Ron Brown was mourned as a national leader – a man who not only broke barriers himself, but who dedicated his life to helping others to succeed as well.
[Reflections]
Today, President Obama traveled to New York City where he delivered remarks at the dedication of the Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations Building.
Now, it’s not every day that the President of the United States takes part in the dedication of a building – but this particular building commemorates the life of a very important man. Ron Brown was the first African American to serve as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and he was later appointed to be the first African American Commerce Secretary. His service in that capacity was cut tragically short when his plane crashed on an official trade mission over Eastern Europe; he was killed along with 34 others.
For all of us who knew him, that was an awful day. We lost a man who made everybody feel like a part of the team, and who could always be counted on to get us across the finish line. He never gave up on anything or anyone – as a soldier, as an activist, as a campaigner, as a bridge-builder, he always kept going, because he believed that with hard work anything is possible.
That’s what drove him on. Through his work and his example, he inspired so many people – myself included – to keep our shoulders to the wheel, to keep pushing for progress.
In the days after his death, Ron Brown was mourned as a national leader – a man who not only broke barriers himself, but who dedicated his life to helping others to succeed as well. He continues to be remembered for his incredible efforts on behalf
of the Democratic Party, democratic progress, and the United States of America.
But he would want us to do more than remember – he would want us to keep fighting for the country he believed in, for the progress he sought, and for the future he wanted to build.
Brazile is DNC Vice Chair of Voter Registration & Participation
