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Longtime civil rights leader Dr. Charles Steele, Jr., has announced he will step down as president and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the civil rights organization founded in 1957 by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Steele, who has been at SCLC for nearly 20 years and served at the helm five years, plans to continue serving as president emeritus in an advisory role following his Aug. 31 departure. He will serve through the SCLC’s 65th Annual Conference held, Aug. 9-10, in Atlanta.
“We have to take the movement to another level, and I am just extending myself to be a part of the next level,” said Steele, 78. “Being in my current position, I cannot take it to the next level. I feel good about where my wife and I are going next. We will still be in civil rights, but we are dealing with fulfilling the dream of Dr. King through affordable housing and getting people in the position to own homes.”
Steele plans to work on the development of housing for people with low incomes, a critical part of King’s vision for social justice.
In 2023, 45.7% of Black Americans owned homes, which is significantly lower than the 74.3% of white Americans, according to the National Association of Realtors. The number of Black homeowners has dropped since 2004, when homeownership peaked at 49.7%.
“More than ever, people are being evicted, and we must provide a solution,” said Steele.