Ron Dellums: A black Democratic socialist in Congress

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/28/1487633/-Ron-Dellums-A-black-Democratic-socialist-in-Congress

As we watch activists from groups like Black Lives Matter make decisions to run for political office, we should also be aware of the history of the men and women who first opened those doors by making the transition from protest to electoral politics.

One of the foremost is Ronald Vernie "Ron" Dellums, elected as a Democrat to the 92nd Congress in 1970 from the Berkeley, California, City Council. An open Democratic socialist, he went on to serve 13 consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was then mayor of Oakland, California, from January 8, 2007 to January 3, 2011. At 80 years old, he has continued his activism.

While in Congress he was a co-founder of both the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus in 1971.

We need voices in the street, and we need voices in the seats of power—and Ron Dellums represents both. Whenever I hear people discouraging our young folks about voting, and/or running for elected office, I point to Dellums’ career and continuing activism as a powerful example.

To get a real sense of Dellums’ history and transition into the political arena, I suggest you read his autobiography, Lying Down with the Lions: A Public Life from the Streets of Oakland to the Halls of Power. written with H. Lee. Halterman.