EDITORIAL The legacy of Natalie Johnson Lee By: Ron Edwards Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Originally posted 11/16/2005
She carried out her mission with dignity and grace The election for public office in the Fifth Ward of the City of Minneapolis is now history. Ten of 10 precincts representing the voice of the people voted: 1,718 for Don Samuels and 1,376 for Natalie Johnson Lee. The DFL has recaptured a part of its political discontent, the cherished Fifth Ward seat of Boss Jackie Cherryhomes. Four years ago, both Black and White DFLers moaned and groaned and screamed to the high heavens that all semblance of sanity had been lost forever when Natalie Johnson Lee beat the powerful 12-year incumbent, Jackie Big Boss Cherryhomes. According to The Book of DFLism, it was a dark day to be equated with near-Biblical apocalypse, of dark forces of unwanted change and reform taking over. The DFL feared the Black populace of North Minneapolis would once again have a voice that, unlike the DFL, would support them. Within hours of that historic victory four years ago, many, both Black and White, set about to undermine, circumvent, and ultimately defeat the newly elected Black councilwoman. It took four years. They are the real forces of darkness and nullification. So once again, as of November 9, it is business as usual. So let us talk about a lady who conducted her business, and the business of the people, with dignity and grace. When Judgment Day comes, one of the questions we will all be asked is, Did you carry out your mission with dignity and grace, humbly serving the needs of the people, pursuing the mission that was part of your oath of office, meeting your responsibilities? Natalie Johnson Lee will be able to face her God and say, I have, that Mine was one of dedication against the obstruction of destroyed records, missing files, gerrymandering, and dedication to efforts to improve neighborhood life, as well as to stand against legal opinions that said that if it is a White woman sticking it to you, that makes it okay. Clearly, Natalie Johnson Lee worked with, shepherded through, and maintained a posture of honesty with some of the greatest hypocrites this city and the world have ever known. Some will say that she was naïve when she first took office. But you see, naiveté is a part of a fragile thing called trust, of which the Good Book says that if you embrace it, good things in turn will happen to you. Johnson Lee believes there is good in all people. Her four years of experience in Minneapolis City Hall provided many lessons, one being that the horsemen of the Apocalypse are everywhere, in every shape, male, female, or whatever, and in every color scheme. It will be interesting to see in the coming months and years how much of an appreciation there will be for the naiveté, the fragileness, and the sensitivity of Natalie Johnson Lee, as people realize that the barracudas are back in charge. Make no mistake: There will now be hell to pay by the Black community. You dont have to take our word for it. Just wait and see. In closing, let us give you a small example of what we are talking about. On Wednesday, November 9, the Public Safety Committee met to review the continued decline of the number of officers of color in the Minneapolis Police Department. Although Natalie Johnson Lee is not a member of that committee, she attended. Don Samuels, gerrymandered into the Fifth by the DFL, who is the committees vice-chair, did not attend. Here is what is written on page eight of my 2002 book: Something wonderful happened in Minneapolis in November of 2001 Natalie Johnson Lee, a Black field hand, won a City Council seat, beating the White president of the City Council, Jackie Cherryhomes. This was the biggest upset in the history of Minneapolis politics. It was a peoples victory. there was a furious response from the White DFL city Mastuhs, who then turned against both the field hand who had won and the house Negroes who were supposed to prevent it. The DFL cut off the house Negroes and then tried to redistrict the field hand out of any power by permanently disempowering and impoverishing her Ward (Chapters 12 and 13). No matter how often in history this happens, it eventually sits like ashes in the mouths of the house Negroes, even though at first it looked like a sweet apple. Natalie Johnson Lee fought with great passion and commitment to keep the door of opportunity open for African Americans and other people of color to become law enforcement personnel in the City of Minneapolis. That is class. Why wasnt Don Samuels there? It isnt important enough for him. It is important to Natalie. Natalie, we take this opportunity to thank you for four years of grace and dignity, and for the kind of class that proves that a Black woman once again had earned the right to represent what was abandoned by so many Black men who continue to be terrified by the grace, the dignity and the class of a Black woman. Posted by Shawn Lewis, Minnetonka -- ___________________________________________________ Play 100s of games for FREE! http://games.mail.com/ REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. 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