On the recordSeptember 6, 2018
We have heard quite a bit tonight of the life and legacy of a great human being and a great warrior for peace and justice, Congressman Ron Dellums. Let me highlight a couple of stories that weren't highlighted tonight that I would like to share. First of all, Ron really worked in a bipartisan fashion on many, many issues. I remember that Ron and former Speaker Newt Gingrich were talking about collaborating on a book together. This was really a time of true bipartisanship. Also, Ron called himself a feminist, and he believed in equality for women. This just wasn't lip service. He followed his convictions in his hiring practices. Ron hired women and women of color in the early 1970s and took pride in employing a diverse staff. When I worked for Ron in the seventies, I was one of a very few African Americans and only a couple African American women in key senior staff positions on Capitol Hill, but he made certain that I was treated fairly and empowered me to manage his office. Ron had remarkable female role models, including his mother, Mrs. Willa Dellums. She was a major influence on Ron and taught him to be proud that he was an American of African descent. She taught him that his culture and his heritage was an important part of who he was as a human being and as an elected official. Ron was really the big brother that I never had. He gave me personal advice and support as a single mom raising two boys here in Washington, D.C. He loved children.…
