In 1973, Tom Bradley (1917-1998) made history as the first African American to be elected as the mayor of a city where the demographic majority was white. Lyn Goldfarb and Alison Sotomayor's PBS-aired documentary celebrates this political pioneer's amazing career, which featured extraordinary peaks and equally profound disappointments. Born in Texas, Bradley was the grandson of a slave who attended UCLA on an athletic scholarship. He left school in 1940 to become an officer in the Los Angeles Police Department and rose through the ranks to make lieutenant, but racism within the agency limited his career advancement opportunities. So he went back to school, became a lawyer, and in 1963 was elected to the Los Angeles City Council. Bradley's political profile was strong enough to encourage a 1969 challenge to Mayor Sam Yorty, but the incumbent's shameful use of racial politics gained him re-election. In a 1973 rematch, Bradley won by a landslide and served in office for five terms. Bradley's administration was marked by both significant accomplishments, most notably the 1984 Summer Olympics, and upheaval, particularly in the wake of the Rodney King beating in 1991. Bradley's failed attempts to win the California governorship suggested that his appeal did not carry beyond the city, but he is remembered today as an honest, sincere, and effective leader. Narrated by Alfre Woodard, this fine tribute is recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
Bridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race
(2015) 56 min. DVD: $100: public libraries; $300: colleges & universities. OUR <st1_City w_st="on"><st1_place w_st="on">L.A.</st1_place></st1_City> (avail. from <a href="http://www.mayortombradley.com/">www.mayortombradley.com</a>). PPR. Closed c May 1, 2017
Bridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race
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