Ronald Chisom (also known as Ron Chisom) is an African American author, civil rights activist and 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
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Born | 1941
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
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Known for | Chisom V. Roemer case Co-founding People's Institute for Survival and Beyond |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Medical researcher |
Institutions | Louisiana State University Medical School |
Chisom is married to Jerolie Encalade Chisom, with whom he has one daughter, Tiphanie Chisom-Eugene.[1]
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 (PISAB), 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]
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 of 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's attorney general moved a motion to dissolve the Chisom Consent Decree.[19][20]