January 28, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E55 that had been abandoned by its original inves- TRIBUTE TO COLEMAN agers used Young's involvement in a protest tors. Ms. Brock never let age get in the way ALEXANDER YOUNG against racial segregation at Sojourner Truth, of 16 hour days or numerous hours of volun- as eastside public housing project, as a rea- teer service. Ms. Brock was a survivor and a HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR. son to fire him. During World War II, Young joined the U.S. shining example of what each of us should OF MICHIGAN Army at the age of 24. He was commissioned IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES strive to become. She was loved by all in the a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry and later community, whether they knew her personally Wednesday, January 28, 1998 transferred to the Air Corps. There he became or not. She was everything that was good in Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to the nation's first black bombardier. He and being human, not perfect but as close as I pay tribute to the life of a man who was a civil other blacks in the Army Air Corps became imagine most will come to while here on earth. rights legend, a political genius and an ex- known as the Tuskegee Airmen. However, ra- My staff who knew her loved her as well. She traordinary human being. Coleman Alexander cial discrimination prevented them from fight- was always offering her home as a place to Young, Detroit's first African American mayor, ing in the War. They fought the Army instead. stay and she never passed up an opportunity died November 29, 1997, in the city he loved. Young organized a group of 100 other black to make us all feel at home. I know we are all He was 79 years old. officers and staged a sit-in at the ``whites only'' a little bit better off for knowing Ms. Brock, Mr. Young, who served a record five con- officers Club at Freeman Field, Indiana. They were jailed after they refused to sign docu- whether it was only for a few days or decades. secutive terms before leaving office in 1994, ments agreeing to stay out of the club. Iron- May she take the heavens by storm as she blazed a trail of social and political equality by acting on his conviction that all people are en- ically the black officers were kept under guard did Calhoun and Liberty Counties, for I know titled to a decent life. Born in the segregated while German POWs moved freely on the she is smiling on us all. South when white-robed Klansmen inflicted a base. At least one high-ranking army officer reign of terror on African Americans, Young wanted to court-material and shoot the black f had an uncompromising commitment to jus- officers. The protest did end segregation at tice, equality of opportunity, economic em- the club. CELEBRATING SAINT PAUL powerment and dignity for all people. Mayor Young continued his work as a union BAPTIST CHURCH That commitment formed the foundation of organizer after the war. Elected director of or- his activism in the labor movement, the U.S. ganization of the Wayne County AFL±CIO in Army, the national political scene and the 1948, he was the organization's first black HON. JULIAN C. DIXON mayor's office. Mr. Young was, as former paid staff member. In response to the blatant racism in the labor union hierarchy, he and OF CALIFORNIA Michigan Governor William Milliken said at his funeral service, ``a man of glorious gifts.'' other activists founded the National Negro IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES He was dazzingly brilliant, disarmingly witty Labor Council, whose goal was to win decent wages for blacks and whites. Entrenched Wednesday, January 28, 1998 and outrageously outspoken. He was quick to anger and even quicker to forgive. He was not union leaders were stunned and upset by the Mr. DIXON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call to the afraid to speak the truth, no matter whom it rapid growth of this group that dared to chal- attention of the Congress the historic 90 year upset, and he was utterly fearless in his de- lenge the union establishment. NNLC mem- bership included everyone from black factory old Saint Paul Baptist Church of Los Angeles, fense of basic human rights for all peopleÐ urban dwellers, common laborers, political ac- workers in Detroit to white textile workers in California, whose great congregation will come the South to actors and activists on the east together on Friday, February 13 to commemo- tivists, the disenchanted and those ignored or scorned by society. coast. Young and the NNLC also drew the rate the one year anniversary of their es- wrath of the House Un-American Activities teemed Pastor, Dr. Joel Anthony Ward. Coleman Young was born May 24, 1918, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the oldest of William Committee which was investigating com- An array of distinguished religious and civic and Ida Young's five children. In 1923, the munism. He was summoned before the com- leaders from around our city will join the con- Young family moved to Detroit where they set- mittee in 1952. Young's defiant testimony and gregation to honor Dr. Ward and his wife, tled in Black Bottom, a racially and ethnically his fearless challenge of the committee's role in spying on and terrorizing ordinary citizens MaLinda at this special service. The keynote diverse eastside Detroit neighborhood just two made him a hero to thousands of Americans. miles from the office he would later occupy as address will be delivered by Reverend Joe B. When asked if any of his associates were Hardwick, Pastor of Praises of Zion Baptist mayor. Communists, Young told the committee that The pernicious effects of systemic racism Church, whose outstanding choir will sing at they had him confused with a stool pigeon. would follow him through his life. But instead the service. When the committee lawyer said ``Niggra'' in- of weakening his resolve, these challenges This special weekend will culminate on Sun- stead of Negro, Young corrected his speech strengthened his spirit. As a student, Young and accused him of deliberately slurring the day, February 15, 1998, with a special worship excelled in his classes and earned all A's, but service. Among the participants will be Dr. Wil- word to insult blacks. Young did not mince was denied a scholarship to three parochial words about his view of the committee. He liam Epps, Pastor of Second Baptist Church; high schools when school officials learned he told them, ``I consider it an un-American activ- Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr., Pastor of Trinity Baptist was black. After graduating second in his high ity to pry into a person's private thoughts, to Church; Rev. Perry J. Jones, Pastor of Mes- school class, he was denied scholarships to pry into a person's associates. I consider that siah Baptist Church; and Rev. G.D. McClain, the University of Michigan and what is now an un-American activity.'' Pastor of First Bethany Missionary Baptist known as Wayne State University because of Dave Moore, a longtime associate, recalled Church. These distinguished clergymen recog- his race. the euphoria the testimony sparked. ``Coleman nize the challenges that religious leaders face Years later he said those early brushes with Young could have been elected king of De- today, and appreciate the remarkable record racial discrimination were catalysts that fueled troit. Blacks and whites responded to what he his desire to make fundamental social Dr. Ward has established in the short time he said.'' changes. The following excerpts from the me- has been Pastor of Saint Paul Baptist Church. But that victory was short-lived. The auto morial booklet prepared for Mr. Young's fu- plants still blacklisted him. The UAW and other Dr. Ward was the Pastor and Organizer of neral sum up the early years when he paid a unions slammed the door in his face and the Rehoboth Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan heavy price for being a labor activist in Detroit FBI put him on its list of dangerous individ- when he accepted the call to become Pastor and a civil rights activist in the segregated uals. For years he survived on jobs, but never of Saint Paul. His inaugural year has been a Army Air Corps. lost his thirst for equality. great success. His exceptional stewardship ``His activism was evident in 1937 when he In the 1960's, Young focused on politics as has touched many lives, and has made an im- joined the ranks of automotive workers. Young the way to bring about necessary change. In portant difference in the life of his church. worked as an electrician's apprentice and 1964, he was elected to the State Senate. He soon became a labor organizer of the Con- quickly rose to leadership and became the first Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues in this gress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). He black member of the Democratic Natural Com- chamber join me in extending our best wishes was fired because of his union activities. Tak- mittee. In 1973, just six years after a searing to Dr. Ward on this joyous occasion. May God ing a job at the U.S. Post Office, Young again urban rebellion that charred the heart and the continue to bless his work as he ministers to angered supervisors by recruiting employees landscape of Detroit, Young decided to run for the spiritual needs of his congregation. to band together in a labor union. Postal man- Mayor.