Go to School, You're a Little Black Boy: The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander: A Memoir by Lincoln Alexander & Herb Shoveller

Author:Lincoln Alexander & Herb Shoveller [Alexander, Lincoln & Shoveller, Herb]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography, General, Personal Memoirs, Biography & Autobiography, History, Political, Canada
ISBN: 9781554887330
Google: gMgbl9K0gfwC
Goodreads: 7139675
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2006-11-04T00:00:00+00:00

I won the 1968 federal election because I attracted some staunch support away from the Liberals. There had evidently been some disappointment in the performance of Joe Macaluso, the Liberal who had beaten me in 1965. We had turned in a strong showing then, and in the intervening years key individuals who had backed Macaluso migrated to my camp because they felt he had ignored them once he got to Ottawa. I welcomed the quiet help I received from many people in the Liberal camp, such as Charlie Cupido, Nicholas Zaffiro (who supported me with money under the table — out of sight of other Liberals), and Shirley Fiola, among hundreds of big Liberals who helped. Theirs were among the key efforts that helped put us over the top.

With the exception of my last two elections (in 1979 and 1980, when Stan Hudecki squared off against me both times), the Liberals threw a variety of candidates against me. I wouldn’t go so far as to call Hamilton West a safe seat for the Conservatives while I was representing the party (I only won by about five hundred votes in 1980), but given the working-class nature of our community, it has to be considered an impressive run. What I draw from friends is a distinct pride in our city and its working-class roots. My parents and my long ties to Hamilton have taught me that you don’t put on airs — you accept people as they are. I identify with such roots, and in them I can see my strengths and trace my successes in public life.

That sentiment makes me recall a newspaper article recently brought to my attention that discussed a uniquely Canadian trait, the “who-doyou-think-you-are?” trait. It says basically that if any of us get a little too big for our britches — no matter how big those britches might be — there’ll always be someone there to ask that question and bring us back to earth. As it turns out, most of us Canadians have internalized the question and do a good job of self-monitoring. I think my success in winning five of six federal elections had something to do with my down-to-earth attitude and my ability to communicate, both as a speaker and in one-onone conversations with people on the street. From my very first campaign in 1965, I had always felt most comfortable with the politics of personal contact. If we could meet face-to-face, I believed earnestly that I would win your vote. It was very much the politics of the street, if I can coin a phrase. I’ve travelled in some rather heady circles, and where I’ve come from has held me in good stead in these encounters.

When I was first elected in 1968, my riding consisted of eighty thousand constituents, and among that entire number there were only about two hundred blacks. Back then, an interesting fact was discovered regarding speaking engagements. I’m not sure who compiled these figures — and I can pretty

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