"/> A native of Bolton, Mississippi, Congressman Thompson was educated in the public schools of Hinds County, Mississippi. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Tougaloo College, and a Masters of Science degree from Jackson State University. He went on to complete extensive coursework at the University of Southern Mississippi toward a doctorate degree in Public Administration.
Early in his career, Congressman Thompson exhibited the traits of a true civil rights activist. Nearly four decades ago, he became an active participant in the fight for equality. As a grassroots volunteer, labor organizer, student activist, community leader and politician, Congressman Thompson remains focused on improving the quality of life for all Mississippians, particularly the disenfranchised, poor and vulnerable.
The illustration that perhaps best defines Congressman Thompson's commitment to equality stems from his college days. Being a product of Mississippi colleges, he had first hand knowledge of the disparity between funding, equipment, and supplies provided to the historically black colleges and those provided to white colleges. Injustices such as these have helped provide the drive and motivation for Congressman Thompson to proceed in his fight for civil rights and equal opportunities for all. Because of the unequal funding among black colleges and universities in Mississippi, Bennie Thompson became one of the original plaintiffs in the Ayers Case. That bold move in 1975 brought an awareness of the unequal education opportunities for minorities and started a decades-long court battle that was finally decided in favor of the plaintiffs by the United States Supreme Court in 1992 and a final settlement agreement was signed by a federal district court judge in February 2002.
While racial equality and public education are causes that are dear to the Congressman, he is also a strong supporter of access to affordable, quality healthcare and for the labor rights for workers. At the age of 20, Congressman Thompson secured the first rural doctor for the town of Bolton and has been honored by the National Black Nurses Foundation for his support of quality and affordable health care for all Americans. The Congressman has also sponsored legislation, which called for congress to ensure that minority farmers are adequately compensated for years of discrimination in the operation of programs of the Department of Agriculture.
Congressman Thompson serves on the House Agriculture Committee and the Select Homeland Security Committee, where he is a champion for rural America. Even in the busy, high-profile, political atmosphere of Capital Hill, the Congressman has remained down-to-earth, steadfast to his principles, and close to his roots. In fact, he lives in the small town in which he was born. He is a founding member of the Mississippi Association of Black Mayors, and the Mississippi Association of Black Supervisors. Congressman Thompson is a lifelong member of the Ashbury United Methodist Church in Bolton Mississippi and has been continuously active in numerous civic, community, and professional organizations. In all his work, he has strived to remember and empower those who gave him an opportunity to represent the Second Congressional District of Mississippi.
The Congressman has been married to his college sweetheart, London Johnson of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, for 35 years. The couple has one daughter BendaLonne and one grand-daughter, Jenna.
Bio and picture taken from official Bennie Thompson website
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