New Directions

Volume 14 | Issue 2 Article 6

4-1-1987 Mississippi’s Mike Espy:Vowing ‘To Do Some Good’ and Alex Williams & Ike Leggett: Harriet Jackson Scarupa

Follow this and additional works at: http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections

Recommended Citation Scarupa, Harriet Jackson (1987) "Mississippi’s Mike Espy:Vowing ‘To Do Some Good’ and Alex Williams & Ike Leggett:," New Directions: Vol. 14: Iss. 2, Article 6. Available at: http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol14/iss2/6

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Howard @ Howard University. It has been accepted for inclusion in New Directions by an authorized administrator of Digital Howard @ Howard University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Scarupa: Mississippi’s Mike Espy:Vowing ‘To Do Some Good’ and Alex William

MIKE ESPY Mississippi's First Black Congressman Since Reconstruction

Published by Digital Howard @ Howard University, 1 NEW DIRECTIONS APRIL 1987 New Directions, Vol. 14 [], Iss. 2, Art. 6

http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol14/iss2/6 NEW DIRECTIONS APRIL 1987 2 Scarupa: Mississippi’s Mike Espy:Vowing ‘To Do Some Good’ and Alex William that young man that I hope my vote will MISSISSIPPI'S count. You tell that young man that I want him to go up there and do us some good. Do us some good.’ Do us some good. That is my MIKE ESPY: challenge.” Shortly after, the mild-mannered, be­ Vowing ‘To Do spectacled, vulnerably young-looking new congressman excused himself to return to Some G ood’ the chamber of the House to cast a vote. “I’ll be right back,” he called out. “Beginning n air of proud excitement hung over today I’m going to do my utmost to make the crowded room in the Rayburn Mississippi a better place to live. But I need House Office Building on Capitol Hill your help. I need your help to make the only thisA January 6. The excitement of people campaign promise I ever made come true: who knew they had come to see history to build — and do — some good.” being made — and that they had helped to The District Mike Espy was nine years old when make it. The Second Congressional District of Mis­ People like 69-year-old Nellie Johnson, a Evers was killed. But in his remarks to his sissippi, which Espy now represents, retired schoolteacher from Tunica County, constituents and other onlookers the 33- stretches 200 miles along the Mississippi Miss., the poorest county in the poorest year-old congressman showed that youth River, almost from Memphis (Tenn.) to state in the nation. She’d come up on a bus need be no impediment to the development Natchez. It is predominantly rural and with 30 others to see Mike Espy sworn in as of a historical consciousness. As his wife, predominantly Black, covering much of the a member of the 100th Congress, thus two children and other family members sat Delta. By any index, it is a district in dire becoming the first Black congressman to nearby, he first thanked all those who had need of being the recipient of “good.” represent the state since Reconstruction helped make this day possible (his special Consider just a few facts about the district Republican John Roy Lynch left the House bow of appreciation “to the riders on the culled from information provided by Espy, in 1883. bus” drew cheers) and to reflect on what it his press secretary Tom Oppel, various “It was pretty rough,” said Johnson of the meant. other Mississippians and recent newspaper 23-hour bus ride. “But we said, ‘Washing­ “In the chamber of the House a few and magazine articles: ton or bust.’ We were determined to see him minutes ago I uttered a phrase which took installed. A group of us worked real hard only two seconds to utter: ‘I do’ [accept the ■ It is the nation’s third poorest, ranking through the primary and through the gen­ responsibilities outlined in the oath of only behind two districts in New York City eral election and we just believed he was office.] But in a collective sense we’re all (in the South Bronx and Brooklyn’s Bedford going to win. He believed it. We believed it. aware that it took us generations to get Stuyvesant), with 34.4 percent of its popu­ Of course, there were some who doubted. here. Generations of toil, generations of lation living at or below the federal poverty But I had faith from the beginning.” struggle, generations of pain, generations line. And so Nellie Johnson and this roomful of of anguish and generations of adversity. But ■ Its 22 counties include the nation’s two Mississippians, dressed in what might through adversity comes strength.. . . poorest: Tunica and Holmes. In Tunica, for easily pass as “Sunday best,” had come by “And so this afternoon I come with you to instance, is Sugar Ditch Alley, whose de­ any means possible to see their con­ celebrate not the victory of Mike Espy, but plorable housing conditions were drama­ gressman get off to a good start. the strength of Fannie Lou Hamer. She ran tized on the television screens of America A minister asked everyone to hold hands, for Congress [via the Mississippi Freedom with Jesse Jackson’s well-publicized visit. bow heads and reflect on the significance of Democratic Party] knowing she couldn’t be ■ Unemployment is in the double digit this day. A poet recited verse (“Keep your elected; but she prepared the way for us. We range. One estimate puts it at 12.7 percent hand on the plow”) that bespoke the celebrate the strength of Medgar Evers for the district as a whole, another at 15 determination that had made this day staring death in the face but always moving. percent, while it soars to more than 20 possible. A singer sang of an “America, the We celebrate the strength of Martin Luther percent in its five poorest counties. Beautiful” that stood in ironic juxtaposition King—and he continues to help us. And we ■ Federal transfer payments such as wel­ to many of the stark images from Missis­ also celebrate the hope of another woman. fare, veterans, Social Security and Supple­ sippi’s past: dogs digging their teeth into the Her name is Rosie Tidwell.” mental Social Security benefits and food legs of escaping slaves; the bodies of Black And Espy told of how this 85-year-old stamps make up the largest single source of men swaying from trees; the battered woman, confined by illness to her bed, had income. corpse of 14-year-old Emmett Till whose filled out an absentee ballot, but had died “crime” was to say “Bye, Baby” to a white the day before the election. “As she signed ■ Illiteracy, a statewide problem, is espe­ woman; the bodies of civil rights workers her name—and perhaps it was the last time cially magnified within its population as is James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and she ever signed her name—she handed the low educational attainment. Of those 25 Michael Schwerner retrieved from an ballot to the notary public and she said the and older, 35 percent have an eighth-grade earthen dam; the sprawled, bloodied form thing that always will be etched on my education or less. (For Blacks, alone, the of NAACP field secretary Medgar Evers, mind,” Espy recounted. “She said, ‘You tell figure is 56 percent.) cut down by a sniper’s bullet. . . that young man that I hope he wins. You tell Continued, on page 18

PublishedNEW by DigitalDIRECTIONS Howard APRIL 1987 @ Howard University, 3 New Directions, Vol. 14 [], Iss. 2, Art. 6 others in the future will not be decided on ALEX WILLIAMS the basis of community pressure. Nor will they be based on attempts by the state’s attorney’s office to justify some act to cover & IKE LEGGETT: up or take the heat from a few bad apples [a cricitism sometimes leveled at his prede­ Breaking cessor.] As state’s attorney, I intend to make a decision based on common sense and New Ground good conscience—which my mother always told me I had.” In Suburbia His last sentence precipitated more laughter, restoring the festive mood to the occasion. Still, Williams had managed to use n a crisp, sunny January afternoon, this celebratory ceremonial event to serve Alexander Williams Jr. stood in front notice that a new man, indeed, was now in of the columned, colonial style charge of the law enforcement process in countyO courthouse in Upper Marlboro, this particular suburban county: one com­ Md., to be sworn in as state’s attorney for mitted to protecting the rights of crime Prince George’s County. Dressed in a grey victims, to vigorously prosecuting violators suit sans overcoat, in seeming defiance of of the criminal laws, to ensuring safety on the weather, he raised his right hand to the streets, yes, but also one who would repeat the oath of office administered to him show a special sensitivity to some of the by a robed Judge James H. Taylor: particular concerns of the Black com­ “I, Alexander Williams Jr., do solemnly munity when it appeared that the law swear to support the Constitution of the enforcement process had been abused. United States and that I will be faithful and A week later, in another setting, Wil­ bear true allegiance to the state of Mary­ liams’ fellow Howard School of Law alum­ land and support the constitution and laws nus and colleague Isiah (“Ike”) Leggett thereof, and that I will to the best of my skill zeroed in on an issue of special concern to and judgment diligently and faithfully and his constitutents. The setting was the without partiality or prejudice execute the handsome seventh-floor hearing room of office of the state’s attorney for Prince the headquarters of the Montgomery George’s County according to the constitu­ County Council in Rockville, Md. The tion and laws of the state.” occasion was one of the council’s regular His words were greeted with applause by Tuesday meetings. And the issue: discrimi­ a crowd of some 200 who had gathered to nation in rental housing. witness this historic moment. For with “I shall not make a campaign speech,” he It was one of the first council meetings these words, “Alex” Williams, as he prefers declared, to appreciative laughter. “The held after Leggett had made history by to be called, became the first Black state’s election is over. It is time to get to work.” becoming the first Black candidate to win a attorney in the county’s history and one of Cries of “all right” rang out as he went on to seat on the seven-member legislative body. only three Black prosecuting attorneys in outline some of his general approaches to At about 3:30 council chairperson Rose the nation to serve a major jurisdiction. the task before him. In so doing, he Crenca called the council’s attention to the (The others are Denver District Attorney pointedly referred to a special concern of resolution now before it. Norman Early and Baltimore State’s At­ Black political activists in the country: The resolution read, in part: “The torney Kurt Schmoke.) police brutality. Montgomery Council and the County Exec­ When Williams came to the podium, he “Let me say that I am advised that two utive deplore all forms of racial discrimina­ groped for words to describe his emotions, cases involving allegations of police exces­ tion in Montgomery County and resolve to settling for: “I am simply overjoyed, quite siveness are on my desk upstairs and await initiate immediate action to end racial ecstatic and grateful.” His wife and three my immediate attention,” he said. “Let me discrimination in rental housing.” More children stood by proudly as he then went state unequivocally that I support law specifically, the resolution called for the on to thank those whose support had helped enforcement. I intend to give every ounce of county executive and council to sponsor a make his victory possible: his family; the my energy supporting the efforts of police community colloquium which would assess faculty of the Howard School of Law who and others who put their lives on the line and evaluate the county’s current fair had nurtured him when he was a student under extremely difficult circumstances. housing laws and antidiscrimination efforts, and advised, encouraged and stimulated The community, in turn, expects law en­ identify areas of noncompliance and make him as a fellow teacher; his campaign team; forcement officers themselves to adhere to concrete recommendations for action. his many and diverse supporters, ranging the very laws that they are sworn to The resolution was introduced by Ike from members of the church where his uphold.” Leggett. And it was spurred by a study of family worships to prominent county politi­ As the applause died down, he continued: racial discrimination in rental housing in the cians. “The resolution of these two cases and Continued on page 20 http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol14/iss2/6 NEW DIRECTIONS APRIL 1987 4 Scarupa: Mississippi’s Mike Espy:Vowing ‘To Do Some Good’ and Alex William Continued from page 16 Still. . . roots and educational and profes­ role. Members of his staff — an interracial ■ With its rich alluvial floodplain soil, agri­ sional achievements notwithstanding, Espy staff — were busy in adjoining offices as he culture is the district’s economic lifeblood. faced what some saw as insurmountable talked. Cotton, rice, soybeans and, more recently, hurdles in his bid for the congressional seat. “When folks around the country think of pond-raised catfish are the leading crops. He had never held elective office. Mis­ Mississippi it seems as if their perceptions But this lifeblood is being strangled as the sissippi had a long tradition of not unseating have been frozen in time,” he observed, agricultural crisis which is besetting the incumbent members of Congress. He faced speaking in carefully measured tones. “The nation as a whole is reflected particularly the apathy of some Blacks who felt they’d fact that I sit here today shows the world, cruelly within its borders. Espy estimates already voted for a Black candidate and he yes, that Mississippi has matured and that that 30 percent of the family farmers in the lost twice, so why bother again? Intimida­ we can march with just about any other district have gone bankrupt and another 30 tion hindered still others from voting at all, state in terms of political sophistication and percent are on the brink. Even those farms in spite of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and being able to forge the kinds of coalitions that are prospering — the huge ones — the “New South.” And then: Mike Espy had one must forge to promote and develop our provide few jobs because they are so highly an initial image problem. Because he had agenda.” mechanized. There is little industry to never personally known the poverty of so Responding to the farm crisis is high up serve as an alternative economic base. many of his potential constituents, some on that agenda. Blacks have been especially hard-hit by didn’t believe he could relate to their Even before he was elected, Espy had all these problems. problems. gotten a promise from the House Demo­ Of the district’s 503,935 residents, 58 “When Mike announced he was going to cratic leadership that if elected he would be percent are Black, while the Black voting- run for the district, some people in the assigned a seat on the House Agriculture age population stands at 52.8 percent. That community put out the word that he was a Committee. The leadership honored that the district today is so constituted is the person who hadn’t paid his dues; that he promise. Espy is also a member of the result of court-mandated redrawing of its hadn’t picked cotton; he hadn’t marched. House Budget Committee, the only mem­ boundaries in 1982 and 1984. That action, But they had not met Mike. They did not ber of the House to serve on both the spearheaded by a dedicated band of civil know Mike,” recalls Jackson attorney Jesse Budget and Agriculture Committees. “And rights lawyers, increased the district’s Pennington, whose own parents had been that’s significant,” he believes, “especially Black population, thus giving it a better sharecroppers in Mississippi before migrat­ in this whole atmosphere of austerity and chance to elect a Black congressman. In ing to Chicago. shrinking dollars.” 1982 and again in 1984, a Black Democratic hen such people did meet Espy, He hopes to use his seats on the two candidate, state legislator Robert Clark, ran they came to recognize some­ committees, he says, “to be able to speak for the House seat, narrowly losing to white W thing that has so impressed for rural America and make sure we get our Republican Webb Franklin. Pennington, himself. And that, he says, is fair share of the federal dollar and that our this: “Mike has a really good sense of history. priorities are addressed.. . . I want to make The Candidacy A good sense of how he got to run for that sure our farm programs are still main­ When Espy announced his candidacy for particular office, of the struggle of people tained. We know they’re going to have to be the 1986 race, he was at first greeted with like Fannie Lou Hamer and Medgar Evers, cut a little bit, but I want to make sure they skepticism. Not that he didn’t have fine all those people. He’s one of the few don’t get as deep a cut as the President has educational and professional credentials. politicians I can say who really, truly under­ proposed. I also want to make sure exports He was, after all, a graduate of Howard stands that.” continue to be promoted. That’s a bright University (with a major in political science) For Pennington, the Espy victory sends a spot, really, on the agricultural front. And I and of the University of Santa Clara (Calif.) message that “Mississippi is on the move want to see that programs for rural health Law School. And he had been a managing again. It’s sort of like the gap between care are maintained and that funding is attorney with Central Mississippi Legal Reconstruction and the present is begin­ continued for educational programs which Services, an assistant secretary of state and ning to be closed now. When I came to are so important for a poorer state like an assistant attorney general. In this last practice in Mississippi in 1969 [fresh out of Mississippi. We have to make sure people post, he had headed the Consumer Protec­ Howard’s law school] there were only about get the kind of education needed to develop tion Division, helping to return more than eight Black members of the Mississippi the skills needed to operate in today’s $2 million to victims of consumer fraud in state bar. We thought our chances of being world.” 18 months. elected to any office were negligible.” Alongside his concern with helping farm­ Not that he didn’t have deep roots in the Indeed, the overwhelming theme of most ers in his district is his interest in attracting Mississippi soil. In 1921, in the small town of commentaries on the Espy victory is that it more industry. What he envisions, he says, Yazoo City, his maternal grandfather, T.J. sends a message to the world that Mis­ is “a workable, viable rather unique enter­ Huddleston Sr., founded the first hospital in sissippi has finally overtaken its bloody prise zone program which would offer small Mississippi operated by and for Blacks. (It is history. corporations magnificent incentives to no longer in existence.) Huddleston also Espy himself speaks of his election vic­ move into Mississippi and be able to draw on opened a chain of funeral homes in the state, tory as a signpost that Mississippi has our labor pool." some of which are still owned and operated “matured.” As he sat in his comfortably In addition to serving on the Agriculture by the Espy family. Espy had been born in furnished office in the Cannon House Office Committee and four of its subcommittees, his grandfather’s hospital, had lived in Yazoo Building one morning late in January, he Espy is a member of the House Select City for most of his life. seemed totally at ease in his history-making Committee on Hunger. And, given the

PublishedNEW by DIRECTIONSDigital Howard APRIL 1987 @ Howard University, 5 New Directions, Vol. 14 [], Iss. 2, Art. 6 district he represents, it’s not hard to he’s taken a lot of time to place a person on nington, “and there was no question Mike’s understand why it’s a seat he coveted. his staff who is an expert in agricultural law campaign was better organized. I was at the “While working to alleviate hunger around and related issues. The former congress­ polls in Canton, Miss., [as a legal adviser] the world,” he says, “we certainly have to man didn’t have anyone on his staff with that and his campaign workers knew by 4 pay attention to home first. We’ve still got type of expertise and, of course, he wasn’t a o’clock that certain people had not voted hungry people in Tunica County, the member of the Agriculture Committee. So and they were able to get on the telephone poorest county in America, in Holmes Mike’s already starting out ahead.” and try to get them to the polls.” County, the second poorest county in Amer­ Espy’s campaign benefitted, as well, from The Vote ica.” outside support. One key example: the For Espy, the problems he will be dealing The final vote tally showed that Espy had National Black Leadership Roundtable, an with on the Agriculture and Hunger Com­ received 71,119 votes to Webb Franklin’s organization composed of the leaders of mittees are related: “Something is clearly 68,292. (It was one of the lightest turnouts some 300 Black organizations, which bused wrong when our family farmers, the most in years.) In analyzing the returns, what volunteers into the district to aid Espy’s productive in the world, can’t make a decent most commentators seem to have found effort through its Campaign Workers As­ living; while at the same time, people living especially significant is that an estimated 17 sistance Project. in the most prosperous nation on earth are percent of that vote came from whites. Among the volunteers were students forced to go to bed hungry." Because of this, some went so far as to dub from Howard and other historically Black the election “a triumph for coalition pol­ colleges and universities. Comments Carol The Expectations itics.” Others, while agreeing that Espy’s Page, who coordinated the project for the As one spends time with Espy, as one hears white support was noteworthy, especially in Roundtable: “They were sent throughout him speak with such conviction, as one light of Mississippi’s past, are more re­ the Delta and worked from sunup to sun­ recognizes the magnitude of the problems strained. They caution that it would be down. They did the grunt work. They besetting the district he represents, one overstating the case to say white votes—or walked from door to door in all kinds of can’t help but wonder if the expectations of even an interracial coalition — actually weather, knocking on doors, passing out what he can do aren’t impossibly high. caused the Espy victory. leaflets. Wherever it was felt there needed “I have a minor fear that expectations “I think it was more a case that white to be some get-out-the-vote activity, they may be too high,” Espy acknowledges. “But turnout was so low that Black turnout were dispatched. It was particularly gratify­ it’s minor because I think I’ll be able to do basically pulled off the election,” observes ing,” says the former Howard history fac­ much more than what the constituents are Linda Wiliams, a political analyst with the ulty member, “especially since it belies the used to. So it becomes relative: expecta­ Joint Center for Political Studies, who is on image of today’s students as politically tions, relative to what? I think that if my leave from a teaching post in Howard’s apathetic, solely concerned with getting an constituents give me a little time, I will political science department. “Many white M.B.A. and making money.” bring home the bacon. I will deliver for voters were very dissatisfied with Webb them.” Franklin, but didn’t really want to support The Howard Impact Mike, so they stayed at home.” (Or, in the Nellie Johnson, one of these constitu­ The involvement of Howard students in the less elegant political terminology: they ents, isn’t much concerned about the prob­ Espy election has echoes in Espy’s own voted with their rumps.) lem of high expectations, either. “We know experience as a Howard student. Ronald he can’t just get in there and wave a magic s for why Espy was able to succeed Walters, who was chairman of the political wand,” she says of her new congressman. while Robert Clark could not, politi­ science department when Espy was a “We’ll help to do what we can to point up the cal analysts cite a variety of factors: student, remembers him as “one of a very needs [of the district] and maybe we can get theA lessons Espy derived from the suc­ active group of students who went to more federal help and maybe we can get cesses and failures of Clark’s campaigns; Mississippi to do poll-watching and other some industry to come in. Espy’s articulateness and his low-keyed, things like that.” The purpose of those “No, we’re not looking for him to get in non-militant manner which was perceived trips, Walters says, “was to get students there and do everything and do it all at once. as being less “threatening” to whites; some seasoned and grounded in some of the We know he’s going to have to work his way savvy television ads, especially one featur­ hands-on problems of politics Blacks were from the ground up—just as Harold Ford did ing the endorsement of a white sheriff; and, facing in the South.” In general, he remem­ when he was first elected from Tennessee in perhaps most importantly, a sophisticated, bers Espy as “sharp, vigorous, interested in 1974. Now Ford’s doing a lot of things for high-tech campaign operation which was politics and student activism.” “I knew he’d Memphis.” buttressed by a hefty campaign war chest be going places,” he adds. “Already,” Pennington adds, “Mike has ($571,000). Raymond Archer, the university’s direc­ done something concrete to recognize the By relying on computerized voter lists tor of student activities, was a resident needs of his constituents. He’s placed on his which showed the age, race, sex and assistant at Drew Hall when Espy, then a Yazoo City staff a person who is an expert in registration status of every person in the freshman, lived there. And he remembers public benefits so that when a constituent district, Espy’s campaign team was able to how Espy confounded the stereotypes of calls and says, ‘I’ve got a problem with my precisely target the people most likely to many northern students about what some­ Social Security check or my welfare bene­ vote for him and to see that they registered body from Yazoo City, Miss., would be like. fits,’ there will be an expert right there to (if they hadn’t already) and came out for the “Mike was very serious,” he recalls. “Mike handle it. And most of the problems coming primary and general election. “I worked in was very articulate. Mike had the ability to to that office will be along those lines. And Robert Clark’s first campaign,” recalls Pen­ Continued on page 23 http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol14/iss2/6 6 NEW DIRECTIONS APRIL 1987 Scarupa: Mississippi’s Mike Espy:Vowing ‘To Do Some Good’ and Alex William Continued from page 17 was $41,385 and 42.8 percent of its resi­ “Because of this allegiance to the Dis­ dents over the age of 25 were college trict, many Blacks in the suburbs have not Washington, D.C., metropolitan area con­ graduates. Blacks make up about 9 percent involved themselves in the communities ducted by an ad hoc group, the Regional of the county’s population (625,800 as of and the government where they live, have Fair Housing Consortium. The group had 1985), with the overall minority population not been politically astute. And therefore, sent out Black and white “testers” who about 15 percent. historically, the power structure has been posed as prospective renters of apartments Prince George’s County, which reported able to capitalize on that. People need to advertised in The Washington Post and it a population of 677,400 as of 1985, is more understand that there’s real power in the reported that of all jurisdictions in the area, economically and racially heterogeneous, suburbs — in Northern Virginia, in “Blacks were treated least favorably in including within its boundaries numerous Montgomery County, in Prince George’s Montgomery County, where they encoun­ blue collar communities as well as affluent County . . . That’s the new frontier.” tered discrimination 64 percent of the enclaves. As of 1980, the county medium Surveying the national scene Leggett time.” household income was $22,395, while 21.1 adds: “We’ve already elected Black mayors “I think we were all somewhat shocked percent of those 25 and older were college in many of our cities. We’ve elected Black and deeply saddened by the fact that in a graduates. (Unfortunately for comparison’s school board members, Black council peo­ county so enlightened as this one, we led sake with Montgomery County, more up- ple . . . At some point we’re going to the entire metropolitan area in the inci­ to-date Prince George’s County statistics maximize our political strength in the inner dence of housing discrimination in the are not available.) Black population of the cities. Now where do we go beyond that? rental market,” Leggett told his fellow county is estimated at about 48 percent The suburbs. We’re going to have to learn council members. “The resolution before today and is projected to hit the 50 percent the art of coalescing in politics where we are you in no way, shape or form is a panacea for mark by the end of the year. But the not the majority. We’ve got to find out how totally resolving the problem. It is simply a percentage of Black registered voters is far to effectively get involved in the political first step.” lower. process. We’re going to have to learn how to One by one, other council members take a candidate and sell a candidate to an expressed their support of the resolution Given the reality of such demographics, almost all-white audience, without that and congratulated Leggett for introducing both Williams and Leggett ran campaigns candidate losing his or her Black identity. it. Observing the council’s deliberations which purposefully deemphasized race and That’s the new challenge.” were a number of people with a special sought to appeal to a broad spectrum of It’s one he obviously has met. In analyz­ interest in the fair housing issue. Among voters. As Leggett says, “I used to joke that ing the election returns, his campaign team them was DeVance Walker Jr., minority given the numerical odds, if every Black in estimates that of the 100,000 votes he affairs officer for the county and also a Montgomery County voted for me three received in the general election, 92,000 of Howard alumnus. “The reputation of the times over and I had ex-President Marcos of those votes came from non-Blacks. (Wil­ county has made people complacent,” he the Philippines counting the votes for me, I liams estimates his white support at about remarked. “People want to feel that there is still wouldn’t win. So we [his campaign 30 percent.) no discrimination in 1987. Plus, in the team] had to emphasize that here was a housing situation, a lot of those who are candidate who would work for all the Recently, the two men took some time discriminated against don’t even know it. people.” out from very busy schedules to talk about Discrimination is more sophisticated than it Linda Williams, senior analyst with the the campaigns they ran, the challenges they used to be.” Joint Center for Political Studies, the Wash­ face in their new jobs and the role the “Most of the council members are sen­ ington, D.C.-based think tank, sees the Howard School of Law played in helping sitive to this issue,” he added. “But Leggett Leggett and Williams races as “a forerun­ shape their political destinies. deals with the Black population on a regular ner of a trend of Black candidates winning The settings for these conversations basis and knows the feelings of that popula­ more white support.” She also sees these were their faculty offices on the third floor tion about this particular issue more than races as a forerunner of another trend: “the of Houston Hall on Howard’s west campus. anyone else. He’s making it a council opening up of suburban possibilities in [Williams will go on public service leave priority. He’s doing what he’s supposed to politics for Black candidates.” Both men from the university at the end of the do as a council member because he has a agree. semester.] It seemed particularly fitting Black constituency out there that wants Says Alex Williams, a native Washing­ that they should be ensconced in a building him to address the issue. And he also has a tonian who settled in Prince George’s named for Charles Hamilton Houston. And number of white people out there who want County in the early 1970s because he saw that that building should house a law school him to address the issue. These are the the county as a land of opportunity for a whose first dean, John Mercer Langston, people who voted for him. So it’s only right young Black lawyer: “The suburbs are a had succeeded in his bid for public office as for him to take the leadership on this.” [political] haven that have not been con­ far back as 1888 (when he was elected to quered. But, traditionally, we’ve never Congress from Northern Virginia.) looked that way because we’ve focused our The Suburban Setting As the school’s current dean, J. Clay attention on the District. All through my Smith Jr., remarks: “In recent years there The county where Leggett has made his campaign I kept harping on the bedroom have been a greater number of our gradu­ home for the past 17 years is one of the syndrome where we work and play and ates or people associated with the law nation’s most affluent and well-educated. In party and go to church and visit our parents’ school seeking political office and fusing law 1984, the latest year for which figures are friends and all that in the District, but we with politics. But it’s not a new phenome­ available, its medium household income sleep in Prince George’s County. non, not at all.”

PublishedNEW by DIRECTIONSDigital Howard APRIL 1987 @ Howard University, 7 New Directions, Vol. 14 [], Iss. 2, Art. 6 Looking Back react once a person has shot someone or leading to clogged roads, overtaxed police As he looks back at his campaign, Alex robbed someone or committed some other and fire departments and some over­ Williams cites his endorsement in the type of crime. My job is to prosecute those crowded schools. While Leggett supports primary by Prince George’s County Execu­ people and have them removed from so­ development, the 41-year-old lawyer be­ tive Parris Glendening and U.S. Rep. Steny ciety.” lieves it should be more orderly and coordi­ Hoyer (D-Md.) as the turning point. “I think “I don’t have any guilt trips about pros­ nated than it has been in the past. they recognized that the demographics of ecuting people,” he adds. “One of the Other concerns which he intends to the county had changed and that there was assistants in my office was saying, ‘If you’re address as a council member relate to an educated Black community in the county Black and you go into the courtroom and problems hidden beneath the county’s afflu­ that was no longer going to tolerate an all- the people you’re trying to get convictions ent, glossy image of carefully manicured white thing,” he says, speaking with vigor as on are Black, how do you reconcile that?’ cul-de-sacs, spanking new apartment and if he were still on the campaign trial. “In “I answer that by saying, ‘Why do you get townhouse complexes, streamlined office their own minds, I suspect, they realized a job as a prosecutor?’ You do it for two parks and glitzy shopping malls. There’s the their political future was dependent on an reasons. Black people are most of the problem of housing discrimination, as we image of sharing power.” victims of crime. That’s number one. And have seen, but also the problem of housing Paradoxically, Williams’ voter appeal also they need strong representation. And sec­ affordability. Many of those who work in the was boosted by the consequences of a ondly, you can do more as a prosecutor than county, even schoolteachers and policemen, much-publicized tragedy: the cocaine-in­ you can as a defense attorney, whatever. can’t afford to buy a house there, especially duced death of University of Maryland When you see an injustice [in the criminal if they are the sole family wage earner. In basketball star Len Bias. Since the death justice process] you have the authority and some areas, the county also has an increas­ occurred in Prince George’s County, the the discretion to rectify it right there by just ing elderly population as well as an increas­ case fell under the jurisdiction of then saying ‘I dismiss’ or ‘I charge’ or ‘I alter the ing Third World immigrant population and Prince George’s State’s Attorney Arthur A. charge’ or ‘I reduce the charge,’ whatever. both groups are in need of various kinds of Marshall Jr. So I don’t have any qualms about being a special services. Even homelessness, con­ Marshall’s handling of the official inves­ prosecutor, not at all.” sidered a big city problem, has shown its tigation into Bias’ death — especially his Being in such a sensitive, visible and tragic face and demands sensitive response. almost daily press conferences in which he powerful position, Williams admits, has Aside from dealing with such more lambasted University of Maryland officials made him “apprehensive and paranoid.” generalized problems through council and revealed sensitive grand jury informa­ “There’s a double standard used to judge meetings and those of its committees, tion — convinced many voters the veteran Black politicians and I know I’ll be con­ Leggett has found that much of his time prosecutor was using the case for his own stantly under the microscope for four involves responding to the concerns of political benefit. Williams reaped the re­ years,” Williams says. “I don’t like it. But individual constituents. “That means ev­ wards of such feelings. “I’m the first person that’s the life of a Black politician in a white erything from difficulties people have get­ to admit that I got a lot of votes in the world.” ting their trash picked up on time and primary from people, especially white peo­ He then adds an upbeat postscript: “I potholes in the street to incidences of ple, who weren’t so much voting for me, as don’t have any problem with my ability to racism,” he explains. voting against Mr. Marshall,” he says. get the job done. One thing about me: I “Because I am ‘the first minority and “It’s ironic, but the case started off as a believe in Alex Wiliams.” Black to be elected’ and am such a visible thorn in my side [by giving Marshall a In contrast to Williams’ new job, Ike person as a result of the campaign and my bonanza of free publicity], but ended up Leggett’s new job on the Montgomery activism in the county, I probably have the helping me in that Mr. Marshall overkilled.” County Council is less powerful, in that he is highest constituent load on the council. Another irony: Marshall is his old boss. The one of seven; less demanding, in that it is Before, I think, many minority residents veteran prosecutor had hired Williams as a considered part-time; and less likely, per­ were somewhat reluctant to take a concern law clerk when he was a third-year Howard haps, to inspire white apprehensions, in that to a council person. But now they say, ‘I law student. It was Williams’ first job in law. Black legislators are far less rare than Black know someone. I’m going to take it to Ike Today, as state’s attorney, the 38-year-old prosecutors. Which is not to diminish the Leggett.’” Williams is responsible for the investigation importance of his work and of the council as As with Williams’ “I believe in Alex and prosecution of all crimes committed a whole. Williams” remark, Leggett shows that he, within the county’s borders, overseeing a The council is responsible for raising and too, has the first prerequisite for a politician: staff of more than 100, including 40 lawyers. disbursing revenues, overseeing a budget of abundant self-confidence. One thing he’s all too aware of as he $1.4 billion. Its second major function is to Leggett claims, though, to have never tackles this new job is the disproportionate direct land-use decisions, that is, to deter­ planned to seek elective office. (“I always number of Black males caught up in the mine where, when and how land should be thought of myself as a background person, criminal justice system. As for the whys of used, a determination that affects every­ someone who would do the research and this disproportion, he has no easy answers, thing from road construction to employ­ analysis of problems.”) That he ended up but he does say: “The causes that breed ment opportunities. doing so came about indirectly, through his crime are socioeconomic. There’s no ques­ One of Leggett’s priority concerns as a involvement with a county group called the tion about that. Of course, as a prosecutor I council member, he says, is “getting a Coalition for Equitable Representation in can’t go into that. That’s something legis­ better grasp on the county’s growth.” That Government (CERG). lators and citizens have to address. I only growth has been explosive in recent years, Continued next page http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol14/iss2/6 8 NEW DIRECTIONS APRIL 1987 Scarupa: Mississippi’s Mike Espy:Vowing ‘To Do Some Good’ and Alex William

worked as a clerk in the Navy Yard and his BREAKING NEW GROUND mother was for many years a domestic worker, before becoming a cashier in a government cafeteria. With the strong IN SUBURBIA encouragement of his mother, in particular, Continued from page 21 he, his two sisters and brother early set their eyes on achievement. Following in the One of his tasks as a CERG member was pline to get out and struggle through what I .footsteps of an older sister, Williams at­ to try to convince some Black residents of consider a long and difficult campaign.” tended Howard as a government major the county to run for political office. Many already committed to a law career. A job as a of those he sought out, he says, ended up Backgrounds Safeway clerk helped pay the way. convincing him that he would have the best When it was time to think about law chance to win, pointing out that he was Leggett had come to Howard for graduate school, he applied to Georgetown, New already well-known through his posts as work after earning a B.A. in political York University, the University of Mary­ chairman of the Montgomery County science from Southern University in Baton land, Ohio State—and Howard. “The white Human Relations Commission and its Rouge, La., serving as an Army captain in quasi-judicial job discrimination panel and Vietnam, working as a claims examiner for through his involvement in numerous com­ the Social Security Administration and a munity groups. Apparently, it didn’t take legislative assistant to former U.S. Rep. much convincing. Leggett, the divorced Parren J. Mitchell (D-Md.). “The substance of the father of a 12-year-old daughter, soon found Already he had come a long way from issues has been fairly himself running hard on the campaign trail. Alexandria, La., where he had been born Along the way he received an impressive into what he calls “an extremely poor quick for me to grasp array of endorsements from such groups as family, and I underline extremely.” His because of the education Hispanic Democrats, the Women’s Political mother was a short order cook. His father Caucus, the Retired Teachers Association, constructed fences. There were twelve and training I’ve had at Builders PAC (Political Action Committee) children to feed. Obviously, given such Howard. Howard [also] and the Rainbow Coalition. But it was the circumstances, there was to be no money endorsement of the Fraternal Order of for college. But, as a rather indifferent high instilled in me a degree Police, he believes, that marked the turning school student concerned almost exclu­ of motivation, enhanced point in his campaign. “There were many sively with athletics, Leggett says he wasn’t larger organizations that endorsed me, but thinking about college anyway. This my sensitivity to those when I got that endorsement it suggested a changed following his enrollment in a sum­ who are less fortunate, different segment of the community, proba­ mer job program at Southern University bly the more conservative segment, was which impressed upon him the advantages provided me with the dis­ prepared to support me and work in my of higher education and showed him a way cipline to get out and behalf,” he says. “And that, to me, signified to finance it through jobs, loans and ROTC. it was going to be very difficult to defeat struggle through what I He enrolled at Southern and almost me.” immediately transferred the energies he consider a long and diffi­ That doesn’t mean his campaign was had expended on the football field to the immune from racial slurs. When one of his cult campaign.” classroom, ending up graduating with a white supporters was handing out cam­ slew of honors, including that of student — Ike Leggett paign literature before the primary, one body president. That was the beginning of white man told her, “I’m not going to vote the numerous honors he was to receive for a Black guy, period. I don’t care how through the years. The most prestigious: qualified he is.” “But,” says Leggett, “it schools all rejected me,” he says. “I don’t serving as a White House Fellow in turned out that those who are fair in their have any problem admitting that. They said 1978-1979. By then, Leggett had added judgment prevailed over those few who felt that based on my score on the Law School three other degrees to his resume — the that way." Admission Test (LSAT)—it was just so-so— aforementioned Howard degrees (M.A., Leggett, who holds a M.A. in govern­ I wouldn’t make a good lawyer. So I went to government, 1972; and J.D., 1974) and a ment from Howard, in addition to his Howard. I realized I had some weaknesses master of laws from Georgetown (1976). Howard law degree, credits the university and just worked hard to eliminate them. And he had worked as a Navy Department with preparing him well for undertaking And I had some truly gifted instructors lawyer and was back at Howard—this time elective office. “The substance of the issues here, people who not only served the public on the faculty. has been fairly quick for me to grasp well, but also were among the best legal because of the education and training I’ve When he returned to the School of Law, minds around. So by the time I was ready to had at Howard,” he says. “But Howard following his White House fellowship, he graduate [in 1973, a year before Leggett] I instilled in me something even more. It also became assistant dean, a post he held was as ready to pass the bar as if my parents instilled in me a degree of motivation, until he joined the council. had been high-powered college graduates. I enhanced my sensitivity to those who are Williams was born and raised in the passed the Maryland bar the first time less fortunate, provided me with the disci­ District of Columbia where his father around and went on to other things.”

Published NEWby Digital DIRECTIONS Howard APRIL @ 1987 Howard University, 9 New Directions, Vol. 14 [], Iss. 2, Art. 6 These other things included building a thriving criminal law practice in Prince ESPY VOWING TO DO SOME George’s County, serving as assistant public defender for the county, general counsel for GOOD the towns of Fairmont Heights and Glenarden, Md., hearing examiner and Continued, from page 19 special counsel to the Prince George’s get along very well with different groups of terms of exposure,” he says. “And here was County Board of Education, a commis­ people from diverse parts of the country.” Howard—located in Washington, D.C.—the sioner on the Prince George’s County At the time [1971-72], long political cutting edge of a lot of the social and Human Relations Commission and on the discussions were an integral part of dorm political changes we see now. And the Maryland State Commission on Medical life, Archer says, “and Mike was usually a international community was so well repre­ Discipline, chairman of the Washington part of those discussions. He was insightful, sented, not just in the city, but at Howard Suburban Sanitary Commission, which has particularly for a freshman, in terms of itself. If you wanted to be involved in the basic authority over water and sewage talking and learning and wanting to know experience of another country, all you had services for Prince George’s and Montgom­ how to do things.” to do was go to a dormitory and start up a ery Counties—and teaching law at his alma Archer also remembers Espy as “one of conversation with someone from that coun­ mater. the gung-ho folks about Howard.” With try. I was exposed to the problems of Africa, Along the way, he found himself becom­ reason. For it was at Howard, says the the Caribbean, South America . . . And I ing more and more involved in politics. “I congressman, that “I got a thirst for was exposed to revolutionary politics. We think it took me about five or six years after political development that has never been [through the Liberal Arts Student Council] I began to practice to recognize that you quenched.” “I give Howard all the credit for had the money to bring people to campus had to have political power to get anything that,” he adds, his businesslike manner like Angela Davis, Imamu Baraka and done,” he says. “So I began to go out to softening as he looks back on his student Stokely Carmichael.” political functions, get to know the movers days. “If anybody can develop political skills Today, he regards revolutionary politics and shakers, be appointed to things. And anywhere, I developed them at Howard. I as “a last resort.” “I believe that I can work ultimately I decided it was time for me to was elected Liberal Arts Student Council for change within the system,” he says. move politically myself. Based on my train­ treasurer and we ran a traditional campaign “During my own lifetime, I can see that ing and the diversity of my legal experi­ with posters and radio speeches. And while progress may not have been made as ences with a concentration in criminal law, election machines! We didn’t even have fast as some would like, nonetheless prog­ the state’s attorney’s job was the one I election machines in some counties in ress has been made.” wanted.” Mississippi, but at Howard we had them for Today, of course, the venue of his political Looking over his fast-moving career and student government elections.” involvement has shifted from the campus of at the new challenges he faces as state’s In addition to being involved in student Howard University to the gleaming, domed attorney, Williams says, “I’m grateful to government, Espy served as president of Capitol of the United States of America Howard for giving me the opportunity to the student political science society at the several miles away. How does it feel? become a lawyer. But that’s been the university and president of the National “It’s been humbling, to say the least,” history of Howard. It always has picked Association of Black Political Science Stu­ Mike Espy answers. “I do have to almost people up who have been the victims of dents, composed, he says proudly, of “politi­ pinch myself sometimes, particularly at social, political and economic deprivation cal science students from all the predomi­ events like the State of the Union message. I and molded them to the best they can be.” nantly Black colleges in America.” used to watch that every year on TV I used Veteran Howard law professor Henry While Espy says he feels he learned as to look forward to it. To hear the most Halvor Jones taught both Williams and much from his fellow students at the powerful man in the world give his annual Leggett and remembers them as outstand­ university as from the faculty, he cites statement on the position of the United ing and self-assured students. Walters as one professor who had particu­ States in the world, to me, is a significant Today, as he continues to interact with larly influenced his political development. event whether you agree with what he says the professor-politicians they have become, “He was a strategist and a technician who or not. To have the leadership of this he is full of praise. “We’re very proud of gave me some insights into the mechanics country crowded together in one small them,” he says, speaking of the faculty as a of political operations,” he recalls of the room was awe-inspiring to me and the fact whole. “In fact, we’re amazed sometimes by man who was later to become a key adviser that I was there for the first time was a bit the successes some of our students have to Jesse Jackson. “His agenda at the time overwhelming.” and the level of competence they have was unifying the Black vote and making it Smiling now, he adds, “I’m almost ex­ realized in face of all the problems that we influential in Democratic politics.” A high­ pecting someone to tap me on the shoulder [as Blacks] had generically. How they have light of his student days, Espy says, was and say it [the election] was all a mistake." overcome these problems, as someone said, going with Walters and others to a National “I’m just being facetious,” he says quickly. is ‘a social miracle.’ But it’s very difficult to Black Political Convention in Little Rock “I know it wasn’t a mistake. We ran a sustain that story in the public eye.” “where we were exposed to so many difficult campaign for a year-and-a-half and In a subtle but nonetheless meaningful different ideologies.” it was a good campaign and we won. But it is way, Alex Williams and Ike Leggett are But, then, Howard, itself, broadened his humbling to be here, for sure.” sustaining that story as they break new view of the world. “Coming from Mis­ For sure. □ political ground in the Maryland suburbs. □ sissippi, I had been relatively sheltered in http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol14/iss2/6 NEW DIRECTIONS APRIL 1987 10