Edward James, III
A career climber with University of Chicago credentials and Google on his resume was a candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, District 72.
Edward E. James III hears the call of public service. The fourth generation Sarasota resident worked for two years in the legal department of the world’s largest tech company handling data analysis for patent litigators. Edward’s epiphany to return home occurred while watching the “Dream Defenders” stage a sit-in at Gov. Rick Scott’s office during the Trayvon Martin controversy. That his family has a storied history of Civil Rights activism, which spans over 100 years, sealed the deal to continue the legacy of leadership. ”I’m proud to be of the lineage of people who fought to get us to where we are now. My great grandmother Mary Emma Jones who was a business owner in this community for well over 40 years helped desegregate Lido Public Beach. She, along with other concerned Newtown residents went out, waded in the water and dealt with physical and verbal abuse. I love Lido Beach. My great grandmother fought so that people like me could go and not be worried about anyone threatening or calling us names.”
The actions of Edward’s father, Dr. Edward E. James II triggered the desegregation of the Sarasota County Public Library. His grandmother, educator Annie McElroy penned the book, But Your World and My World on the shelves of many Sarasota natives. It documents the African American community’s history from an insider’s point of view.
“I came back to be a change agent. Newtown is beaming with entrepreneurship. It has potential. It has tradition and is one of the oldest communities in Sarasota. Things are not as they could be, but we’re working to make things better.”
Oral Interview: Edward James, III
