Melvin Metelits was born in West Philadelphia, at 52nd and Jefferson Street,  in 1933. He became interested in left wing politics after high school, and was part of the Communist Party from 1963  until 1991. He studied education at Temple, graduating in 1954. He has since then taught in Philadelphia and the US Virgin Islands. Melvin has also done extensive research on African presence in Mexico and speaks Spanish fluently.

Melvin considers some of his greatest contributions to society as an active member of the Communist party to be  protesting the Vietnam war  from a soapbox and in protests, working to certify about four hundred “permanent part time” teachers, so that they could be paid a teacher's salary and receive benefits, and organizing busloads of Philadelphians to go to Washington to fight for civil rights with Martin Luther King, Jr.

After leaving the Communist Party, Melvin has kept social justice close to his heart, and has connected to his Jewish roots, becoming a certified Maggid, or folk-storyteller. Despite having only one vocal chord, Melvin has many people who are inspired by his words. Melvin lives in a housing co-op in Mount Airy with his wife, Maria, and his mother in law.

 

- Compiled by Annmarie Dinan Hansen