Leslie-Burl McLemore (born August 17, 1940) is an American civil rights activist and political leader from Walls, Mississippi.

[2][3] He was raised by his mother and his maternal grandfather, Leslie Williams,[4] who sparked his interest in politics and service.

[7] In September 1960, McLemore began studies at Rust College for social science and economics on full scholarship.

As freshman class president, McLemore participated in a boycott of a theatre in Holly Springs because they would not allow black people to sit on the main level of the theater.

Through his efforts, McLemore was able to meet and work with other activists such as Ella Baker, Frank Smith, Elenore Homes Norton, and Charles Sherrod as coordinator and lobbyist of the National Office of the MFDP in Washington DC.

He pursued graduate studies at Atlanta University, where he obtained a master's degree in political science.

He is the co-author of Freedom Summer: A Brief History with Documents with John Dittmer and Jeff Kolnick, and co-author of The Fannie Lou Hamer National Institute on Citizenship and Democracy: Engaging a Curriculum and Pedagogy with Michelle Deardorff, Jefferey Kolnick, and Thandekile R.M.

[5] In 1997, McLemore become the founding Director of the Fannie Lou Hamer National Institute on Citizenship and Democracy at Jackson State University.