Most Interesting People 2020: Basheer Jones

Why He’s Interesting: Jones overcame a significant barrier when he made the jump from grassroots organizing and activism to becoming Cleveland’s first Muslim councilman in 2018. He won the Ward 7 seat, representing East Side neighborhoods like Hough and Asiatown, by just 13 votes. Since then, he has endured several recall attempts, led the charge for Cleveland to recognize Indigenous People’s Day and called for reforms at the Cuyahoga County jail. Rumor has it he may even be interested in one day running for mayor.

Traveling Man: Jones was raised primarily by his mother, bouncing between Brooklyn, New York and Cleveland. He estimates he has moved 20 to 25 times in his life. But he never lost his East Side roots, attending Case Elementary School in St. Clair Superior and Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Hough.  “My spirit is New York; my heart is Cleveland. Cleveland is my foster mother. What I got from Cleveland is a sense of empathy.”

Journey Of Faith: Jones’ Muslim faith has been a motivating factor in his activism and a source of inspiration. Though he doesn’t pretend to perfect devoutness, Jones says Islam gives him fuel to make change — he’s currently pursuing a master’s degree in religion. “It’s a lived experience. Whether it’s feeding people, whether it’s fighting for the removal of Columbus Day, whatever it is, my faith gives me that gasoline.”

More Motivation: Jones won his office by a slim margin, and in his first year, petitions were twice pulled to recall him, though they failed both times to get on the ballot. Jones points to the accomplishments he has contributed to including almost $250 million in development. His message: don’t accept other people’s perspectives of yourself. “Initially, my skin was very thin, so I was really affected. Now, not to say it doesn’t affect me, but it just pushes me harder.”

Poet’s Soul: Jones has a way with words. He has worked as a radio host and public speaker, and has also written two books, including I’ll Speak for Change, a book about his life. Jones started putting pen to paper when he was 8 and homeless, living at a shelter downtown. “I started writing poetry then — about my experience, seeing my mother cry, wondering why my father’s not here. I just kept writing and reciting, and people were impacted by it.”

Interesting Fact: 
Jones named a food program he runs in his ward, called the Imani Food Distribution Center, after his mom, Imani. 

Click here to meet the 30 Most Interesting People of 2020