Cynthia Ann McKinney (born March 17, 1955, in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former U.S. Congresswoman from Georgia, prominent American politician, academic, and peace activist. She is the daughter of Billy McKinney, a longtime Georgia State Representative, and was raised in Atlanta's Collier Heights neighborhood. McKinney earned a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (1978) and an M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University (1979). Her political career began unexpectedly in 1986 when she won a write-in election for the Georgia House of Representatives while living overseas. She was formally elected in 1988 and served until 1992, when she became the first African American woman from Georgia elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. As a Democrat representing Georgia's 11th (later 4th) district, she served six non-consecutive terms from 1993 to 2003 and 2005 to 2007. Known for her progressive views and independence, McKinney was a vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy, particularly U.S. support for Israel, and advocated for racial justice, environmental protection, and opposition to the Iraq War. Her tenure was marked by controversies, including clashes with colleagues and media. After leaving the Democratic Party in 2007, she became the Green Party's presidential nominee in 2008, receiving 161,797 votes. She continued as an activist, professor, and administrator, and in 2020 was nominated as the Green Party of Alaska's vice-presidential candidate alongside Jesse Ventura in an exploratory bid. McKinney remains influential in leftist and alternative political circles, though criticized for controversial statements on topics like 9/11 conspiracy theories and U.S. imperialism.