Marion Barry -- Leo Alexander
To those who are having trouble understanding the "betrayal" [themail, January 4]: I remember when I first came to the District to work for WRC-TV4 as a news reporter in 1995. I wanted to know how did this community reelect a man after that famous bust at the Vista Hotel. I knew, because of my experience as a black man in this country and a child of the movement, that when the government is investigating you and the majority of the white community doesn't like you, then you must be doing something right. I couldn't wait to get here to witness it myself -- what is it about this one brother? After attending my first Mayor Barry press conference I knew the deal. Regardless of his personal weaknesses; i.e., drug addiction, women, taxes, etc., to me, his proud legacy will remain that he tried to create a level playing field for his community. In spite of everything, black folks simply know Marion Barry will never sell them out. Unfortunately, many whites like Gary Imhoff will never understand or fully appreciate this and that's because they believe everyone has a price. Not Mr. Barry. That is why the former mayor felt betrayed by that robbery and also why we as a community have to do a better job educating our young about our history and its many colorful heroes. As flawed as he may be, Marion Barry is one of my heroes, and I, for one, don't care if Imhoff and his ilk do not understand. They never will.
To those who are having trouble understanding the "betrayal" [themail, January 4]: I remember when I first came to the District to work for WRC-TV4 as a news reporter in 1995. I wanted to know how did this community reelect a man after that famous bust at the Vista Hotel. I knew, because of my experience as a black man in this country and a child of the movement, that when the government is investigating you and the majority of the white community doesn't like you, then you must be doing something right. I couldn't wait to get here to witness it myself -- what is it about this one brother? After attending my first Mayor Barry press conference I knew the deal. Regardless of his personal weaknesses; i.e., drug addiction, women, taxes, etc., to me, his proud legacy will remain that he tried to create a level playing field for his community. In spite of everything, black folks simply know Marion Barry will never sell them out. Unfortunately, many whites like Gary Imhoff will never understand or fully appreciate this and that's because they believe everyone has a price. Not Mr. Barry. That is why the former mayor felt betrayed by that robbery and also why we as a community have to do a better job educating our young about our history and its many colorful heroes. As flawed as he may be, Marion Barry is one of my heroes, and I, for one, don't care if Imhoff and his ilk do not understand. They never will.
posted by Leo Alexander | 10:18 AM
4 Comments:
Mayor Barry has my vote when he runs again!
I wish that he would consentrate on his health...his legacy and what he will always mean to this city speaks for itself.
How could the entire "underworld" get together and decide that he is off limits? I don't think he was robbed. I think the drug boys wanted their money.
That's certainly a possibility...that he owed someone some money for drugs. But until he tells us there's a different story -- he simply got robbed.
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