Remembering The Legacy Of Mayor Tom Bradley
A brand new documentary, Bridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race, celebrates the life and legacy of Los Angeles' first and only African-American mayor on what would have been his 100th birthday.
Remarks by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas during a recent screening of the film.
Thank you to the March on Washington Film Festival, The California Endowment,
Mayor Tom Bradley's impact on L.A is immeasurable.
It's a privilege to reflect on these achievements in commemoration of the 100th birthday, also at the presence of a few of his Loved Ones, friends and Colleagues.
Mayor Tom Bradley
"Tom Bradley has had a very profound effect on my career as a public servant and elected official, from his service of my work with Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and my candidacy into City Council, and also his influence on the remainder of my political career. His accomplishments over his five terms as mayor are far too long to list, but three things stand out that cannot go unmentioned.
" Taglyan Cultural Complex was Mayor Bradley's work ethic and integrity. His work ethic was next to none whatsoever. He came at City Hall before everybody , and left afterwards everyone . He also handled the job with humility and honor, providing an outstanding illustration of leadership within the modern era.
"Second was his commitment to celebrating, recognizing and investing in the diversity of Los Angeles. Mayor Bradley understood that the great diversity in a city like Los Angeles was an asset, whether around religion, gender, race and ethnicity, nationality, class or profession.
The late mayor's daughter, Lorraine Bradley
"His team and commission appointments reflected this. In many ways, he opened up City Hall to those who had never felt that government can truly reflect and seem just like them. He built eclectic coalitions that brought people together for the very first time around a shared vision of shift. He also gave coalition politics a brand new meaning, taglyan cultural complex.
"Third, Mayor Bradley helped transform Los Angeles into a world-class metropolis. His contributions to the development of downtown L.A. are enormous, as was his work around bringing the Olympics to this city.
"I believe his direction on building out L.A.'s light railway transport system was especially transformative in Los Angeles. The Crenshaw/LAX Line is at no little way an example of the legacy of Tom Bradley. Due to his efforts, two decades ago, people dedicated the Expo/La Brea channel with regard to the wife, Ethel Bradley. Together they laid the base for the light rail system we're benefiting from today.
"In closing, I want to thank all the partners in the room, who give me confidence that we will continue to honor Mayor Bradley's legacy, today and moving forward."
What are a number of the strangest discoveries that you made about Bradley in the research for this film?
We were surprised to get out that at a very young age Tom Bradley was intentionally and always making decisions and choices in order to grow up from poverty and become a success. He had been ambitious and determined, and built relationships and networks all through his life which would help him launch his career .
We were surprised to learn Mexican American politician Edward Roybal established the very first multi ethnic coalition throughout his campaign Los Angeles City Council in 1949, and that Tom Bradley, while a lieutenant on the LAPD, walked precincts to get Roybal and learned by that. Roybal, who would later develop into a congressman and Bradley's political mentor, who functioned with Bradley on rising minority representation on the L.A. City Council and school board, in addition to fighting police brutality and misconduct in minority communities.