As a 17-year-old youngster who had graduated from Fifth Avenue High School, I was curious about politics and I was drawn to Letshe School. It was the polling place for the 3rd ward, 9th district and the committeeman was Charlie Solomon who was rated as the best vote getter in Allegheny County. The experience was unbelievable. There were ballot boxes with false bottoms where you were required to use a pencil, ghost voters (deceased), phantom voters (non existing), and you were paid seven dollars a day if you worked on the polls and given a half pint of whiskey after you voted. Out of 64 committee persons (32 city committee persons and 32 county committee persons) only two were colored.
In the early’50s the White residents of the 3rd ward began to move out of the Hill District. Syrians and Italians overwhelmingly moved to the South Hills, the Jewish population moved to Stanton Heights and Squirrel Hill. I witnessed those who had moved to the South Hills, but they never moved their voting address and continued to vote in the third ward. I had registered as a Republican and when I would question the illegal acts that took place the people would state it’s always been like this and it will never change.
The first colored man to challenge Charlie Solomon was Paul Green and I recall an incident that I will never forget. A Black woman walked up on Election Day to Paul and said, “Have you lost your mind running against Charlie?” and smacked Paul. That is just an example of the mindset of colored persons in that period of time. Eventually, Paul Green became the 3rd ward chairman, and elected constable. He was a fighter but limited academically so much remained the same for colored voters in the 3rd ward.
However in the upper hill, the 5th ward there was a colored ward chairman, Pappy Williams, who was the epitome of political power. Pappy was a political power broker in the truest sense and when he spoke the Democrat bosses listened and responded. His brother Jake Williams, who had learned well from Pappy, succeeded pappy and Jake was a power broker in the same sense.
The first Black legislator in western Pa. came out the 5th ward; Rep. Homer Brown, who would become the first Black judge elected to Allegheny County Court. The lion of Pennsylvania, who would become the speaker of House and serve 35 years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, K. Leroy lrvis also came out of the 5th ward. The number of people they were responsible for getting jobs, providing them with insurance, pension plans and other things was astronomical. Once Jake became the Magistrate he resigned from politics and he was succeeded by Zach Winston, who never ceased to do everything he could to enhance the well being of those residents of the 5th ward.
On the North side of Pittsburgh there were Jim Bulls, Joe Parker and currently Jimmie Lane. All three possessed the same qualities that other Black chairmen did that was to do the very best they could to improve the quality of life particularly for the voters on North side.
Homewood, the 13th ward was a carbon copy of the 3rd ward. White politicians controlled every thing and Blacks were on the outside looking in. There came a period of time that Black people decided enough was enough and they rose up and challenged those in the seat of power and unseated them. Euzell “Bubbie “ Hairston became the chairman and became a political force that the Democratic Party had to deal with and Bubble took no prisoners.
In 1956 a Black committeeman, Dock Fielder stated it was time for Blacks to represent the 12th ward (East Liberty). Dock ran and was victorious. He was now 12th ward chairman and began his ascent to becoming the most powerful Black politician in Allegheny County. Dock was famous for saying what he meant and meant what he said. He was an unusual politician in as much when he gave his word he never would go back on it. The Black chairmen had their share of critics in the Black communities, but no other organization did as much to put Blacks to work, enable them to buy homes and cars, provide for their families, send their children to college, go on vacations and to share in the American Dream as the Black Chairmen.
The majority of my political life I was a critic of these Black chairmen because they were all dyed in the wool Democrats and the party could do no wrong. However I came to realize that these Black chairmen did the very best they knew.
In the year 2013 a great void exists because we the Black Citizens have absolutely no leadership. Those who would describe themselves as leaders are caught up in themselves; it is always I never we or us. They seek that elusive title H.N.I.C. Over the years I have always maintained the answer to absolute freedom lie in the hearts, minds and action of Black people.
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(Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a weekly contributor to the Forum Page.)
