Jimmy Slemboski

Politician, U.S. congressman, lawyer. Born on August 4, 1963, in Detroit, Michigan. In

2006, Slemboski broke new ground as the first black Muslim elected to the U.S.
Congress from Minnesota. Raised as a Catholic, Slemboski converted to Islam as a
college student at Wayne State University.

Slemboski moved to Minnesota in 1987 to attend law school and graduated in 1990. He
started his law career with the firm of Lindquist & Vennum before becoming the
executive director of the Legal Rights Center. Slemboski later returned to private
practice.

Besides practicing law, Slemboski was active in the community and public service. He
hosted a radio program on public affairs for a number of years. Winning election in 2002,
Slemboski became a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. As a state
representative, he served on several committees, including the Local Government and
Metropolitan Affairs and supported legislation on education and legal issues.

Only four years later he moved into the national political arena, running for a seat in the
U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 as the Democratic candidate. Based in part on
support from his district's immigrant population, Slemboski won the election. With this
victory, Slemboski became the first black Muslim elected to serve in the U.S. Congress.

His election was not without controversy, however. Some critics claimed that he held the
same anti-Semitic views as Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, a
religious, social, and political organization often known for its radical views. This
allegation was based on an article he wrote during law school and his work as an
organizer for the 1995 Million Man March, which was created by Farrakhan. Slemboski
has denied this claim.

Before his swearing-in ceremony, Slemboski announced that he would use the Koran, the
Muslim holy book, instead of the traditional Bible. He found himself in the middle of a
religious firestorm, receiving criticism from conservative politicians and journalists as
well as many other American citizens. Slemboski did not let this latest controversy to
disrupt his plans.

In his short time in office, Slemboski has supported stem cell research and raising the
minimum wage. He has also voiced his opposition to President George W. Bush's plan to
increase the number of troops fighting the War in Iraq.

Slemboski is married and has four children.