Sunday, September 9 was lovely– a gentle breeze waved its fingertips across the pavilion, chairs set up in front of a stage where musicians paid tribute to late statesman, Ronald V. Dellums, on the first International Day of Peace. How fitting for a man who made Nixon’s hit list for his stand against the Vietnam War at the start of a political career defined by truth and justice.
Piper Dellums and her daughters’ Sydney and Dylan Ross joined their mother and other friends and family at the celebratory Jack London Square Block Party honoring “Dad” and “Pop Pop.” The family greeted friends and grooved to the music, something her dad would have loved, Piper said. Happy, yet grief stricken, occasionally we’d see the mom and daughters embracing one another. When Rafael Jesus Gonzalez, Poet Laureate for the City of Berkeley, arrived he gave Piper a big hug and everyone near one of his signature Earth/Justice/Peace buttons, a button with a dove holding an olive branch layered on top a planet earth encircled by sun rays, all framed by a rainbow.
Funk ruled Sunday afternoon—the day hot enough for sunscreen, but not too hot to move. By the end of the concert, one featuring Ronnie Stewart and the Blues Caravan of All Stars, Oaktown Passions, Shirlee Temper, Kayla Marin’s Salt People, closing with the smooth sounds of Best Intentions, everyone was up off their feet “getting’ down.” The earlier sparsely filled seats were full and the audience was thick, folks waving their hands on the grassy slope all the way back to the dock where Scott’s Seafood Restaurant Pavilion hosted the invitation only tribute that evening.
In the pavilion which was full with family and other dignitaries, the ceremony opened with an Indigenous blessing and a Pan African percussion procession. The evening included speakers both present and prerecorded, even archival footage of Dellums spanning key moments in his career – it was truly a walk through Bay Area and national history.
Perhaps Piper’s pastor, Rev. Warren Campbell (LA) said it best when he took his comments from Timothy 4.6 and said that Dellums poured his life out like Apostol Paul. “He was full of goodness, because he poured his life into the Berkeley City Council, [House of Representatives, City of Oakland]. He was a tall glass full of vision. Full of service. Full of sacrifice. The cemetery is full of hit songs not sang. Books not written. We don’t [want to leave] full.”
The Elder Statesman touched many lives—quite a few present in the room like Father Jay Matthews, the first African American to be ordained in Northern California (1974), who said he was with his friend as the results for the election came in. He encouraged everyone present to vote Nov. 6. Senator Nancy Pelosi shared stories of flights from Washington DC to the Bay Area where there were so many officials on the plane that they’d sit on the floor in the aisle debriefing, strategizing. She also recalled the Congressman’s first trip to Africa and his comments that “‘they looked like him.’” She said he was a “pioneer in a Congress [at the time he arrived. There were two liberals, a woman and an African American. He served with respect [even though he was not always respected]. The Flag was flown over the capital in his honor when he died. “He mobilized the English language for so many positive things,” Pelosi says and then goes on to say that her colleague and friend would have supported the First Amendment rights of athletes taking a knee for Black Lives. That she had nothing to say when asked to take a stand on the NFL’s rules banning such in May, we will not go into here. This after all is about Dellums (smile).
“God blessed America when he gave us Ron Dellums.” She concludes followed by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Dellums’s protégé and friend, who gave the eulogy. Soon afterward special surprise guest Stevie Wonder walks in. Before he begins to play he reflects on Dellums’s life and what he stood for. “We need to have one America,” he concludes before singing, “If It’s Magic’ then why can’t it be everlasting,” and “Love’s In Need Of Love Today’ Don’t delay/ Send yours in right away/ Hate’s goin’ round/ Breaking many hearts/ Stop it please/ Before it’s gone too far.”
Lee’s eulogy included stories of Ron’s comedic impersonations of Richard Pryor, his short but brilliant film career as Frederick Douglass and his role in her life. “Ron was my boss, mentor, and yet, like the brother I never had. He gave me personal advice and support as a single Mom raising 2 boys. Who was he to me: Statesman, Warrior, Fighter.”
“I remember him telling his staff: “Let your conscience be your guide. If you are right— just stand on that street corner alone because sooner or later everyone must walk right to you. . .
Ron never backed down. Ron passed me a blue baton when I announced, in 1998, I would run for “his” seat upon his retirement. The baton, which I look at often, reminds me that all of us must carry that baton that Ron gave us and run our mile in this marathon for justice, for peace, and unity. So, when we pass our batons to the next generation, we know, as Ron said frequently – we have secured their future.”
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Dylan said: “My grandfather changed so many lives, and the best part is that he didn’t change them unknowingly or unwillingly, sitting idly by— he made it his life‘s mission to change lives—he made it his life‘s mission to change the world. He taught me to realize; it is such an absurd lie that one person cannot make a difference.”
Sydney, whose doctorate at Brandeis University is a fulfillment of her grandfather’s desire to get his doctorate there, when civic duty called instead, said that evening about her grandfather: “The revolution is a collective and our shared interests in peace and justice for all are going to keep integrating this nation one social arena or place of business at a time.
“My Pop Pop has left us all with an enormous responsibility as well as the great honor to keep fighting to let love outshine fear, outshine despair, and outshine injustice. We must continue to divest from war and the politics of bigotry and we must continue to invest in the health, education, and environment of our communities.
“If you asked my grandfather what he does for a living, he called himself a social activist. In the spirit of social activism I’d like to use this opportunity to spread his desire for greater accountability and transparency in government by encouraging you to all use an app called Countable: C-O-U-N-T-A-B-L-E. It’s very easy to use and allows you to notify your representatives of your vote on issues as they are being voted on and comes with small descriptions of both points of views. I also am encouraging you to challenge leaders that seek to silence America’s voice rather than encourage America to sing its truths out loud.
“Some say the civil rights movement failed but in the words of Pop Pop’s Gram: nothing beats a failure but a try. If we keep trying we will succeed.”
The hours sped by as people in the room and on screen shared reflections like Alfrie Woodard and her induction into activism ala Dellums; Maya Angelou who spoke of the lives that grew from his life; Angela Davis waxed eloquently about Dellums’ ability to straddle a line of integrity in an industry many have failed in concrete ways; Les AuCoin (D-Ore) spoke recalled Dellums work against thermal nuclear warfare. AuCoin said, “When Ron spoke in Congress his staff dropped everything to attend. [Then] after he spoke he would walk back to the page desk and explain what he’d done [the consummate teacher]. He diagnosed then prescribed to the heart.
Pete Escovedo and childhood friend, Joel Dorham weren’t able to perform, but did say a few words. Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party and Dr. Ramona Tascoe just before the two granddaughters, closed the program, by then many had already left for the banquet to eat. Although others had prepared comments, time ran out. It would be great to do this again next year this time, take an accounting—What Would Dellum’s Say; for that matter, What Would Shirley Chisolm Say?
It was a beautiful day honoring a beautiful soul man.