Background

Melissa was brought into the world by a white mother and black father. The bi racial little girl was born in Seattle and grew up in Chesterfield County, Virginia. It is one of the counties adjoining the independent city of Richmond, Virginia. In Richmond, she attended Thomas Dale High School.

Her father was very educated and ended up becoming the first dean of African-American Affairs at the University of Virginia. Her mother, Diana Gray, taught classes at a community college and was working on her doctorate when she met Melissa’s father. Melissa’s mom worked for non-profit organizations that provided services such as day-care centers, health care for people in poor rural communities, and access to reproductive care for low income women and families. Melissa got her giving and community spirit from her parents who taught her great values as she was becoming a young woman.

Career

Melissa hosted her own program called the Melissa Harris-Perry which was a weekend news and opinion television show on MSNBC starting in 2012. The show was on air for four years until February 27, 2016.