Thomas Tom Bradley was the 38th Mayor of Los Angeles, California, serving 5 terms in office from 1973 to 1993. The son of sharecroppers and grandson of slaves, he made history when he was elected Mayor of Los Angeles and became the first African-American Mayor of a major American city without a Black majority. He was the only African-American mayor of that city and his 20 years in office marks the longest tenure by any mayor in the city’s history. Born in Calvert County, Texas, December 29, 1917, the second of seven children, Bradley’s family moved to Los Angeles when he was 7 years old. Raised by a single mother, Bradley challenged every obstacle placed in his way. Bradley worked several jobs to help support his mother and siblings. He was an ambitious student, attended UCLA on a track scholarship in 1937, initially as the only Aftrican-American member of the team. He became a record-breaking track star and team captain, and was one of a small group of athletes that broke the color barrier in college sports. While a student at UCLA, Bradley was initiated into the Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., February 18, 1938, where he served as its Polemarch. Within the Los Angeles (CA) Alumni Chapter, he served as Strategus. Grand Polemarch Ernest J. Wilkins appointed him as the Western Province Polemarch in 1947, a position he held for 10 years. The delegates at the 47th and 48th Grand Chapter Meetings elected him to the Grand Board of Directors. The delegates at the 49th, 50th and 51st Grand Chapter Meetings elected him Senior Grand Vice Polemarch. He was elected and served as the 18th Grand Polemarch from 1964-1967. Bradleys outstanding accomplishments in politics earned him the Fraternitys highest honor, the 22nd Laurel Wreath Award. He served as a Los Angeles Police officer for 21 years, reaching the rank of Lieutenant – the highest position an African American could achieve at that time. When covert racism prevented him from advancing his career, Bradley attended Southwestern Law School at night, passed the bar the first time, and became an attorney. With his law degree in hand, he resigned from the LAPD. While he was a police officer, Bradley became actively involved in politics, notably the Democratic Minority Conference and the California Democratic Council, a progressive, liberal reform group with a racially mixed membership. In 1963, he was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in the biracial 10th District, supported by a multi-ethnic coalition led by African-American civic and church leaders. Bradley was one of three African-American men elected to the Council that year, the first of their race to attain that distinction after over a century of LAs existence as an American city. In the 1960s, America was polarized by race and mired in increasing social and political turmoil. It was in this atmosphere that two-term City Councilman decided to challenge Sam Yorty in 1969 for Mayor of Los Angeles. It was a long shot. African-Americans were less than 18% of the population, and Bradley reached across racial and ethnic lines and created a strong coalition of all races. Bradley’s message of hope and change was smothered and he lost the election. But Bradley would have another chance to defeat Yorty four years later. In 1973 voters put aside their fears and handed Bradley a solid victory. Bradley made a difference. He opened City Hall and city commissions to women, minorities and the disabled. He transformed Los Angeles from a conservative, white, urban center into one of the most diversified and important cities in the world with a new skyline, vibrant downtown and revitalized financial and business districts. He positioned the growing metropolis to take its place as an international trade center. He influenced two generations of policy makers and leaders. He successfully campaigned for the city to host the 1984 Olympics – the first-ever profitable Games. He oversaw much of the city’s growth and development as a commercial and residential hub and was a driving force behind the construction of the Los Angeles light rail network, and pushed for expansion of the Los Angeles International Airport. The Tom Bradley International Terminal is named in his honor. He enacted environmental reforms, powerful anti-apartheid business practices, and ordinances prohibiting discrimination against gays and lesbians and people with AIDS. He prevailed in his long struggle to reform and bring civilian control to the LAPD. He twice ran for Governor of California, losing by less than 1% the first time. Bradley was offered a cabinet level position in the Carter administration, but declined. In 1984, Democratic Presidential candidate Walter Mondale considered Bradley as a vice-presidential running mate. In 1985, he was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. Bradley did not seek a sixth term and announced his retirement in 1993. Three years later, he suffered a stroke, which left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak for the rest of his life. Bradley died of a heart attack September 29, 1998.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 19:01:05 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015