Boss of the Grips by Eric K. Washington

Author:Eric K. Washington
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Liveright
Published: 2019-09-23T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

Testaments in Transit

The father of the new Lieutenant is James H. Williams, chief porter at the Grand Central Terminal who of course enjoys the acquaintance of Governor Smith, Mayor Walker and other celebrities.

—NEW YORK SUN, 19271

In August 1925, Wesley’s name appeared on the city’s new list of firemen eligible for promotion to lieutenant. He pored over the stats: 3,010 men had competed, 1,200 had failed, and 920 withdrew. He scored a final percentage of 89.12. “A difference of one point,” he explained in a letter to the New York Age, “would mean a difference of about 100 names in the standing on the list.” He had taken the two-day examination a year earlier, having studied three years at the Delehanty Institute for Civil Service at Fifteenth Street and Fourth Avenue. He was only five years on the force when he took the test, whereas many of the men had it over him in seniority and points. Now Wesley’s name was 189th on the list. “I am in the money, as they say,” he wrote, overjoyed that his score qualified him.

Still, Wesley was wary of being overconfident. “Now will they promote me when my turn arrives?” he wrote to the Age.

“I believe in preparedness, so I am notifying the Negro Press now as I expect a fight about it later on. Although they will not reach my name for a year to eighteen months; don’t you think I am right in getting prepared now?”2

Wesley surely took after his father when it came to preemptive planning. Chief Williams set himself to advancing his boy’s promotion, and one of his most potent tools was small talk. Wesley’s past achievements gave him ample things to mention in passing to whomever might make a difference over the next two years.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.