Difference between revisions of "Timuel Black"

From KeyWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 100: Line 100:
 
In 1978, Timuel Black, Advisory Board, [[United Black Voters of Illinois]] was on the [[Committee to Elect Dr. John R. Lumpkin]] for the 7th Ward Alderman, Chicago.<ref>Committee to Elect Dr. John R. Lumpkin letter, Sept. 10, 1978</ref>
 
In 1978, Timuel Black, Advisory Board, [[United Black Voters of Illinois]] was on the [[Committee to Elect Dr. John R. Lumpkin]] for the 7th Ward Alderman, Chicago.<ref>Committee to Elect Dr. John R. Lumpkin letter, Sept. 10, 1978</ref>
  
−
==Harold Washington for Mayor of Chicago==
 
−
Circa late 1982, members of the [[Citizens Committee/Harold Washington for Mayor of Chicago]] (in formation) included [[Timuel Black]].<ref>Undated circa late 1982, HWAC Mayoral Campaign Records, Box 5, Folder 1</ref>
 
−
 
−
[[Category:Citizens Committee/Harold Washington for Mayor]]
 
  
 
==American Civil Liberties Union==
 
==American Civil Liberties Union==
 
As at April 11, 1983, [[Timuel Black]] served on the Board of Directors for the Illinois branch of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]].<ref>Memo from [[Karen Green]] sent to Illinois Board Members</ref>
 
As at April 11, 1983, [[Timuel Black]] served on the Board of Directors for the Illinois branch of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]].<ref>Memo from [[Karen Green]] sent to Illinois Board Members</ref>
  
−
==Supporting Harold Washington==
+
==Harold Washington==
 +
===Harold Washington for Mayor of Chicago===
 +
Circa late 1982, members of the [[Citizens Committee/Harold Washington for Mayor of Chicago]] (in formation) included [[Timuel Black]].<ref>Undated circa late 1982, HWAC Mayoral Campaign Records, Box 5, Folder 1</ref>
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Citizens Committee/Harold Washington for Mayor]]
 +
===Supporting Harold Washington===
 
In 1983 Black headed the campaign to register more than 250,000 voters here—voters who helped elect [[Harold Washington]] as the city’s mayor<ref>http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-2009/Bright-Knights/Timuel-Black/</ref>. Black was a "''key figure''" in the 1982 voter registration effort that led to Washington's first campaign<ref>http://www.chicagoreporter.com/index.php/c/Inside_Stories/d/Passing_the_torch</ref>.
 
In 1983 Black headed the campaign to register more than 250,000 voters here—voters who helped elect [[Harold Washington]] as the city’s mayor<ref>http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-2009/Bright-Knights/Timuel-Black/</ref>. Black was a "''key figure''" in the 1982 voter registration effort that led to Washington's first campaign<ref>http://www.chicagoreporter.com/index.php/c/Inside_Stories/d/Passing_the_torch</ref>.
  
Line 118: Line 119:
 
'''Lorayne Black'''
 
'''Lorayne Black'''
  
−
==Salute to Harold Washington==
+
===Salute to Harold Washington===
  
 
On April 6, 1983, the [[Hyde Park Herald]] published an  endorsement from the [[Hyde Park/Kenwood Citizens Committee]] of [[Democratic Party]] Chicago mayoral candidate [[Harold Washington]]. Signatories to the endorsement included Timuel Black.<ref>Hyde Park Herald April 6, 1983, page 8</ref>
 
On April 6, 1983, the [[Hyde Park Herald]] published an  endorsement from the [[Hyde Park/Kenwood Citizens Committee]] of [[Democratic Party]] Chicago mayoral candidate [[Harold Washington]]. Signatories to the endorsement included Timuel Black.<ref>Hyde Park Herald April 6, 1983, page 8</ref>

Revision as of 17:43, 29 March 2010

Timuel Black

Timuel D. Black is a Professor (emeritus) City College of Chicago. He serves on the Advisory Board[1] of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism, a position he has held[2] since at least 2002. He is married to Zenobia Johnson-Black.

Early socialist inspiration

Timuel Black became interested in socialism in the 1930s inspired by Communist Party USA street speakers Claude Lightfoot and Ishmael Flory, who held their sessions in the park across the sfreet from Burke Elementary Schoolw here he was a student. [3].

Their speeches made sense to him.

Clerks union

After graduation from DuSable High School, Timuel Black held a variety of jobs. His job as an underpaid store clerk provided his first experience with labor union organizing. He met J. Levert Kelly, President of the Waiters and Bartenders Union. Kelly helped Tim Black and his co-workers form a local chapter of the Retail Clerks Union[4].

Furriers Union

Prior to WW2 Timuel Black and his brother organized for the Communist Party USA controlled Furriers Union in Milwaukee.

Army problem

On joining the U.S. Army in WW2 Black was denied officer training because military intelligence claimed he had secretly joined the Communist Party USA-a charge Black still denies[5];

I was organizing before the war, too – I organized a retail clerks’ union for Negroes, because the white one wouldn’t let us join.
That cost me my shot at Officer Candidate School in the army. The Communist Party was organizing in Chicago, and I didn’t join but they thought I did! They knew who I hung out with, and they didn’t like those people. They had all those meetings infiltrated in those days, and even without the fine equipment that they have now, they had a very good idea of where you went and who you talked to.

Leon Despres

Socialist/communist activist Leon Despres moved in the same radical circles. According to Timuel Black[6];

He was a man way out in front of society. Black people have a reputation of only voting for black candidates, but no one could beat him – though many black candidates tried –because they recognized and appreciated him as a man who was better than decent, and they didn’t want to lose him.
By that time, most of the black politicians were already part of the Daley machine, but Leon represented his own community, in the face of how city hall wanted things run. But none of them could beat him, no matter how many times city hall redrew his district

War service

Despite being denied office training, Timuel Black went on to serve his country[7];

I got four major battle stars – I was at the Battle of the Bulge, the invasion at Normandy, and the liberation of Paris. I wasn’t in a combat role, but the combat troops couldn’t have done it without us – I was in supplies.
I was also at the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp, and what I saw there made me resolve to make this a better world

Post war education/educational activism

After his discharge from the Army, Black resumed his education. Studies at Roosevelt University (BA) and the University of Chicago (MA) prepared him for his career as an educator. He taught history and social studies at several of Chicago's public high schools, in cluding DuSable and Hyde Park[8].

As Assistant Coordinator of the National Teacher Corps, Black he was responsiblef or the recruitment and training of teachers who would work in neighborhood schools most in need of well-qualified teachers.

He fought discrimination in the Chicago schools and joined with other teachers to form the Teachers Committee for Quality Education.

Timuel Black served as Dean at Wright Junior College, Vice-President of Olive Harvey City College and Director of Community Affairs of the City Colleges of Chicago[9].

His work to end discrimination in that system may have caused him to lose his budget, thus his position. He returned to the classroom as Professor of Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Sociology, and History at Loop (now Harold Washington) City College.

Progressive Party/Post War activism

After the war, Black's activities were monitored by the Chicago Police Department's anti-radical "Red Squad", for many years.

Black was active in the Communist Party USA dominated Progressive Party in the late 1940s. Black organized an Hyde park chapter of the Party with Abraham Lincoln Brigade veteran Mel Cohen[10].

We organized a chapter of the Progressive Party, which worked to break up segregation, and even demanded that the president sign an executive order doing so.

Racial activism

Timuel Black along with James Farmer, National President, organized and served as president of the Chicago chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality and he became president of the local chapter of the Negro American Labor Council founded by A. Phillip Randolph of the Socialist Party USA.

It was through this association that Tim was chosen to organize the Chicago contingent for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Largely as a result of Black's work, two "Freedom Trains" left Chicago with 3,000 passengers for that event[11].

"Wade in"

Black organized the successful 1960 “wade-in” at Rainbow Beach[12].

Support for peace movement

In 1962 Black served [13]on the Advisory Council of the Hyde Park Community Peace Centre, with Sidney Lens and Quentin Young.

Timuel Black and MLK

Bbblackking2.jpg

In the 1960s Timuel Black served as an adviser to Martin Luther King, Jr. and led the Chicago contingent to the 1963 March on Washington[14].

Chicago Area Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy

As at November 1965, Timuel Black was listed as serving on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Area Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy.[15]

Hyde Park-Kenwood Voices

In January 1969, the Chicago radical newspaper, Hyde Park-Kenwood Voices, listed those who had helped produce its first 16 monthly issues as "writers, researchers, photographers, artists and clerical workers".

The list included Timuel Black who was Contributing Editor.[16]

Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights

In 1970, the Advisory Council of the then Communist Party USA front Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights consisted of Timuel Black, Rev. Edwin Buehrer, Prof. Carl W. Condit, Rev. Martin Deppe, Joseph Engel, Abe Feinglass, Rev. Gerard G. Grant, Very Rev. Samuel J. Martin, Rabbi Robert J. Marx, Rev. Jules L. Moreau, Al Raby, Rev. Joseph Sattler, Jack Sullivan.[17].

Debs Dinners

In the 1970s, Timuel Black was involved with the annual Chicago Debs Day Dinners, the highpoint of of Illinois socialist calendar.

At that time the dinner was run by remnants of the Socialist Party USA. After 1982 the event was taken over by the newly formed Democratic Socialists of America.

Timuel Black helped sponsor the event in 1970[18] (with well known writer Saul Bellow), 1976[19] and 1977[20].

At the 1989 Debs Dinner, Timuel Black presented an award to ex-communist DSA member Milt Cohen, while featured speaker was another former communist DSA member, Quentin Young.

The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Alderman Danny K. Davis, a DSA member, current U.S. Congressman and supporter of Barack Obama[21].

State rep. campaign

Black.JPG

In the late 1970s Communist Party USA member Harold Rogers served on a "Citizen's Committee" supporting Timuel Black's unsuccessful campaign for State Representative in the 22nd District.

The "Citizen's Committee" included "former" communist Charles Hayes, radical journalist Don Rose, socialist Chicago Alderman Leon Despres, future Democratic Socialists of America members members Saul Mendelson (a former Trotskyite), Danny Davis and Milt Cohen (another former communist).

Supporting John Lumpkin

In 1978, Timuel Black, Advisory Board, United Black Voters of Illinois was on the Committee to Elect Dr. John R. Lumpkin for the 7th Ward Alderman, Chicago.[22]


American Civil Liberties Union

As at April 11, 1983, Timuel Black served on the Board of Directors for the Illinois branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.[23]

Harold Washington

Harold Washington for Mayor of Chicago

Circa late 1982, members of the Citizens Committee/Harold Washington for Mayor of Chicago (in formation) included Timuel Black.[24]

Supporting Harold Washington

In 1983 Black headed the campaign to register more than 250,000 voters here—voters who helped elect Harold Washington as the city’s mayor[25]. Black was a "key figure" in the 1982 voter registration effort that led to Washington's first campaign[26].

As co-chair of the People’s Movement for Voter Registration and Education, Black was instrumental in registering more than 250,000 voters in Chicago between 1982 and 1983[27].

Prior to that Black was actively engaged in recruiting and working to elect Richard Hatcher as the first Black mayor of Gary, Indiana.

Black also made an unsuccessful bid for alderman against the incumbent Claude Holman[28]. Lorayne Black

Salute to Harold Washington

On April 6, 1983, the Hyde Park Herald published an endorsement from the Hyde Park/Kenwood Citizens Committee of Democratic Party Chicago mayoral candidate Harold Washington. Signatories to the endorsement included Timuel Black.[29]

'80s activism

Timuel Black also held leadership roles in the Justice Coalition of Greater Chicago and the Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights.

Friend of Ayers and Dorhn

Timuel Black claims to have been long term friends with Weather Underground veterans Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn[30].

"I've been friends with them going back to 1968, since long before I knew Barack".

Committee in Support of Southern Africa

Committee in Support of Southern Africa was an anti-Apartheid group active in Chicago in the early 1980s.

Members of the committee iincluded[31];

Charles Hayes, Rep. Carol Moseley Braun, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Bob Simpson, Frank Rosen, Congressman Harold Washington, Harold Rogers, Rep. Monica Stewart, Jim Wright, Alderman Danny Davis, Alice Peurala, Lu Palmer, Milt Cohen, Timuel Black.

Chicago Committee in Solidarity with Southern Africa

In 1989 the Chicago Committee in Solidarity with Southern Africa, Board of Directors consisted of;

Timuel Black, Basil Clunie (co-chair), Earl Durham, Tommie Fry, Judy Hatcher, Tena Johnson, Toni Moore, Cheryl Johnson-Odim, Alice Palmer, Orlando Redekopp, Rachel Rubin (co-chair), Robert Starks, Lucille Teichert, Kevin Thompson, Tim Wright[32].

Tribute to Golub and Montgomery

ON November 16, 1989, Timuel Black was Master of Ceremonies, and served on the Tribute Committee for the Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights Tribute to Leon Golub and Lucy Montgomery, held at the Congress Hotel, Chicago.[33]

Support for Alice Palmer

Black was an early supporter of Alice Palmer in her bid for U.S. Congress.

In the mid 1990s Timuel Black was listed[34]as a member of Friends of Alice Palmer (in formation), alongside Danny K Davis, Tony Rezko and Barack Obama.

Relationship with Barack Obama

Timuel Black's relationship to Barack Obama stretches back until at least the early 1990s[35];

So it’s no surprise that in 1991, when a community organizer named Barack Obama returned to Chicago with a Harvard law degree, he sought advice from Black. Seventeen years later, on November 4, 2008, Black and his wife, Zenobia, watched the election coverage in their home with friends. “When we learned that he had made it, that there was no turning back, the house just went wild

In 1995 Black attempted to mediate a dispute between Illinois State Senator Alice Palmer and her chosen successor Obama.

Alice Palmer had allegedly promised Obama her State Senate seat if she was successful in a run for the U.S. Congress.

She wasn't successful, but Obama refused to stand aside and went on to win the seat unopposed-after getting all his opponents (including Palmer) disqualified on voting technicalities.

"I liked Alice Palmer a lot. I thought she was a good public servant," Obama said. "It was very awkward. That part of it I wish had played out entirely differently."

His choice divided veteran Chicago political activists.

"There was friction about the decision he made," said City Colleges of Chicago professor emeritus Timuel Black, who tried to negotiate with Obama on Palmer's behalf. "There were deep disagreements."

Despite the mess, Timuel Black became and remains an admirer of the ambitious young politician.

"My first impression was this was a very, very brilliant young man," Black says.

Black said Obama's biggest obstacle would not be from whites, but from blacks.

"The biggest thing he has to face is the accusations by some blacks that he is not black enough...He has to overcome that without being so black that he alienates potential white supporters."

Timuel Black addressed a largely black audience at the Woodson Regional Library auditorium on Feb. 11, 2007[36].

Speaking of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign he said;

“Obama is the test of how deep racism is in this country...Barack is the recipient of the struggle of other generations...That means that you feel proud of your ancestors, your successes...(Obama), based on the opportunities that were opened to him by others, is in the position to prove to the world whether the United States of America is a true democracy, or is a continuing hypocrisy.”

Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights

In 1992 Timuel Black was a member of the Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights, a long time front for the Communist Party USA, then dominated by members of the newly formed Committees of Correspondence[37].

Paul Robeson 100th Birthday Committee

The Paul Robeson 100th Birthday Committee "With recognition to those who launched this campaign and those who gave guidance and leadership to the Committee’s activities."

George Bailey, Timuel Black, Dr. Margaret Burroughs, Fred Fine, Don Goldhamer, Kevin Horton, Ife McWorter, Nancy Mikelsons, Joe Powers, Sr., Ramon Price, Mark Rogovin, William Scott, Woodie T. White[38].

Citizen Action of Illinois

In 1997 Timuel Black served on the board of directors of Citizen Action of Illinois.[39]


Anti Iraq War

In the early 2000s Black was active in the anti Iraq war, Peace Action Committee.

Speaking with Bernardine Dohrn

Timuel Black and former Weather Underground Organization terrorist Bernardine Dohrn spoke together at a public gathering sponsored by The Center for Public Intellectuals & the University of Illinois-Chicago, April 19th-20th, 2002, at the Chicago, Illini Union; Bill Ayers and Barack Obama shared another panel at the same event.

"Intellectuals: Who Needs Them?

Panel I. Why Do Ideas Matter?

  • Timuel Black, Chicago activist; Prof. Emeritus, City Colleges of Chicago
  • Bernardine Dohrn, Northwestern University Law School, Children and Family Justice Center

Chicago Area Friends of SNCC

In 2005 Chicago Area Friends of SNCC organized the "Tell the Story: The Chicago SNCC History Project, 1960-1965" Chicago Area Friends of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Chicago Civil Rights Movement, c. 1960-1965. The event was held October 21-22, 2005 Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois.

Members of the advisory committee included Timuel Black.[41]

National Committee Against Repressive Legislation

As of April 2006 Timuel Black was listed on the Steering Committee of the National Committee Against Repressive Legislation.[42]

Honoring Frank Wilkinson

Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights organized a "Celebration of the The Dynamic Life of Frank Wilkinson (1914-2006)" on Sunday October 29, 2006[43].

Honoring Committee Honorary Co-chairpersons were;

Free Mumia Abu-Jamal

In 2008 Timuel Black, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, retired Professor of Social Sciences, Chicago, IL signed a statement circulated by the Partisan Defense Committee calling for the release of convicted “cop-killer” Mumia Abu-Jamal.[44]

DSA member

In 2009 Timuel Black was confirmed as a member of Chicago Democratic Socialists of America[45].

Defending Dissent

As of Oct 3 2009 Timuel Black was listed as a Board Member of Defending Dissent.[46] Defending Dissent is made up of what used to be the National Committee Against Repressive Legislation. Black was also listed as a Vice-Chairperson of the Committee of the National Committee Against Repressive Legislation, circa 1965.[47]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.cc-ds.org/advisory_bd.html
  2. ↑ CCDS membership letter Dec 20 2002
  3. ↑ http://www.hydeparkhistory.org/herald/TimBlack.pdf
  4. ↑ http://www.hydeparkhistory.org/herald/TimBlack.pdf
  5. ↑ http://www.coopmarkets.com/evergreen/Aug-Sept2007/page7.pdf
  6. ↑ http://www.coopmarkets.com/evergreen/Aug-Sept2007/page7.pdf
  7. ↑ http://www.coopmarkets.com/evergreen/Aug-Sept2007/page7.pdf
  8. ↑ http://www.hydeparkhistory.org/herald/TimBlack.pdf
  9. ↑ http://www.hydeparkhistory.org/herald/TimBlack.pdf
  10. ↑ http://www.coopmarkets.com/evergreen/Aug-Sept2007/page7.pdf
  11. ↑ http://www.hydeparkhistory.org/herald/TimBlack.pdf
  12. ↑ http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/990527/alumni.shtml
  13. ↑ Center letter to Timuel Black June 8 1962
  14. ↑ http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-2009/Bright-Knights/Timuel-Black/
  15. ↑ SANE letter to members, November 1965
  16. ↑ Hyde Park-Kenwood Voices, January 16 1969, page 4
  17. ↑ Full text of "The nationwide drive against law enforcement intelligence operations : hearing before the Subcommittee to Investigate the Administration of the Internal Security Act and Other Internal Security Laws of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, first session page 151
  18. ↑ http://www.chicagodsa.org/d1970/index.html
  19. ↑ http://www.chicagodsa.org/d1976/index.html
  20. ↑ http://www.chicagodsa.org/d1977/index.html
  21. ↑ http://www.chicagodsa.org/d1989/index.html
  22. ↑ Committee to Elect Dr. John R. Lumpkin letter, Sept. 10, 1978
  23. ↑ Memo from Karen Green sent to Illinois Board Members
  24. ↑ Undated circa late 1982, HWAC Mayoral Campaign Records, Box 5, Folder 1
  25. ↑ http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-2009/Bright-Knights/Timuel-Black/
  26. ↑ http://www.chicagoreporter.com/index.php/c/Inside_Stories/d/Passing_the_torch
  27. ↑ http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/990527/alumni.shtml
  28. ↑ http://www.hydeparkhistory.org/herald/TimBlack.pdf
  29. ↑ Hyde Park Herald April 6, 1983, page 8
  30. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carol-felsenthal/barack-obambi-not-quite-j_b_110297.html
  31. ↑ CSSA supporters letter Sep. 4 1981
  32. ↑ http://www.historicalvoices.org/pbuilder/pbfiles/Project39/Scheme361/african_activist_archive-a0b2j5-a_12419.pdf
  33. ↑ Tribute to Golub and Montgomery: Program, Nov. 16, 1989
  34. ↑ Undated Friends of Alice Palmer membership list. Harold Washington papers
  35. ↑ http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-2009/Bright-Knights/Timuel-Black/
  36. ↑ http://www.windycitizen.com/2007/02/21/bronzeville-oral-history-engages-new-generation
  37. ↑ CCDBR 1992 membership list
  38. ↑ http://www.cpsr.cs.uchicago.edu/robeson/links/chicago/ack_org6.html
  39. ↑ Citizen Action of Illinois B.O.D. list
  40. ↑ http://www.uic.edu/classes/las/las400/conferencealt.htm
  41. ↑ http://www.ben.edu/programs/cafsncc/
  42. ↑ http://defendingdissent.org/archive/ncarl/0604ncarlletter.pdf
  43. ↑ http://www.ccdbr.org/events/wilkinson/Wilkinson_Committee.html
  44. ↑ Signers of Campaign to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal, Now
  45. ↑ http://www.chicagodsa.org/ngarchive/ng124.html
  46. ↑ Dissent website: About
  47. ↑ NCARL letter, circa October 1965
Retrieved from "https://keywiki.org/index.php?title=Timuel_Black&oldid=93609"