Horace Sheffield III 6,696 13.7
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References

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  1. ^ "Message From Rev. Horace Sheffield, III, Co-Chair". MDP Community Democratic Caucus. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  2. ^ "Remembering community leader Horace Sheffield Jr". Detroit News. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  3. ^ "Mary Sheffield". City of Detroit. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  4. ^ Gambling Disorder in the Midst of Comorbidity. The Ninth Annual Problem Gambling Symposium. Novi, MI: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. March 2, 2017. {{cite conference}}: Check |url= value (help)
  5. ^ "History for the future". The Michigan Journal. February 1, 2011.
  6. ^ "UM-Dearborn Alumni Awards - Past Recipients". University of Michigan. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  7. ^ "Community leaders consider Pistons boycott over lackluster support of black businesses". Michigan Radio. August 19, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  8. ^ Gold, Steven (October 16, 2010). The Store in the Hood: A Century of Ethnic Business and Conflict. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 978-1442206250.
  9. ^ a b "Man threatens fire-bombing in message to Detroit church". Detroit News. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  10. ^ "Youth face struggles amid Detroit's troubles". NBC News. October 17, 2009. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  11. ^ "REV. AL SOAKS UP BOYCOTT BUCKS". NY Post. June 15, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  12. ^ "AIDS and the African-American Community". WNYC. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  13. ^ "Community leaders consider Pistons boycott over lackluster support of black businesses". Michigan Radio. August 19, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  14. ^ "Rev. Horace Sheffield wants more black inclusion from Pistons, NBA". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  15. ^ "Prominent Young Blacks Form Nonpartisan Group for Voter Registration". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. October 11, 1979.
  16. ^ "Pastor summoned to grand jury in council probe". Washington Times. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  17. ^ "Detroit Pastor Summoned To Grand Jury In City Council Probe". CBS Local. April 3, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  18. ^ Neavling, Steve. "Police Chief Craig betrays no-snitching culture by calling FBI. Why didn't Rev. Sheffield?". Motor City Muckraker. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  19. ^ "Conyers, Second-Longest Serving Member in Congress, May Not Qualify for Ballot". National Review. May 2, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  20. ^ "Long-term Democrat challenged in Michigan's 13th Congressional primary race". Michigan Radio. July 28, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  21. ^ "2014 Michigan Election Results". Michigan Secretary of State. August 5, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  22. ^ "Election Summary Report Primary Election - August 5th, 2014". Michigan Department of State. August 5, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2017.