RON BROWN (1941-1996) was a businessman and politician who was the first black person to serve as chairman of a national political party and the first black Secretary of Commerce.
Brown was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in a middle-class family in Harlem, New York. As a child, he appeared in an advertisement for Pepsi-Cola, one of the first to be targeted specifically towards the African-American community. He was a member of Jack and Jill of America and attended Hunter College Elementary School and Rhodes Preparatory School.
He attended Middlebury College, a private liberal arts college in Vermont, and became the first black member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He joined the army in 1962 after graduating and married the former Alma Arrington. After being discharged five years later, Brown worked as a welfare caseworker for the City of New York then the National Urban League and attended law school classes at night at St. John’s University.
In 1980, he worked on Sen. Edward Kennedy’s presidential campaign and was soon appointed chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee. The next year he joined one of the nation’s top law firms, Patton, Boggs & Blow, as its first black partner. He continued to be active in politics and served as Jesse Jackson‘s convention manager in his 1988 presidential bid.
As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1989 to 1992, Brown reunited the Party after its defeat in the 1988 election and led it to victory in 1992. This earned him a cabinet-level appointment in Pres. Bill Clinton’s administration as Secretary of Commerce; he is widely credited with revitalizing the department.
A tireless advocate for American business at home and abroad, Brown circled the globe spreading good will with his characteristic enthusiasm and cultivated opportunities and markets for American products. In 1996, Brown and 34 others were killed when their plane crashed during stormy weather on a three-day economic tour of the Balkans for the Department of Commerce. In December of that same year, the Ron Brown Scholar Program was established.
In 1998, The Life and Times of Ron Brown: A Memoir, written by his daughter, Tracey L. Brown, was published with an introduction from Pres. Bill Clinton.
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Concrete Loop features ‘CL History Spotlights’ each week honoring individuals who have played pivotal roles in history. submissions are welcome.
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Wow, glad to see something on Ron Brown I remember him very intelligent, eloquent and well liked.
I love it!!!
Was he a Oreo like Michael Steele?…..
Thank you CL for the History Spotlights. I really enjoy them and find them truly inspirational!
It’s good to see someone on here I remember. Good post, I learned some things.
I hope President Obama does an extensive investigation on his death before he leaves office. I still believe his plane was sabotaged and there was so much controversy about it . No official document from the actual crash area exists to support the claim that the weather caused the plane to crash. The storm story was a lie, which means some other cause for the crash exists.
Am I a negro for thinking this said ‘Ron Browz?’
I remember him as a person who kept moving forward – good post.
(@ 6 – there is a story behind the crash, it being “not” weather related)
I remember him fondly. What a wonderful man! Thanks CL for remembering him! I agree with you #6. Mela, this plane crash was suspect. Some blame the Clintons but I too want the truth to be revealed.
Good post. He was well liked and a poineer in this crazy world.
Just to educate everyone further, there are still so many unanswered questions surrounding the death of Mr. Brown. One being a hole was found in his skull believing he was shot in the head. No autopsy was performed. Photos and X-rays were taken but later both X-rays and photos came up missing. However, a AirForce physician had secretly made copies which were not known until he used them during some educational conferences and immediately he was subjected to a gag order. The story doesnt stop here and if you want to know more you can find alot information surrounding his death on the net.
Name is familar but I didnt remember any of this. Thanks for posting.
Enlightening! Kudos black peoples!
Ron Brown was shot in the head after the plane went down. The story surrounding his death is very intriguing. Google “Nolanda Hill.”
@Jamillah,
Thanks, I had no idea about the other woman…lol This story is just so crazy!!! Sex, drugs, money, cover up, politics. What a story!
#3, you’re utterly ignorant.
Oh yeah… I remember him and that crash. I believe Bill Clinton was suppose to be in that plane too and plus Ron Brown was his best friend! Tragic.
Graet Story! Thanks Cl
LOL@ #7 I thought the same thing, LOL!!!!
well thanx for the insight even if he was a oreo or not, he was still and apart of black history!!
Sad ending, but inspiring nonetheless. So many good intentioned people are killed when they strive to do good for mankind- MLKing, Jr., John F. Kennedy, etc.
I just did some research on Ron Brown. I didn’t know he was under investigation at
the time of his death. He was in a lot of trouble. Also, he and President Clinton
were not best friends, they couldn’t stand each other according to my research today. A big conspiracy cover up!!
Kudos another member of Jack and Jill of America a prestigious Black organization…I agree there is another story behind this tragedy… I am in agreement with others that the crash is NOT due to inclement weather…
Very good and keep with the good work cl.
Ron Brown was Chair of the Democratic National Committee before he was Clinton’s Secr. of Commerce. He was also President of the Urban League prior to DNC chair. When he was just 11, he appeard in a Pepsi commercial. His dad ran the hotel Teresa in Harlem. I know his daughter wrote a great book about his life and she mentioned that the accident was just that- an accident.. no shot to the head..though that rumor still persists. the book is a great read.. I learned a lot about him..
Sad that he died so young..He also fought in Korea. People really respected him. but yes he was human and made mistakes too..
@ #7 no you are not because when i glanced i though why are they doing a black history spotlight on Ron Browz..lol
Both Ron Brown and Vince Foster died mysteriously under the Clinton Administration.
Thank you for the History Spotlight. Keep doing them because they are always informative and enlightening.
@Mela Thanks for that and also Cl for the black history piece…Great
I couldnt see her unless she smiled and we know that wont happen any time soon.
His death was really eerie
To those that thought of the Ron Browz, its ok I did too …lo.I think I will be finding more out about this Ron Brown however. Good Look CL
Good update CL.
I really enjoy these history spotlights.
I didn’t know but now I know…thanks CL!
I am a Ron Brown Scholar and would not have been able to afford college without his scholarship foundation. Thank you Ron Brown for being an inspiration and for the legacy you leave.
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