BMORENEWS.com

By Doni Glover, www.bmorenews.com

(BALTIMORE – November 27, 2009) – I was blessed earlier this week to have a conversation with a local political icon whose lifelong body of work has had an impact on the nation. Clarence Mitchell, III, also known as “The Bear”, has been a political godfather to me and countless others for years. His honesty, compassion, and willingness to serve the people are unsurpassed. His love for Baltimore and its people is unparalleled and deserving of many, many accolades.

Clearly, I had to get his thoughts on what is happening on the political scene here in Baltimore. With the mayor, our first African American woman in the top post, under fire for some otherwise petty reasons, the whole climate – in my mind – begs the question of what is happening to black leadership.

With the passing of Delegate Howard “Pete” Rawlings and state Senator Clarence Blount, black political leadership seems terribly absent. Again, in a majority black city like Baltimore, it leaves one wondering just what has happened to black political power.        

Soon about to turn 70 years of age, The Bear told me, “It’s extremely disappointing. Very few of our elected officials are really advocating on behalf of the people.”

He said that, in his book, only a couple are actually carrying the ball.

“[Del.] Jill Carter. [Del.] Nat Oaks. If you go down the roll call, [Del.] Ruth Kirk is doing her best, but she is almost 80. Ruth was always an outspoken advocate for the people,” he said.

Reflecting on his days in the Maryland General Assembly, The Bear recalled more inspiring times. He spoke of days when politicians “got it” and truly understood why they were in position.
 

Mitchell said, “When I was in the legislature, I lit a fire under all of our delegates in the 44th. But I didn’t have to light up a fire under Larry [Young]. During my last 8 years, it was the Mitchell-Young team. I could call Larry at midnight and we were both working in our offices, we were both making sacrifices for the people. Today, we don’t have elected officials that have an ongoing organizational forum where constituents can express themselves, complain, or talk to the elected officials. I always had my delegates and myself at those meetings. We had an office open 7 days a week for them to make complaints or express themselves about what we should be doing. If you don’t include the people on an ongoing basis in your activity and give them access, then you are not serving the people.”

In talking to The Bear, I am reminded of my own purpose and the need to make personal sacrifices – that is, if I want to see the necessary change manifest. Also, in talking with him, I am reminded that with all of our 6-figure incomes, $70,000 cars, and $200,000 homes, blacks today seemingly have less common sense that blacks fresh out of slavery.

He continued, “When we had 11 black legislators, we got more done with people like Frank Conaway and Lena K. Lee. We have more than the 40 black legislators in Annapolis now. We need serious people to run [for office today] to put a fire under people who are already down there. We need people who are visible in the community. When I was elected at the age of 22, I knocked on 7,000 doors from sunup to after sundown. I was able to beat the Jack Pollack organization with the help of the Afro and Verda Welcome, first woman black senator in the nation. We put together a ticket and I ran number 1. At that time, it was the 4^th district. We had six delegates and 1 state senator. Then, things changed. They reapportioned the districts and gave all of the districts 2 state senators. That was 1966.”

Mitchell said that some how, an individualism has crept into the bowels of public service. Some how, it is no longer about serving the people. It is more about serving oneself.

“If you needed a job, if you needed help to get your neighborhood cleaned up or get houses boarded up or to send your kids to schools on scholarship, you knew who to call. However, today, we only see [politicians] at election time nowadays.”

Noting that one will not get rich in public life, Mitchell did highlight the real joy of public service.

“Not a day goes by without somebody coming up to me and saying thanks for the job - 30 years later. I was talking to a group of people in Columbia two weeks ago, 30 people or so – and a lady who was about 45 years old came up to me and said she was one of the people who got a scholarship from me. When you know you have been able to make a difference in thousands of people’s lives, we know we have the right to make a difference in the lives of so many people. Too many of our elected officials are afraid to use their power or they are too lazy to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Mitchell recalled watching his father make similar sacrifices for the sake of serving the people. He remembered days and weeks when his father would be on the road. He said that became a lesson as to what was required in order to serve the people.

“When my father was with the NAACP in DC, he went to the backwoods and little, unknown places. We use to complain that our father was traveling all of the time, but he was making the NAACP make a difference in the hinterlands. Even more, we mentored Larry Young, Elijah Cummings, and Talmadge Branch. I wasn’t satisfied that I got elected, I traveled all over the country and encouraged other young black activists to run for office and make a difference.”

In conclusion, the Bear left with this message: “I want the politicians of today to look at what is expected of them and what people should expect of them. Don’t let it stop with profiling. Get back in the trenches and do the hard work.”

Tags: black baltimore, political economy