In New Orleans, politics is as much a part of the city's culture as its dark-roasted chicory coffee and beignets, oysters and all that jazz. For Marc Morial, whose father, Ernest "Dutch" Morial, was the storied city's first African-American mayor, it was in the blood.

On this day back in 1990, Morial, now president and CEO of the National Urban League, was at a fundraiser for his first bid to represent New Orleans in the U.S. House of Representatives. The event was held in Atlanta and co-sponsored by Rep. John Lewis, Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, and the city's former Mayor Maynard Jackson (not pictured). 

Morial lost the congressional race to Bill Jefferson, but it was good to have friends in high places.

"It goes without saying that the feeling was incredible and such an immense honor. I felt like I was standing on the shoulders of history, and it was very affirming that these great legends whom I looked up to joined and supported me in my endeavors," Morial told BET.com. "I always say that the worst thing that successful people can do is to be selfish. We each have a responsibility to pay it forward - like those who helped to clear the path for us - and use what is within our power to lift up those who come after us. That is the feeling that I had that day - gratitude, pride and an acute awareness of what my own responsibility would be to help others achieve more as well."

Morial went on to serve in the Louisiana state Senate and two terms as mayor of New Orleans. He has led the NUL since 2003.

Follow Joyce Jones on Twitter: @BETpolitichick.

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