Bradley Lomax’s relationship with the Black Panthers in the 1970s and his participation in the Section 504 sit-ins is an example of how collaborative leadership can build bridges between social movement groups.
Transcript
Rhian – Welcome to the Case for a Better Future; a pedagogy of hope podcast. A three-episode podcast dedicated to exploring the communication and leadership lessons of three dis/ability rights activists and advocates. My name is Rhian, and I have the honor of co-hosting this podcast with the illustrious Becky Willhite (Will-Height), Communications and Leadership Studies graduate and Gonzaga University Adjunct Faculty member. Thank you for allowing me to join you, Becky. Once again, welcome to all our listeners, and Becky, who will you be introducing us to today?
Becky – Thank you for the introduction. Today, I would like to introduce you to Bradley Lomax. My hope is to highlight Bradley Lomax’s collaborative leadership and how he built a bridge to a better future.
Rhian – I am so excited to learn more about Bradley Lomax today. Let’s get started with the Case for a Better Future.
Becky – As a reminder, I pronounce the word disability but I spell it d-i-s-forward space-a-b-i-l-i-t-y. Yes, a better future was bridged in 1977.
Rhian – Thank you for that reminder, Becky. Please continue.
Becky - Lomax was born in Philadelphia in 1950. In 1963, his family traveled to Alabama. It was during this trip that Lomax experienced segregated spaces for the first time. Alabama in 1963 was an epicenter of the civil rights motion, with lunch counter sit-ins, protest marches and different actions aimed toward dismantling state-sponsored segregation". Glenn Lomax, Bradley’s brother, stated that their trip left “an indelible impression.”
Lomax had a typical childhood; he was a Boy Scout, participated in the drama club, and played football. After high school he attended Howard University in Washington D.C. During his freshman year at Howard, Lomax began to fall when walking. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
As his disease progressed, Lomax began to use a wheelchair. "Wheelchairs that were supposed to provide independence, he found, were of little use in gaining entrance to public buildings without ramps. He saw that people with disabilities were regularly denied an education, and that there were few services to help them find housing or jobs, especially if they were Black.”
That is when Bradley moved to Oakland, California to be closer to his brother, Glenn.
Rhian - What was life in Oakland like for Bradley?
Becky - In 2020, Glenn Lomax reflected on life in Oakland for his brother. Glenn said “disabled people were literally ignored. Society hadn’t provided the resources for them to live a full life, and many were essentially locked in. But Brad refused to be locked in.” Lomax refused to be isolated and was dedicated to living a rich, full life.
In Oakland, “Lomax struggled to navigate its transit system. To board a bus, his brother, Glenn, would have to lift him out of his chair, carry him up the steps and place him in a seat, then go back to retrieve the wheelchair.” Bradley refused to be isolated and became involved in the University of Berkeley’s Center for Independent Living.
Rhian – That is an incredible tribute to sibling love. Did Glenn take on the role of personal support worker?
Becky – At that time, California was a leader in providing financial support for personal support workers, or PSWs, which meant Lomax could hire one. If you research photos of Bradley Lomax, Chuck Jackson, his PSW, is often right behind him.
Rhian – In another episode of Case for a Better Future you spoke about Judith Heumann and the Section 504 San Francisco sit-in. Oakland and San Francisco are relatively close. Any chance they knew each other?
Becky – Yes, they did. On April 5, 1977, dis/ability rights activists staged sit-ins at ten Health, Education, and Welfare offices around the United States. In San Francisco, the protestors committed to stay and apply pressure to the HEW secretary.
Rhian – Oooh is this when you address the teaser about meals from our last episode?
Becky – Yes, I am. This was pre-Grubhub and meals for 200 added a complication to the sit-in. Not only was Lomax active in the Center for Independent Living. He was also a member of Oakland’s Black Panther Party. Lomax’s devotion and engagement in both organizations proved instrumental to the success of the sit-in.
Lomax contacted the Black Panther Party. “Beginning that first week and continuing to the end of the occupation, local Panthers cooked and carried wholesome, hot meals from Oakland across the bay to San Francisco every single day.” The first meal included “fried chicken, fish, salad, corn, potato salad, rolls, punch, and assorted supplies.”
Rhian – Now that’s being a person for others!
Becky – I know, right? The Federal Bureau of Investigation (or FBI) initially refused to let the Black Panther Party enter the building with their first meal delivery. “The next morning when tensions heightened – with all telephone service abruptly cut off, and all food denied entry – Panther members saw to it that a sympathetic guard ‘discreetly’ allowed the breakfast foods they had brought upstairs to the demonstration.”
Rhian – The phone lines were cut?
Becky – Yes, but the protestors had a secret weapon; American Sign Language, or ASL. Protesters would look out the window and effectively communicate with individuals outside the building.
Rhian – Earlier you mentioned that Bradley Lomax built a bridge. Can you elaborate?
Becky - Lomax was involved in two organizations, the Center for Independent Living and the Black Panther Party. He had been actively engaged in both groups which allowed him to build a bridge between them. This was critical to the success of the protest. Thanks to ASL, the protesters learned that all the other cities were starved out. The meals that were provided by the Black Panther Party ensured the protestors could stay and continue to apply pressure on the HEW secretary.
Rhian – I am curious; are there any interviews of Bradly Lomax available to view?
Becky – Sadly, he passed away in 1984 at the age of 33. Glenn’s brother reflected on his mindset in during the American with Disabilities anniversary a few years ago. He said that Bradley “refused to compromise, he refused to be afraid.”
Rhian – How did you learn about Bradley Lomax?
Becky – I attended a work conference where the guest speaker highlighted dis/ability rights activists. I wanted to learn more about who Lomax was and his impact. A quick search and I found a New York Times article called Overlooked No More. I felt and continue to feel that Bradley Lomax is an unsung hero in American history.
Rhian – Did your research provide any additional insight?
Becky – Yes. I was surprised to learn about the role Chuck Jackson took in the protest. He not only supported Lomax, but he also assisted the other protestors. Jackson’s involvement is indicative of the power of the Section 504 sit-in and dis/ability rights movement. One article stated, “we come to a better understanding of the fluid and intricate dynamics of alliance that comprised the ‘power of the 504’ when we place a disabled Black Panther and a Black Panther caregiver at the center of both Panther and American disability history.”
Rhian – You described Bradley Lomax’s leadership style as collaborative?
Becky – Yes, collaborative leaders work together, particularly in teams to achieve mutual goals. Lomax’s ability to bridge two organizations for a common goal was critical to the success of the protest.
Rhian – Becky, you are intentional in the written form of dis/ability. Could you elaborate?
Becky – My first exposure to the term was in a book titled DisCrit: Disability Studies and Critical Race published by Teachers College Press which was published in 2015. About a year later, I discovered a book titled Beauty is a Verb which follows the dis/ability poetry movement. The 2011 book is a combination of essays and poems, and one essay uses the phrase. A different essay highlights the 1977 sit in and the expectation that a poet would have written about the experience. They were unable to find any published poetry written during protest. Teachers College Press published a book titled Teaching Emergent Bilingual Students with Dis/abilities in 2023 using the forward slash. Language is a forward movement and constantly evolving to reflect a better future.
Rhian – Thank you for sharing. How can educators support this forward movement and honor collaborative leadership?
Becky – I am a huge advocate for reading and having a balanced reading diet. I am also an advocate for teachers to share what is on their bookshelves; to be transparent about what they are reading. Publishing companies are gatekeepers for what voices are or are not published. Blogs, vlogs, podcasts, and self-published books are all sources of a balanced reading diet that can be paired with academic material; a way to pair qualitative and quantitative data.
I would also encourage educators to incorporate memoirs and historical books into their curriculum. They provide great insight into how collaborative leadership is implemented. One of my favorite examples is in Chris Lowney’s book on Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-year-old Company That Changed the World. Lowney explores the history of Ignatius Loyola and the original Jesuits. He shares the story of Benedetto de Goes who could be considered a failure, but his leadership lesson was in the form of a contribution that helped the team to win. Readers become leaders because of the lessons they learn.
Can I share one more?
Rhian – Of course.
Becky – I learned more about history, identity, and the dis/ability rights activist movement by reading essays and poems by authors who used prose to declare and affirm their own identity. Low stakes poetry assignments could be used to explain any concept.
Rhian - ....back to Bradley, how would you describe his case for a better future?
Rhian – Thanks for making a case for a better future.
Becky – Thank you for having me.
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