 Ronald
Harmon Brown will be recalled as a man who achieved many "firsts": The first
black member of his college fraternity. The first black partner at his Washington law
firm. The first black chairman of a national political party. The first black secretary of
Commerce and first Cabinet secretary to die at work in a war zone. He was born in Washington in 1941 and raised in New York in the city of Harlem. His father was
the manager at the Theresa Hotel which was located across the street from the Apollo Theater.
In the early 40’s the Theresa was the "IN"
place for celebrities of color to see and be seen. The black musicians, writers, actors,
athletes and political celebrities who weren't allowed to stay at the whites-only hotels
all gathered at the Theresa.
Growing up during the last glory days of Harlem, Ron Brown
learned the potent formula of charm plus intelligence.
He hung out and associated with celebrities like Billie
Holiday and Duke Ellington and through these associations he grew into a self-assured
adult who understood money and power and how to acquire both. He also understood people.
"He grew up thinking, 'There's nothing I can't do,
nobody I can't impress." said Robert Johnson, a friend who is chief executive of Black Entertainment Television.
In a 1994 interview, New York Democratic Representative
Charles Rangel said Brown learned his charm from his personable and loving father. Rangel
knew this because at that time he worked as a desk clerk at the Theresa hotel.
Ron Brown conquered Middlebury College in Vermont, a largely white school where he earned a degree in political
science in 1962. While attending Middlebury College, Brown pledged to the Sigma Phi
Epsilon fraternity, which had a white-Christians-only clause. He was accepted, and due to
his acceptance the fraternity lost its national charter.
In a later speech, Brown said, "It was a different
time in history. There was not a whole lot of racial awareness. Human beings are very
adaptable so I managed. I'd say I did better than managed, I'd say I enjoyed my four years
in Middlebury."
Ron Brown continued his education by earning his law degree
from St. John's College by attending classes at night.
Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo was his law professor
and he once recalled a bright, positive, ambitious gentleman who was not obnoxious about
his intelligence.
His early Washington years contrast with globe-trotting
trade missions. He was just at ease in Washington, where the White House and Capitol dominate, as
he was in neighborhood schools and churches.
When he became chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1989,
many thought he couldn't handle the job but he proved them wrong. Even President Bill
Clinton owes his job, in part, to Ron Brown.
He never ran for office, but he nurtured the careers of
numerous black politicians, including former Washington D.C. mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly,
Jesse Jackson and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) |
