City talk: Mayor Willie Brown

San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown Oxonion Society

Yes, a rare politician sighting on this blog. Above is Willie Lewis Brown, Jr., the former Mayor of San Francisco (1996-2004) and previously a California Legislator. Mayor Brown has the distinction of being the FIRST and ONLY African American mayor of San Francisco. I had a chance to see him at the Cornell Club in Manhattan on a promotional tour for his autobiography, Basic Brown: My Life and Times. The discussion's moderator called him "the most influential Black American politician ever."

Mayor Brown, at the age of 74, is known as a fastidious dresser. He even has an entire chapter in his book dedicated to grooming and appearance. From Basic Brown: "You really shouldn't try to get through a public day wearing just one thing.... Sometimes, I change clothes four times a day."

Thankfully, fashion 101 never came up as a topic of conversation, but he did speak about his early days of much humbler beginnings in East Texas. Here are some of my notes/observations.

Why he wrote the book
Scholars approached Willie Brown after he had been in public service for 30 years. They wanted to know about his mayoral administration, but there was no written documentation. Why? Mayor Brown told us, "I don't believe in record keeping." He eventually met with Simon and Schuster, but wanted to specifically write an autobiography that was different. "I have only found dull accountings of people's stories. There are very few that have invited you in on a conversational basis. I thought it would be good to have a conversation like over lunch or a glass of wine. Simon and Schuster was fascinated by this concept, and lent a tremendous hand to make it work. You can skip anywhere within the book. Each chapter is a complete story."

On Growing up in segregated Mineola, TX in the 1940's.
"It was a little city with total and complete segregation. Whites lived on one side with sidewalks, paved streets, and running water. Blacks lived on the other side of the tracks. No public services were ever provided on that side of town."

"It was a little town. Everyone black worked as a maid, a servant, or a shoeshine boy, which I was. I picked cotton, and tomatoes."

His high school
"Mineola Colored High School had no library, no gym, no organized football or sports. It was a six-room schoolhouse. There were 2 grades per room, and the teachers were not necessarily certified. The coach taught math, but he didn't understand math."

When did he realized segregation was wrong?
"Long before high school." Mayor Brown added, "I read black newspapers, and I knew there was a different world out there." He named teachers, and family members as also being influential in driving him to dream of a better life elsewhere. "My uncle who lived in California always had a new car, and flashy clothing. Early on, I knew Mineola was not heaven."

Famous political friends
Former President Bill Clinton always called Mayor Brown "the real slick Willie." However, Mayor Brown formed a friendship with the then Arkansas Governor who use to play cards when he visited Brown and other members of the California Legislature. "We called Bill 'Slick Willie' when we played black jack."

On presidential candidate Barack Obama.

"Obama has prepared himself to be president, almost as long as Bill Clinton who started in college. Obama had it in mind to run for president. Obama seriously walked through how best to position himself. He is perceived as a qualified candidate, who happens to be Black. He's done what no other candidate has done. Barack Obama has been very successful in asserting his candidacy."

On long-time friend Hillary Clinton

"Her campaign should have been conducted as an applicant who has never been seen or heard of." He later added, "She should have made her being the first woman as a cornerstone, but went on experience."

On his longevity in politics, and ability to consistently win contests
"Experience in politics is highly overrated. I always ran like I was going at it for the first time. I rang doorbells. I always called it brightness, not experience."