A fact from Marshall L. Shepard appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 25 April 2017 (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:
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"was an American clergyman and Democratic politician from Philadelphia". I think that we could do a little better here, particularly with the wording of "Democratic politician from Philadelphia". I would recommend reformulating this sentence to something like "was an American clergyman and politician. Affiliated with the Democratic Party, his political career was focused in the city of Philadelphia". That is much more explicit, particularly for non-U.S. readers who may not be particularly familiar with the names of American political parties; in many environments "Democratic politician" would obviously have very different connotations. Midnightblueowl (talk) 17:38, 30 April 2017 (UTC)Reply
I also think that the lede is too short. Granted, this is a brief article, but I certainly think that we can get away with two paragraphs rather than just one. Midnightblueowl (talk) 17:38, 30 April 2017 (UTC)Reply
"Born in North Carolina," - perhaps worth adding that he was from an African-American family here. Remember that blind users may not be able to see the photograph and have the page read to them by software. Midnightblueowl (talk) 17:48, 30 April 2017 (UTC)Reply
religious work" is how the source describes it, and at the YMCA in those days, there was no such work that wasn't Christian. I think to change it would be to misstate the title. --Coemgenus (talk) 12:21, 1 May 2017 (UTC)Reply
"He was elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1934". This could be read as meaning that he was elected to be a Democrat, which is obviously incorrect. Perhaps "Standing as a member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1934"? Midnightblueowl (talk) 17:42, 30 April 2017 (UTC)Reply
"The sight of a black minister on the podium led segregationist South Carolina Senator Ellison D. Smith to storm out of the convention." This sentence could perhaps do with a few pauses in the form of commas. How about "The sight of a black minister on the podium led Ellison D. Smith, a segregationist Senator representing South Carolina, to storm out of the convention."? Midnightblueowl (talk) 17:42, 30 April 2017 (UTC)Reply
"swept the Republicans from power" - who are the Republicans? I jest of course, but always remember that there are many readers who may not be familiar with U.S. politics. Maybe "swept the Republican Party from power", with an appropriate link? Midnightblueowl (talk) 17:50, 30 April 2017 (UTC)Reply