Emanuel Cleaver

Emanuel Cleaver II (born October 26, 1944) is a United Methodist pastor, American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives. Cleaver currently represents Missouri's 5th congressional district, where he's served since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and in January 2010, Cleaver became chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Cleaver previously served on the Kansas City Council from 1979 to 1991, until he was elected Mayor of Kansas City, serving from 1991 to 1999. In 2004, Cleaver was elected to Missouri's 5th congressional district, where his district includes the southern three-fourths of Kansas City, including all of the city south of the Missouri River. It also includes most of the city's suburbs in Jackson County.

Early life, education and career

Cleaver was born in Waxahachie, Texas, the son of Marie (née McKnight) and Lucky G. Cleaver. He grew up in public housing in Wichita Falls, Texas. He graduated from Prairie View A&M University where he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Cleaver then moved to Kansas City, Missouri where he founded a branch of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and received a Master of Divinity degree from St. Paul School of Theology.