Ron Walters, Community's "Tallest Tree," Dead at 72
by Talibah Chikwendu
September 11, 2010
For more than four decades, Ronald Walters, PhD. served the African-American
community, the United States and the world as a consultant, teacher, writer,
mentor and friend. His service came to a close Sept. 10, when he lost a
battle with cancer at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Md. He was 72 years
old.
Walters was born in Wichita, Kan. in 1938. He earned a bachelor's degree
with honors from Fisk University and earned a master's degree in African
studies and a doctorate in international studies from American University.
Walters was a professor since the early 1970s, teaching at numerous
institutions including at Georgetown, Syracuse, Brandeis and Howard
universities and the University of Maryland. He was chairman of the Howard
University Department of Political Science and chairman of Afro-American
Studies at Brandeis. He also served as a visiting professor at Princeton
University and was a fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy
School of Government at Harvard University. Walters' longtime friend, the
Rev. Jesse Jackson said Howard University had recently convinced Walters to
come out of retirement and return to teaching, and that Walters was looking
forward to the opportunity.
U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) met Walters while a student at Howard. "As
a teacher, he always found time for his students," Cummings told the AFRO.
"When he was at Howard, we would fight to get in his classes. He was always
telling us to reach high, to be a part of the political process."
Walters also made his mark as a dedicated scholar, authoring and
co-authoring more than 10 books and hundreds of academic articles and
commentaries. He was awarded the Ralph Bunche Prize for his book Black
Presidential Politics in America. He was also a political consultant,
serving as policy adviser to former congressmen William Gray and Charles
Diggs. He worked with a number of organizations and serving as director of
public policy for the Rev. Jesse Jackson's presidential campaigns.
Jackson, who said he visited Walters several times in the hospital over the
last few weeks, called Walters a "scholar activist" and "a genius," as well
as friend and mentor.
"He's [Walters] the tallest tree in the forest of activists, political
scientists," Jackson said in an interview with the AFRO. "I miss him so much
already."
Walters was always ready to assist, whether to lend his thoughts or his
actions to a just endeavor. He traveled around the world, and was actively
involved in the movement to end apartheid and the efforts to return
Jean-Bertrand Aristide to office in Haiti, according to Jackson. And while
his hard work gave him national recognition and standing, an organization
did not have to be big to get his assistance.
"Ron Walters was a brilliant, dedicated, consistent and unapologetic warrior
for African Americans," said syndicated columnist George E. Curry. "While he
is best known for teaching at Howard and the University of Maryland,
advising Jesse Jackson and the Congressional Black Caucus, he spent many
hours sharing his expertise with small, largely unknown community groups.
Black America has lost a scholar whose life exemplified excellence."
"He was definitely one of the greatest thinkers we have," said Cummings.
He touched many people, personally and professionally. "His powerful
intellect, integrity and race consciousness will be deeply missed," said
Ramona Edelin, a longtime friend and leading Black scholar. "This loss is
very personal for so many people he has helped throughout the years."
Cummings considers himself one of those people. "He was like a part of my
family," said Cummings. "I'm going to miss him tremendously."
"He encouraged me to run for Congress," Cummings added. "He [Walters] said,
'Not only will you win, you must win.' Whenever I had difficult political
questions, I could always pick up the phone and call Ron. He was a sort of
quiet man, but had strong, well thought-out opinions and he could always
back them up."
It's that quality that will be missed at the AFRO as well. Along with the
many commentaries published in its pages in which Walters addressed
important issues, he was a valued source for a variety of stories.
"It was always a pleasure to speak with Dr. Walters, who remained remarkably
humble and accessible despite his stature," said AFRO Washington Bureau
Chief Zenitha Prince. "Our interviews invariably turned into conversations
in which he would demonstrate an erudite knowledge of the issues affecting
the African-American community and also a deep commitment to Black progress.
He will be missed."
President and CEO of the NAACP Ben Jealous shared his thoughts on Walters'
passing via Twitter. He wrote, "He [Walters] guided generations of Black
political scientists and political leaders.
"I first met Ron when I was 20. He showed how to build real power for people
others thought permanently powerless. His lesson guided my life's work."
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann Walters.
***
Hi. Performing next week in So. Cal are two of my favorite acts. They as
yet
don't know each other, but would make a perfect Ash Grove show. -Ed
Laura Love and Orville Johnson, Weds, September 22, Coffee Gallery Backstage
in Altadena, 8pm, http://www.coffeegallery.com.
Thurs, September 23, SOhO in Santa Barbara, 6:30pm, http://sohosb.com.
They are also playing shows that week in Atascadero, Chico and Berkeley.
For more information, please visit www.LauraLove.net.
Laura Love is an African-American funk bass player with an astonishing voice
and a rambunctious sense of fun. Orville Johnson is a master of
country/blues slide and picked guitar, a big man with a big voice. This
unlikely pair cranks out a musical melange of "folk/funk", blues to
bluegrass, gospel to jazz. Picture Etta James doing a show with Bill
Monroe. It's all good and will possibly be the finest most fun show you've
seen all year! They win awards, they play all over the world, they've been
on TV, etc. C'mon down!
***
From: diane@getlit.org
Subject: Get Lit Players at the Actors' Gang 9/20/10 - THIS MONDAY NIGHT!!!
Hi folks,
Please come to Get Lit's YOUTH OPEN MIC at the Actors' Gang!!!
WHEN - 9/20/10 at 7 PM
Where - The Actors Gang, 9070 Venice Blvd. Culver City
All are welcome & it is PAY WHAT YOU CAN!!!
It is going to be an awesome show!
I look forward to seeing you there!
Please read below for more exciting Get Lit news.
Diane
Hey Everybody!
The GET LIT PLAYERS are performing at the Actors' Gang THIS Monday night,
October 20th at 7 PM! The show will be hosted by Def Jam Poet, Beau Sia,
and the incredible DJ Gimel! In addition, all teens are welcome to come &
perform at our YOUTH OPEN MIC!
Don't miss the HOTTEST city wide teen open mic happening in Los Angeles (and
surrounding cities!) In addition, WE ARE CASTING for this year's troupe of
Get Lit Players on Saturday, September 25th ... And we'd love to get a sneak
peek at your talent.
COME & SHARE YOUR VOICE! Perform either someone else's material (poem,
monologue) or your own original work! We want to hear from YOU!
Teachers, parents... Don't miss this opportunity to get your kids involved
in something positive! In addition to Poets and Performers... Get Lit is
also looking for young Artists, Photographers, Bloggers, for a NEW on line
paper (run and maintained by youth.) This monthly paper will connect youth
throughout Los Angeles and surrounding cities (like Pasadena, Compton, Santa
Monica.) So please bring ALL youth looking to get involved.
Our students receive scholarships to college, work with the premiere actors,
directors, poets, politicians in the nation and receive college level
workshops and experiences FOR FREE!!!
So, COME ON DOWN TO THE ACTORS' GANG THIS MONDAY NIGHT!!!
You'll be so glad you did.
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