Sharpe James, a renowned American politician, was born on February 20, 1936. His illustrious career in public service spanned over two decades, during which he held the esteemed position of the 37th mayor of Newark, New Jersey, from 1986 to 2006. Additionally, he served as a state senator for the 29th legislative district from 1999 to 2008.
James' remarkable political journey has been immortalized in the 2005 feature-film Street Fight, which showcased his struggles and triumphs during his tenure as mayor. However, his political career was marred by controversy when he was indicted on federal corruption charges on July 12, 2007.
On April 16, 2008, James was convicted of five counts of fraud, which led to a 27-month prison sentence. Prior to his foray into politics, James had a distinguished career as a teacher, athletic director, and professor at Essex County College.
