Al Bailey

If someone had told Al Bailey that he would one day be receiving the Maryland State Legislature’s highest honor, he would probably pinch himself to see if he was dreaming. This is exactly what took place on Wednesday March 28^th, 2007 at the General Assembly in Annapolis. The significance of this event when looked at through a historical perspective is immense. When one notes that it was an African-American Delegate, Herman Taylor that spoke on Mr. Bailey’s behalf and that it was the Black Caucus that campaigned for him to receive this honor, one can fully appreciate the scope of this event.

Delegate Taylor, when giving his speech in front of the General Assembly, talked about how sixty years ago, when Bailey, and other members of the proud Tuskegee Airmen, veterans of World War II, returned home from Europe, they couldn’t believe the treatment they got. This was to contrast the hero’s treatment they received in Europe, and this treatment, which they received from Europe’s largely white population showed to them that racial harmony was possible. While white Veterans were given the G.I. Bill, marches and other forms of appreciation, black veterans such as Bailey returned home as second class citizens. Delegate Taylor emphasized that as Bailey returned home after completing one war- against fascism abroad, he had just started his second battle, against the racism he faced at home.

For Bailey, who was a brother of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, this treatment gave him even more determination in his fight for civil rights equal treatment. This was the same for many veterans of World War II which was supposedly a battle for democracy.

Taylor went on to recognize Bailey’s efforts to memorialize the greatest Civil Rights leader of them all- Dr. King, at the national mall. For twenty years Bailey fought to recognize Dr. King at the mall. Not only is the memorial itself significant, but its location as well. Bailey was among those present at the capital for King’s famous “I have a dream” speech, so it seemed appropriate for him that the National Mall, which served as the backdrop of the speech, would house Dr. King’s memorial. Although Dr. King has received many local and state-wide recognitions, this would be by far the most prominent and most striking. Furthermore King’s contribution would finally be recognized as the only non-president honored at the mall.

It is important to note that this event was the culmination of the Maryland’s legislature’s efforts in promoting awareness of Black History month. This served as an excellent recognition of African-American’s contributions and sacrifices in promoting equality and justice in America, as well as their sacrifices in doing so.

Maryland was one of the main battlegrounds for the Civil Rights movement, and many important victories in the battle for legal de-segregation were fought and won in Maryland- by the likes of Thurgood Marshall and Charles Houston. There important victories against the University Of Maryland Law School paved the way for many other victories in the attempt to ‘chip away’ at Plessey vs. Ferguson’s decision of ‘separate but equal’. This adds to the significance of the current General Assembly passing this resolution, as it was these men and women’s predecessors that were fighting on the other side of the battle- on the side that they are now acknowledging was the wrong and losing side of the debate.

More than anything else, this event shows how far this country, and state has come in terms of equality, civil rights and race relations. This could be called a 180 degree turn in respects to the direction that the country is headed. At the same time though, it could be pointed out that the fact that it took the combined efforts of the Black Caucus to bring about this recognition for Mr. Bailey. One could also point out that it was African-American Delegate Herman Taylor that spoke in bringing this recognition. The fact that it took Black people to bring about this recognition could be interpreted both ways- both that the achievements being recognized means more to black people, or, that this point to the short collective memory that White America has on the history of race relations.

One could also conceivably criticize the event on Wednesday for its purely symbolic nature. One could argue that if the resolution was matched with an effort to help the African-American community in Maryland- which is still recovering from the hundreds of years of oppression that it has experienced- that it would become more than merely a symbolic gesture. If this was matched with increase funding of the public school system- which in Baltimore City for example largely serves the Black community it would be more of a meaningful gesture. The black residents there have been among the more particularly oppressed, and to address the issues of crime, poverty, overcrowding of jails and classrooms from which they suffer would go a long way in alleviating the historical oppression that these communities have suffered.

Overall, it cannot be argued that it is bad that a black civil rights leader was recognized by African Americans serving in the state legislature. This demonstrates how far this community has come in fulfilling its dream. It is still of the utmost important though, that this should not overshadow fulfilling the dream of equal opportunity for those in America for which it is still out of reach.