Black Parents, Students Should Study Ron Brown.

How One African-American Overcomes Race Prejudice, Earns Respect of Leaders

While thousands of Black parents are worried about keeping their sons alive, getting them educated and helping them succeed, a new Black role model of epoch-making dimensions has joined Colin Powell in the tiny preserve of Presidential Timber.

He is Ron Brown, first Black chairman of a major national political committee. He is a personable, persuasive, lawyer who "runs with the fast crowd" of Washington insiders. Brown "knows the ropes" thoroughly and is as smooth and as polished as a billiard ball. This talented diplomat is as well-schooled in the white upper-class manners, values and culture as he is in Harlem ghettoese and the quirks of the Black bourgeoisie.

Ronald Harmon Brown was born Aug. 1, 1941, in Washington D.C., the son of two Howard University graduates. He married Alma Arrington and has a son and a daughter. While Brown was growing up, his father was manager of the Teresa Hotel on 125th Street in Harlem and he associated with Paul Robeson, Joe Louis and other Harlem figures. Nearby was the celebrated Apollo Theatre, where Brown met big-name entertainers and well-known persons of both races.

Brown attended exclusive preparatory schools in New York City, often being the only Black in his class. He received the B.S. degree in political science from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1962, and the J.D. in law from St. John's University School of Law in 1970.

He was military correct for national upward mobility. While in Middlebury College, he joined the ROTC to help with expenses. He did military duty as logistics supervisor at a U.S. Army Base in West Germany and was promoted to captaincy. Later, he was sent to Korea to command a school that trained Korean soldiers to work with American troops.

Brown was chief lobbyist for the Urban League from 1968 to 1979; deputy campaign manager for Sen. Edward Kennedy's presidential campaign, 1979 to 1980; general counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary in 1980; general counsel and staff director for Sen. Edward Kennedy, 1981; deputy chairman Democratic National Committee, 1981 to 1985, and chair of the Democratic National Committee in 1989. He was manager of Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign in 1988.

His ability to mediate and negotiate among conflicting interests was largely responsible for his election to the Democratic National Committee chairmanship in 1989 and his success in directing that party to victory with Bill Clinton in 1992. His salary has been in six figures for many years.

Brown is a personally likable person. Lee Atwater, leader in the 1988 Republican campaign and developer of the Willie Horton scare that brought George Bush the 1988 presidency, was one of his "least favorite" persons. Atwater ingratiated himself into membership on the Howard U. Board of Trustees only to be ousted because of student indignation following his racist political shenanigans. Like many "old time" Deep Southern white men, Atwater seemed to believe Black people were stupid and obedient simpletons.

Without doubt, Brown today is one of the most highly regarded politicians in the nation. Tough interviewers like Sam Donaldson obviously respect Brown and "treat him with kid gloves." George Will, the columnist and ABC commentator who has belittled Blacks at various times, treads carefully when talking with the quick-witted, knowledgeable lawyer who can be sharp-tongued and will embarrass adversaries and when aroused.

Self-respecting Blacks will hope for a continuation of the present nationally popular television policy of softening stereotypes and presenting Blacks as normal, respectable, intelligent people. The subtle and far-reaching effects of this improved role definition undoubtedly will change the behavior of both races and improve the interracial climate in which Blacks live.

If this continues, expect Ron Brown or Colin Powell to be nominated by whites at one of the presidential conventions in just eight years, 2,000 A.D.