Two of the best hours of mu life were spent talking to a very wise Lionel Wilson at a table in front of Starbucks on Lakeshore in 1997, just one year before he passed away. We talked about what it means to carry on with your goals regardless of opposition. He gave me a lot of advise. But the best thing he told me to do was to listen to people. After five years, the downtown building that carries his name-- the terminal also known as the "Southwest Terminal" also has his name -- finally has the appropriate designation.
Rededication honors Oakland's first black mayor
Name of Lionel J. Wilson, who fought against discrimination, emblazoned on city building
By Zuri Berry, CORRESPONDENT - OAKLAND TRIBUNE
OAKLAND — In his 13 years as Oakland mayor, Lionel J. Wilson worked to stop discrimination in the city, rebuild downtown Oakland and create jobs for minorities.
Wilson, who died of cancer in 1998, was elected the first black mayor of Oakland. He became mayor in 1977 after serving as the first black judge in Alameda County Municipal Court and later California Superior Court.
In 2000, 10 years after he left office, the city office building at 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, known as the flatiron Broadway Building, was dedicated to Wilson.
But there was no official sign denoting it. This week, with Wilson's name imprinted on the building, City Councilmember Larry Reid (Elmhurst-East Oakland) along with Mayor-elect Ron Dellums, the Wilson family and many former and current elected officials celebrated the rededication of the Lionel J. Wilson building.
The Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr., pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church, opened the ceremony with a prayer praising the legacy of Wilson as well as the upcoming tenure of Dellums.
Reid also took the time to publicly back Dellums in the ceremony and vowed to work closely with the new mayor, whose vision is seen as being similar to Wilson's. After working to get a federal building constructed in downtown Oakland with the help of then-U.S. Rep. Dellums, Wilson pushed to name the building after Dellums. So when Dellums got the opportunity to speak Thursday, he expressed what he called "360 degrees" of emotions.
"I stand easy at this point because I stand on the shoulders of Lionel J. Wilson," Dellums said. "I'm just pleased I could play a very small role."
Dellums credited Wilson with creating a legacy in Oakland and said he would keep up his vision.
Reid said he sent a letter to Oakland International Airport in hopes of renaming the airport after Wilson as well. Currently Terminal 2, the Southwest terminal, is named after the former mayor.
"I think it's important for somebody who has done so much for the city of Oakland," Reid said. "It shouldn't even be a discussion."
Warren Wilson, Lionel's brother, described how his brother worked tirelessly against discrimination, a big part of the reason the young judge left a sizable income on the bench for $15,000 a year as mayor.
"All African Americans holding a stable job in the private sector in Oakland owe a debt of gratification to Lionel Wilson," his brother said.
Sandre Swanson, who was Wilson's campaign manager when he ran for mayor and is the Democratic candidate for the 16th Assembly District, said it was Wilson who got him into public service out of college.
When Wilson selected Swanson as his campaign manager, there were rumblings about Swanson's ability to handle it at such a young age, he said.
Lionel Wilson stood up and said, "'This is my choice. If you don't agree with it, there's the door,'" Swanson said.
The confidence in the young Swanson became a boost in his life and a representation of how Wilson liked to include young people in decision-making positions, Swanson said.
Wilson's son, Robin Wilson, said his father wanted everybody to be a part of this city.
"We're very proud of the rededication," he said.
Rededication honors Oakland's first black mayor
Name of Lionel J. Wilson, who fought against discrimination, emblazoned on city building
By Zuri Berry, CORRESPONDENT - OAKLAND TRIBUNE
OAKLAND — In his 13 years as Oakland mayor, Lionel J. Wilson worked to stop discrimination in the city, rebuild downtown Oakland and create jobs for minorities.
Wilson, who died of cancer in 1998, was elected the first black mayor of Oakland. He became mayor in 1977 after serving as the first black judge in Alameda County Municipal Court and later California Superior Court.
In 2000, 10 years after he left office, the city office building at 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, known as the flatiron Broadway Building, was dedicated to Wilson.
But there was no official sign denoting it. This week, with Wilson's name imprinted on the building, City Councilmember Larry Reid (Elmhurst-East Oakland) along with Mayor-elect Ron Dellums, the Wilson family and many former and current elected officials celebrated the rededication of the Lionel J. Wilson building.
The Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr., pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church, opened the ceremony with a prayer praising the legacy of Wilson as well as the upcoming tenure of Dellums.
Reid also took the time to publicly back Dellums in the ceremony and vowed to work closely with the new mayor, whose vision is seen as being similar to Wilson's. After working to get a federal building constructed in downtown Oakland with the help of then-U.S. Rep. Dellums, Wilson pushed to name the building after Dellums. So when Dellums got the opportunity to speak Thursday, he expressed what he called "360 degrees" of emotions.
"I stand easy at this point because I stand on the shoulders of Lionel J. Wilson," Dellums said. "I'm just pleased I could play a very small role."
Dellums credited Wilson with creating a legacy in Oakland and said he would keep up his vision.
Reid said he sent a letter to Oakland International Airport in hopes of renaming the airport after Wilson as well. Currently Terminal 2, the Southwest terminal, is named after the former mayor.
"I think it's important for somebody who has done so much for the city of Oakland," Reid said. "It shouldn't even be a discussion."
Warren Wilson, Lionel's brother, described how his brother worked tirelessly against discrimination, a big part of the reason the young judge left a sizable income on the bench for $15,000 a year as mayor.
"All African Americans holding a stable job in the private sector in Oakland owe a debt of gratification to Lionel Wilson," his brother said.
Sandre Swanson, who was Wilson's campaign manager when he ran for mayor and is the Democratic candidate for the 16th Assembly District, said it was Wilson who got him into public service out of college.
When Wilson selected Swanson as his campaign manager, there were rumblings about Swanson's ability to handle it at such a young age, he said.
Lionel Wilson stood up and said, "'This is my choice. If you don't agree with it, there's the door,'" Swanson said.
The confidence in the young Swanson became a boost in his life and a representation of how Wilson liked to include young people in decision-making positions, Swanson said.
Wilson's son, Robin Wilson, said his father wanted everybody to be a part of this city.
"We're very proud of the rededication," he said.
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