Ridiculousness
Thank you for joining us with our brother to Brothers segment we have the opportunity to be graced by one of our founding members the Dr Willie Clemens and just wanted to say it’s a pleasure to be here with you today sir oh it’s an honor absolutely and I just want to let
Members know and let people know that when I first got hired you were the first voice I heard to congratulate me and I just want to say I appreciate that for the bond that we have um for the family that we share in Mobile Alabama and just for your words of wisdom that
Have carried me to where I’m at today well it was an honor I I was very proud when I heard that you were assuming the uh the role as CEO for the 100 black men of Atlanta I I I knew that you brought with you all the leadership skills and
Was familiar with your background every war College the whole nine yards and the family friend and so thank you and again very very happy to see you ser serving in this capacity well thank you sir and I will also say that I remember attending the Cabaret oh okay and I
Remember when the song The Odyssey song came on and I heard your voice can you say can you just say that for us how you say it La Cabaret La Cabaret La Cabaret so when we have the Gayla this next year coming up I would love to hear
That if you’re able to come and be I would be more than happy to more than happy to do cuz I think just just this distinction of seeing the brothers walking with the white Colts the song and the voice is just amazing to see and to hear well and it’s good
For me that that to start that tradition and seeing that tradition is being continued uh we were very excited uh being able to do something significant and unique and different in the city and L Cabaret did just that during that time and one of the highlights was that we had Phyllis
Hyman as a featured entertainment so that was good but glad to see that you’re continuing to do that yes well if we could just talk a little bit if you could just tell us a little bit about what it was like going up in Mobile um
If I’m not mistaken I think you you actually grew up with Hank Aaron at the time so so you know and again he was one of our members here as Steam members of course but just kind of give us a little bit about your background and then you
Also go into like you know the book to kind of tell us you know how you got to where you’re at today well life for me has been a journey uh but it’s been a magnificent journey and it began in Mobile Alabama and it began
As with most of us with our families I come from a a very puritanical but a very very loving family uh I was reared by my my my grandfather and uh my grandmother who uh died early on and and my mother who was in New York at that time and as what
Happened during that time was that that was the migration to the sa so my mother left going to New York to find a better way of life for us and my grandparents would not allow her to take me with her so that’s why I was raised
By by them and by uh by my aunts but it was a community that was key the church was significant it played a vital role uh in in our lives and so that was the core along with the school and that helped shake me along with very strong
Black men who were Everyday People everyday in the sense that they were not say quote just professionals but they worked hard they took their family they were Faith driven and they they showed the love and the kind of of of of of respect which they demanded but they were also uh
Disciplinarians you know we were allowed at that time that uh they could definitely say whip us if that’s a term that we could use we used it at that time uh when they saw us getting out of line so it was a community effort the extended family was quite significant
And that helped shaped me but I come from a family who provides service my grandfather was that he was my my role model and uh the very first and so what he did what you see me do on a smaller scale he did in the community so he was
An idol uh and I learned from that experience of giving back of of working with uh the least of us and so that’s what helped Propel my journey and so that has taken me from from from Mobile Alabama went to school to Alabama state in Montgomery was involved with the
Civil rights movement and worked very closely with uh as I said the Marther King Jr who was in Montgomery at that time uh and with abany and then eventually getting with the move to Atlanta Congressman Lewis and uh Andy Young and the whole nine yards so it
Could go on and on and on but you see the pattern but at the core of this was uh how can I make a difference and have an impact on the life to others just as that impact was and opportunity was given to me I love how you connect
Your past you know and the work that you did to the current work in which you’re in part of here and that you continue to do and I think for me when I um you know when I heard Ambassador young earlier speaking about how his wife Dean started
You know and I in the way I understand is that she helped start Atlanta Metropolitan State College Metropolitan State College at that time but that she brought you on board yeah we it was um May between 20 and 25 of us that opened the school I was we were in Suburbia
Chicago um and uh I had gotten my doctorate and was uh uh a professor at College of DuPage and the opportunity came for we had a one-year-old to uh to look at other opportunities and had an offer to go to San Francisco or to come to Atlanta and we chose
Atlanta because it was in close proximity to our families in MO in Mobile my wife leria has a large family very close-nit I had a very very small family and uh but we wanted our children to to have that experience of growing up with their cousins and aunts and uncles
And Grand folks and all so we moved to Atlanta and that was one of the reasons and as at Faith withth had it it was really the Jean and Andy was very busy because he was Congressman at that time they had a one-year-old son and they took us under their umbrella and the
Rest of History I met so many many many people uh as a result of that relationship with the with with them I looking at what Atlanta meton state colleges today I would consider it probably another historical black college because of the population which it serves and and of course where it’s
The location and even know it’s a state college you know that’s what I do consider it and um I have to say that I do admire that the work youve done in h Ed you know I know you haven’t talked about it a lot you know during the
Meeting today but if you could just share a little bit of the wisdom of what prepared you to get to where you know to finish a doctorate didn’t impart the wisdom what you learned along the way working from Atlanta Metropol State College then to Mora School of Medicine where you retired well yeah
The historically we were limited say in the the 40s and the 50s with professions that we could go uh into uh we there were not corporations and uh and there were just very limited business owners I mean you could count the the number of those but uh those
Service areas was was really open to us and and and and uh uh you know teaching was one um and there were few um doc medical doctors and that’s has has changed you know now we have more there were no female medical doctors at that time they were all males it’s surprising
Now that that has a reversed and that’s another story but but at any rate I was limited and so that was the thing that I that I chose to do uh being in an area where I could make a difference in the lives of others just as I said earlier
That that had been offered me and uh so teaching was that but I didn’t my initial teaching experience was in Mobile that was what I wanted to do I want wanted to come back after graduating from Alabama State and teach there but in doing that I recognized
That that I had a greater calling I wanted to do more uh at at the college level but in order to do that I had to go back to uh to to school uh and there’s a series of things that’s also mentioned in in in in the
Book we were not allowed to go to the University of Alabama and the Auburn and the white institutions as as such and it was until uh our family friend Vivian Malone Jones who integrated that but uh for me I had already graduated from college had gone so I couldn’t go there um and
But and the strangely enough that the state of Alabama paid for me to go to Indiana University to go uh to get my Master’s rather than allowing me to go to the University of Alabama uh and that’s how I got my graduates both at at at
IU um and then I did one year at the University of Mississippi postmasters and then when leran and I got married I was on the faculty at Tuskegee and uh wanted to get the doctorate and that’s when we got the opportunity to move to Suburban Chicago
To do two things one to teach at at the College of DuPage but also to get my doctorate and that’s what happened coming to Atlanta working um at the uh Atlanta Junior College certainly was an experience and it it was a unique experience was certainly a good one for me because I
Moved from working in an all not all 99.9% wealth the community of whites at the College of the page coming south and dealing with 99% uh African-Americans and and most were highrisk who had graduated from high school and had come to Atlanta because it was a transition for me but it was one that I wanted to do because I felt
As so that this was my way of giving back and it was there that that that with Jean the late Jean young and others of us that that really really did that and I will also tell you one of the things that happened tying into the 100 when we with our project success
Students when we found that our students who were South Moors were would not be able to graduate uh in 2 years we panicked we said we got to do something in order to make this happen we have stepped out on the this we nationally said what we were
Doing we were going to pay for their education these students have going to graduate on time all of that but they were failing and what we did we had to come up with $150,000 to stir the sat sat Academy and we started it at Atlanta Junior College
On Saturday morning and I think I shared that with Elliott and all those guys we went and Drug them out of bed and made sure that they did all of that but that was what the the the school did and so once I decided to uh you know to to move to
Transition uh the opportunity came for me to come to Mor house school of of Medicine with a different role and and all of that and uh that’s where I I I I landed uh the 100 started when I was at Atlanta and I will tell you got the
Support of the institution as you could very well see and supporting us uh and then with with with my fraternity and other things in in the community those institutions were support systems one of the things as I had also mentioned earlier that with the black college presidents male black college
Presidents members of the organization how they contributed was to they hosted our meetings on on on their campus and that was and so we did it for any number of reasons but two one was that it provide they the state-ofthe-art for meeting they had all the technology
And they had all of that they had the food service we did everything and that was that but the other part was to for the students to see us coming on campus we were always dressed at our meetings we came dressed with shirt and ties um and they saw us coming and
Meeting and and all of that so that’s developed a presence with those particular institution that that when I left move and retire from L house school to medicine they were still doing that so and then that’s why we had the president of morous the um school of
Medicine as a member up until uh Dr mtgy rise president of Clark president of morouse were all members of and the president of Atlanta Metropolitan were members of The 100 black men and they gave their institutions uh as support from there so that’s exactly what we did that’s a
Relationship that we that we had with them and was that particular Comm commitment that we are here to serve and to make a difference in our community now thank you for sharing I think something that I heard um Dr Walter Young speak to earlier um as he said was
The true founding of our our organization was that um it was a Christmas party or get together andeve it was a New Year’s Eve event and just you know and I can just think you know this is Atlanta in the mid 80s and just the change that was going on culturally
That was happening you know not only in Atlanta but in our right and just hearing and seeing you know I knew at that time the progressiveness that was happening in Atlanta and that was happening here especially men of color right and to you know that just I guess just made Atlanta
So unique and then our chapter so unique is that you have so many um men who were prominent politics education um business um you know the Technologies were really coming here they were moving you know just the self starting you know this was known as choca city outside of
Washington DC absolutely and if you can speak a little bit to what the Nostalgia was at that time you know I know he said that they you know joke when like you just put $100 in and go forth but you know I do tell that story with my
Funders you know cuz I I always let them know that this was self- started by men of color that we didn’t come out asking for a hand out we actually self started and was self-support and then later on incorporated into the 501c3 and when they hear that perspective it’s
Different absolutely is anything you can share with me share with us on that oh yes and and uh well was was was spot on that it it it it it it started here but Nate had had conversations with uh Dr Haley uh and and those it was quite ironic
That 100 black men of America became official the same time that the 100 black men did uh because early on going back to uh to the 50s and the 60s that was called 100 black men and the David dinkin and all those started that in New York but
There was not chapters that was that particular group and what they did they didn’t want to become an organized organization there were four cities the New Jersey New York Los Angeles and Indianapolis that had we they weren’t called chapters the groups simul we became number
Five and but it was the push to make it come under one umbrella and that umbrella was the 100 black men of America so that’s how that started and as I said it was done pretty much simultaneous when we started uh there we were in existence for 6 months and we
Hosted the First National Convention uh which as G six months and we had to turn things around it was the Western Hotel uh and it was just well done we did the little Cabaret all of that was tied in there together but we were self-starting in
The sense that we wanted to create our own and start our own uh and early on that’s what we did we put in ex dollars we put in the $100 to get you know things organized and a lot of guys like Nate and those put in a little more because there were some
Things that needed to we hosted our meetings like uh in in our cuz it was just night of us so we could meet at some of them we had m m Wilber Joe H all of those we met there organizing that so we started all of this and created the the the structure
Of the of of the organization but we did but as I said in in in the history we but we certainly realized that we could only go but so far if we were going to do that because the f Focus we didn’t want to be just another social organization although we started
Socially I mean we we we were friends we all we were very close friends we saw each other so and Atlanta was hot at that time we were all young we had young children our families We Were Young professionals and so we all that that
Was key but I think at some point that that and I have to take my hat off to n and saying well wait a minute we really need to do do a little more than just party and so we need to do something to contribute to add to the Quality to give
Back and so forth and that’s really really what what what started that and which we did it was strangely enough that one of and I I hate to use the term but it was true uh Dillard mford who owns 71s the 711s here and a lot of this he was a
White somewhat known racist uh called Nate and asked him to come to his office he wanted to talk to him he had heard about you know what we were doing and self starting and that and he was quite impressed with that and he gave Nate Nate came out with the check for
$50,000 to help jump start to keep that’s going Nate didn’t go in to ask he didn’t know what he was going to to say and here’s this man who we know have had a history of there but that’s what he did and that’s how we were able to hire Monica Douglas the
First um there and that’s how that process started um but we recognize suddenly that we that and we will always remember Jesse Jackson sharing this that access and relationships are key if you really want to have and I think you’ve heard that throughout the conversation da one
Has the access then they can open doors they could do that well we were limited we could you know the power people who were in were in power were the Maynards the Andis the John Lewis the Carl wees the Hank aons and all of those situations they were the ones who could
Open the doors and so we recruited them in to join our ranks and that’s what they exactly they did that was their role we knew that they were not going to be able to deal with the daytoday of trying to get to the school and to the student because they were running cities
And countries in the world but they did what they were supposed to do to move the organization forward and so that’s how we involved we’ve always wanted to be and as a part of of of our mission and our goal where as to be a self-supporting organization Jim George
The late Jim George who was former president and was uh vice president Executive Vice President at the Georgia Power Company always said before he died we want to make each other Rich that was his particular thing what do we do in terms of of supporting each other and so
What we had and which I I I wasn’t I obviously we didn’t have time to go through all of that but we supported each other all of we had 25 physicians in the organ all of my phys our family physicians were black and they were members of The 100 because you had all
In this city you had all Specialties same thing in terms of law we could do that so that’s the people that we had so we were supportive of each other not only were we friends but then we supported each others to help us move the particular needed there was that sense of
Brotherhood just as I shared with you the little situation in terms of when Nate said oh no I don’t have to worry about I’ll pay their dues and that’s what he did so that’s what the Brotherhood the camaraderie and all that made this tightnit group group very very strong
And supportive and making a difference here yeah I was going to bringing back the educational standpoint with Lonzo CR okay and U you know of course touch on because Alonzo CR when I was in elementary school he was in Oakland California and he’s a nuke you know I
Know you’re Alpha we’ll forgive you for that one but um I just know that you know once I became you know I knew when I took this role that how can I say the legacy of me being a student under Alonzo cran in Oakland California then him coming here being one of the
Founding chapter members here then not only that being Su first black superintendent of Atlanta Public School just that just that Mantra of education and just seeing how he selected he he didn’t go to the one the school that was like you know the the highest supporting
He went to where the most need was and I think for us people need to understand and I know he can point to that how you know you look at the men who were very successful and you you know some people would assume they would have picked a
Different school or different section of Atlanta but they say we’re going to where the most need is yes um Dr Alonzo crem we call him Lonnie and his wife Gwen who was my colleague because she was one of the ones who started Atlanta Metropolitan College uh as well um uh
But as as a founding member here and we decided to go that obviously our Focus was going to be education and Lan was the superintendent of schools uh we asked him and his staff if he would select a school that had the the the greatest need Archer High School had the highest
Dropout rate of the schools in the Atlanta public school at that particular time uh and there were all and where it was located in the Perry home that’s no longer existed here now but it was the housing project and all and so that was the decision that he came back
Withh and we accepted it because we asked him to make that choice and that’s exactly what we did uh he was a Powerhouse who knew the educational system uh he advised us we had access to a lot of things there because him being a member and certainly supporting that
And in fact he recommended the principal of the school as a member uh uh as well so we had the principle of the school along with him but his his whole thing was definitely um moving the needle the education and he was really committed to providing service to those
Especially those the least of us yes uh and he was a part of the one of the decision that we said that we should always have the superintendent of school the male superintendent of school and and we followed that for that because after him came Jerome um Harris and
Other males who were were who were superintendent that were members yeah yes no thank you for sharing that and um in closing um just if you could reflect on one person who was a mentor to me um Dr ASA hilard oh my goodness Yes Asa
Uh how can I say this and in in a sense no seriously and and I think about it not only in terms of the friendship and the commitment he too was another person that supported the 100 to the anth degree uh and his what he did at Georgia
State and all around the world I know he spoke he was in high demand to speak in terms of that and so he was gone a lot but anytime that we ask him to do something that’s I meant about managing our members and having specific roles that they could pay based upon their
Time they’ll get it done they may not be able to do it at the exact time we need it but based upon the schedule they would get it done ASA was that person he uh was very very committed to this organization and and contribut I always I always had to remind
Him uh when his dues were du was no problem paying or his assessment was due for look Cap all of that and then to a point I got I stopped calling him and started calling paty Joe this so she as I did with many of the spouses took care of those kinds of
Things as well but to the answer to your question very very very very much engaged yes in uh in in in the 100 yes no the reason I asked this twofold is um you know he was a mentor of mine when I was growing up in California then got to
Know him here of course in Georgia um his son hakeim came and spoke to us um last year and also as a member but I always remember um just his laughter his care for students and his focus and and and then also just um we uncovered Ray
Was able to share with me uh from the program he had put a PowerPoint together of basically of how to run project success from a comedic standpoint oh yeah so we’re starting to integrate some of those teachings that he did from you know when he was over the
Programs and what he preached we’re bringing that back into the fold now just to carry that Legacy and that connection absolutely just want thank you for you know for you sharing that with us but oh yeah yeah he he he would love that for sure by all means and and
And I think that this is what we say to you guys that you all are the next wave of leadership you’re the leadership now and and and you and hopefully that you will continue those sorts of things that’s why I think it’s so important that we we understand the history and
The shoulders that you’re standing on and what they did and some of those tactics although it’s a new day but racism is is is still a alive and all of the things that’s happening uh to us in the 50s 60s are coming back again so you
Have to be prepared to deal with those we didn’t allow those to Define us we conquered those things but we work collectively and I think that again under you all’s leadership and what you’re doing here you will make a tremendous impact in this community well thank you Dr Clem in closing I would
Like to say what is it that you would love to be remembered for your legacy with the 100 black men of Atlanta of of making an impact of making a difference in the lives of others I think you you you see where I became very emotional in
Referenc to Elliot because I see the the impact and many many many other that have gone on that the lives that we’re touch and so I would like to be remembered in terms of of of of that how did I help someone how am I strengthening the community by helping
Those in need that’s my Mantra yes and I I I want to uh to be to be remembered uh that I had the courage and the strength MH and as I stand before God of saying with the talents that he he gave me I
Hoped I used all of them uh as I leave this earth and I thank him for that well thank you Dr Clems for your gift God bless my brother thank you thank You
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