March In Washington To Continue Focus On Civil Rights/Operation Confidence  

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WASHINGTON — Tens of thousands of people marched to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and down the National Mall on Saturday, commemorating the 50th anniversary of King's famous speech and pledging that his dream includes equality for gays, Latinos, the poor and the disabled.

The event was an homage to a generation of activists that endured fire hoses, police abuse and indignities to demand equality for African Americans. But there was a strong theme of unfinished business.

"This is not the time for nostalgic commemoration," said Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of the slain civil rights leader. "Nor is this the time for self-congratulatory celebration. The task is not done. The journey is not complete. We can and we must do more."

Eric Holder, the nation's first black attorney general, said he would not be in office, nor would Barack Obama be president, without those who marched.

"They marched in spite of animosity, oppression and brutality because they believed in the greatness of what this nation could become and despaired of the founding promises not kept," Holder said.
Holder mentioned gays and Latinos, women and the disabled as those who had yet to fully realize the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream. Others in the crowd advocated organized labor, voting rights, revamping immigration policies and access to local post offices.

Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., the only surviving speaker from the 1963 March on Washington, railed against a recent Supreme Court decision that effectively erased a key anti-discrimination provision of the Voting Rights Act. Lewis was a leader of a 1965 march, where police beat and gassed marchers who demanded access to voting booths."I gave a little blood on that bridge in Selma, Ala., for the right to vote," he said. "I am not going to stand by and let the Supreme Court take the right to vote away from us. You cannot stand by. You cannot sit down. You've got to stand up. Speak up, speak out and get in the way."

Organizers expected there were about 100,000 people who participated in the event, the precursor to the actual anniversary of the Aug. 28, 1963, march that drew some 250,000 to the National Mall and ushered in the idea of massive, nonviolent demonstrations.

Marchers began arriving early Saturday, many staking out their spots as the sun rose in a clear sky over the Capitol. By midday, tens of thousands had gathered on the National Mall.

Lynda Chambers, 58, gave up a day's pay to attend because her retail job does not provide paid vacation. Even as a 7-year-old at the time of the original march, she felt alienated and deprived of her rights. Remembering those feelings, she said, she was compelled to make the trip Saturday.
"I wanted to have some sort of connection to what I have always known, as far as being a black person," she said.

Longtime activist Al Sharpton, now a MSNBC host, implored young black men to respect women and reminded them that two of the leading figures in the civil rights movement of the 1960s were women.
"Rosa Parks wasn't no ho," he said. "And Fannie Lou Hamer wasn't no bitch."

Speakers frequently mentioned persistent high unemployment among blacks, which is about twice that of white Americans, and the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida. Along the Mall, Martin's picture was nearly as ubiquitous as King's.

Then, people crowded the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and could get close to King to hear his "I Have a Dream" speech. Saturday's speakers also were on the memorial's steps, but metal barriers kept people away from the reflecting pool and only a small group of attendees was allowed near the memorial Saturday.

There was a media area and VIP seating. Everyone else had been pushed back and watched and listened to the speeches on big-screen televisions. Police were stationed atop the Lincoln Memorial.

After the speeches, marchers walked from there, past the King Memorial, then down the National Mall to the Washington Monument, a distance of just over a mile.

On the day of the anniversary, President Barack Obama will speak from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He will be joined by former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. Churches and groups have been asked to ring bells at 3 p.m. Wednesday, marking the exact time King spoke.

Joseph Lowery, who founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference along with King, urged the crowd to continue working for King's ideals.

"We've come to Washington to commemorate," the 92-year-old civil rights leader said, "and we're going home to agitate."

Operation Confidence is humbly grateful to Dr. King for all that he has done for African Americans, the nation and the world .

Mayor Tom Bradley and Operation Confidence

Mayor Tom Bradley/Operation Confidence 

Thirty-five years before President Barack Obama's election as President, the question of race and the possibility of bridging racial and ethnic barriers was put to a test in an overlooked and untold story in American politics:  But the 1973 election of Tom Bradley, an extraordinary politician was the first African American Mayor of a major city who redefined and reconfigured Los Angeles.

 He was Mayor for an unprecedented twenty years, City Councilman for ten years and served as a police officer for twenty-one years.

He opened City Hall and commission positions to women and minorities, created the first ever profitable Olympics, brought an historically abusive police department under civilian control, and transformed Los Angeles into one of the most diversified and important cities in the world., a five-term Mayor  serving in office from 1973 to 1993.

Mayor Bradley laid the groundwork for inter-racial coalitions unsurpassed until the election of President Barack Obama.  It was because of Mayor Bradley that the Los Angeles Department on Disabilities was established the only office in the nation as a department.

I, Consuella (Connie) Mackey, Executive Director of Operation Confidence a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization who advocates for people with disabilities had the pleasure of meeting Mayor Bradley in 1969, when my father took me to  his small campaign office in Los Angeles. I found him to be a kind well educated man who was concerned about the well-being of the community and diversity in the city.

Mayor Bradley campaign office 

              Mayor Bradley was responsible for Operation Confidence getting its start

In 1979, I was playing ball with family members and broke my foot. I found myself disabled for a short while. After feeling sorry for myself I became humble and could then see through the eyes of a person with a disability how they must have felt to have a disability while dealing with discrimination and little or no accessibility in Los Angeles.

It was of Mayor Tom Bradley who made a difference by opening City Hall and city commissions to women, minorities and established first Department of Disabilities office in the nation, still holding that title today.

He transformed Los Angeles from a conservative, white, urban center into one of the most diversified and important cities in the world with a new skyline, vibrant downtown and revitalized financial and business districts.

After my accident I wanted to do something to give back to the disabled community. All I had was the beauty industry since that was my profession, cosmetologist and fashion designs. I went to Mayor Bradley and presented my proposal and in 1980, Operation Confidence opened Operation Confidence Beauty Skill Center for the Handicapped on the campus of the  Joseph Widney High School, in Los Angeles. 

Yours truly and Mayor Bradley in 1970

 Operation Confidence came along at the time when the Americans with Disability Act was established 2 years later and was an excellent opportunity to changes the lives of people with disabilities while assisting students to prepare for the workplace and mainstream society.  Classes provided life skills, dress for success with clothing that had accessible openings and job preparation workshops.

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First Class at Widney High School

 The program also gave students a feeling of confidence and self worth and the beauty makeover program was also used as a form of rehabilitation.

Connie tutoring Debra, a student  who was unable to hold a pencil in her hands.  Connie also taught Debbie how to crochet by holding the crochet hook in her mouth. 

The Cosmetology newspaper featured Consuella Mackey and the program on the front page/

   

     

Barbara is a total amputee        Connie giving beauty tips to a      A grooming classes

student leaned hair styling .        student.     

The following year The Totally Confident Dance Team and fashion models were created who gave performances all over Los Angeles. They received standing ovations at most engagements. 

The Totally Confident Dance and Fashion Models Team

Mayor Bradley was so pleased with the success of the program until he presented Operation Confidence with the Mayor's Certificate of Appreciation Award

Mayor Bradley also wrote a letter to the Channel 11 Jefferson Award encouraging them to honor and give recognition to Operation Confidence Beauty Program.

In June of 1981, Mayor Bradley sent a press release out to media and the general public inviting them  to attend Operation Confidence Disabled Fashion Models fashion show held at the Los Angeles City Hall.

   The event was covered by the Los Angeles Times Newspaper in the View Section 

 

Operation Confidence is still going strong today and owes a lifetime of gratitude to Mayor Tom Bradley who believed and gave us the opportunity change the lives of over 20,000 individuals with disabilities.

Mayor Bradley made history as the first African American mayor of a major U.S. city and was successful because he continued to build upon his trans-racial coalition - the most durable and significant in American modern history, and unsurpassed until the election of President Barack Obama thirty-five years later.

He influenced two generations of policy makers and leaders and brought the city a glowing spot on the world stage with the 1984 Olympics – the first-ever profitable Games.

It was because of Mayor Bradley that Operation Confidence Totally Confident Disabled Drill Team  the first disabled drill team to ever be invited to perform in the able-bodied Olympics. More about Mayor Bradley and The Totally Confidence Team in my next Blog. 

In closing, in 1993, Mayor Bradley did not seek a sixth term and announced his retirement. Three years later, he suffered a stroke, which left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak for the rest of his life. In 1998, he died of a heart attack at 80 years old.


Operation Confidence will always be thankful to Mayor Tom Bradley and his life, incredible achievements and legacy that will never be forgotten.