Archive for November, 2009

A Chat with “The Bear”: Clarence Mitchell, III Up close and personal

Posted by dglover on Friday, November 27th, 2009

(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 4th 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.

 

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TGR: An Interview with noted journalist Charles Robinson: Youth and the Tragedy of Black Political Life

Posted by dglover on Thursday, November 26th, 2009

(BALTIMORE – November 26, 2009) – Maryland Public Television’s Charles Robinson has been reporting the news for decades. He is no stranger to asking the tough question. Nor is he afraid to speak truth to power. Relentless in his professionalism, he has covered everything from the crime and education in Baltimore to the last Democratic National Convention to the inauguration of the nation’s first black president.  

 

Lately, Robinson has been covering the trial of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.

When asked his thoughts, he replied, “I’m disgusted with the trial.”

 

He said, “I think a politician’s gotta do better because the youth of the city are watching. They are taking their cues from the adults and to kind of air your dirty laundry in a public forum is sad.”

 

When asked to elaborate, he stated, “Basically, women are running the city. I’m not suggesting there’s some kid out there watching, listening and saying, I can do this … but without the role modeling, the challenge of being a politician is greater. At the end of the day, you either emulate someone or you blaze a new path. You decide that I can’t be like this man. And isn’t that tragic. The first African American woman mayor is under suspicion. You have to hold yourself to a higher standard. I go back to the Parren Mitchell’s of the world. He knew he had to set a different standard and a higher standard. To understand PJ’s mindset, know that he looked to his brother, Clarence, Sr. He was considered the 101st US Senator because of his lobbying efforts.”

 

Robinson insists that adults in Baltimore have to do a better job. Even more, political leadership is slipping.

 

Robinson continued, “Elijah [Cummings] understands the importance of black political power. And that comes from not just emulating people, but finding people of like minds. Cummings came of age during the turbulent 60’s where black power was the new mantra and there was a new political paradigm. He is also in the hotbed of where black political power is being lived and debated: Howard University. He’s there when Stokely Carmichael is there. And those folks who came of age in that era made a conscious decision to not just go along to get along, but to stand up for African Americans without being afraid.”

 

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TGR: The “what if” scenario for Mayor Dixon

Posted by dglover on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

dg at wbal tv 11 11.22.09By Doni Glover, www.bmorenews.com

 

(BALTIMORE – November 22, 2009) – I was invited this morning to WBAL TV-11 (NBC) this morning to discuss the case of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. To say the least, it was a terribly uncomfortable conversation. To talk about a person’s future is not my favorite thing to do. However, as a political analyst, it comes with the job.

 

Hence, as WBAL’s Lisa Robinson proceeded with her line of questioning, the focus was on what will likely happen if the mayor emerges victoriously from the current trial and the perjury trial scheduled for the early part of next year.

 

“Can she be re-elected?”, asked Robinson.

 

My response: The mayor is a Christian and therefore knows that we “can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” So, the answer is a definite yes. However, there will have to be some critical changes.

 

For one, the mayor will have to redefine herself. The operative term is “damage control.” And in order to do that, in my best estimation, is going back to the things which got her elected in the first place, i.e. re-hiring Anthony McCarthy.

An incredibly brilliant spokesperson, I personally believe that McCarthy has enough of an understanding of what the people need to hear and also a great knowledge of how to translate Mayor Dixon’s message of hope.

Currently, an unflattering picture of the mayor has been painted.

With that, there appears to be two camps – as noted in prior columns: one is die-hard supporters; the other is full of critics – unbound by racial innuendos and the victim mentality.

Hence, Mayor Dixon would have to make an effort to reconnect with the citizenry, beginning with the black community.

Robinson also alluded to Mayor-for-Life Marion Barry in the District of Columbia.

With first-hand knowledge of Barry, I can attest that he is accessible, he is aware of the needs of the people – beginning in Ward 8 in Southeast DC, and he is still known as a champion for their causes. He got people jobs, he made new black millionaires, and is the lone political power that helped build a Prince George’s County – the richest black jurisdiction in the nation.

Mayor Dixon, in my opinion, has not scratched the surface in that realm. Yes, black contractors have gotten richer, but very little can be said of new, emerging black business owners. From black funeral directors to beauty salons to barber shops, the mayor must let black business owners know that she has their back and that she is, in fact, in touch with their plight. FYI, these three industries are the last bastion of black economic prowess in the black community and are all under attack in some way, shape or form.

From conglomerates to powerful Korean-owned monopolies, black business owners have more than their share of challenges.

Even more, one glance at the Inner Harbor and I cannot readily identify one black-owned business in this a majority black city. Further, there is the case of Tyrone Taborn and the loss of his $10 million Black Engineer of the Year Awards convention that has been shifted to DC over $20,000 for display space. For some, that was an incredibly low blow that is without ample reason. How pathetic and disgraceful can we get?

Marion Barry would not have such. He makes it his business to keep the doors of these businesses open.

Speculation uptown is that more emphasis is placed by Mayor Dixon on the majority community. Again, to her credit, many supporters find the city being run with the precision of a Swiss clock.

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The Dichotomy of a Mayor: Guilty or not?

Posted by dglover on Friday, November 20th, 2009

350_300_dc_terry_hairston_ward_7_1_marion_kidTrue public servant or totally self-absorbed

By Doni Glover, www.bmorenews.com

(BALTIMORE – November 20, 2009) – Many of us knew when then-City Council President Sheila Dixon was campaigning to be elected as mayor of Baltimore that she had a cloud of suspicion hanging over her head. It was common knowledge that “they” were after her. At the very least, we knew prosecutors believed that they had something on her … AND it wasn’t going to be pretty. Eventually, she would be forced to confront her issues.

 

Nonetheless, she received the majority of the votes to become mayor. And since then, many see a difference in Baltimore. Crime is being checked, according to locals. The streets are being paved, including Monroe Street. A noticeable difference is clearly underway.

Yet still, people were watching her case unfold on television … intensely at times … all the while wondering if she, the chief exec of this municipality would, in fact, have to answer some otherwise intrusive questions about her decisions, her lifestyle, and everything in between.

To her credit, she has maintained better than the most aggressive of Titans. The city has been run with a precision that many Baltimoreans have not seen in a long time, according to many interviewed this week. Her emotional status appears determined to continue doing the best job possible, regardless of the pack of reporters in her face 24-7. Personally, I think the average person would have cracked a long time ago – including the strongest of men.

So, she indeed has the empathy of many who are otherwise disenfranchised. Many people believe that this whole Dixon case has been a witch hunt by an overzealous prosecutor who, after years of investigation, has only come up with some otherwise petty charges. For instance, when was the last time one can recall seeing a mayor’s home invaded with her personal business all in the streets along with a relentless character assassination such that everybody, including the dog, is wondering if she did take gift cards meant for needy people.

People are asking: How are you not going to know the gift cards in question were meant for the poor? Didn’t you solicit them? Didn’t you tell developers A, B and C that they were for people who might not otherwise have a Christmas?

As others have noted, this case boils down to a question of whether or not the mayor knew what she was doing.

This case is all about the mayor’s character. And the truth is, many people – whether they are influenced by the media or not – are puzzled as to why a person who is making good money and apparently living a good life would allegedly stoop so low. People interviewed this week said that if she did take the gift cards, then that is a cruddy thing to do.

Repeatedly, references have been made to a man just 45 minutes south of here who has been through his own hell: Mayor-for-Life Marion Barry. Has the mayor of Baltimore endeared herself to the people as has Barry? Can she re-emerge from the ashes and reclaim her dignity and her position as the city’s chief exec despite the barrage of criticisms and legal charges? Has she made new black millionaires – even in the midst of the worst economic conditions this country has ever seen?

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