[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 28, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E56-E57]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            A POINT-OF-LIGHT FOR ALL AMERICANS: RUBY NOTTAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAJOR R. OWENS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 1998

  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, Ruby Nottage was a Point-Of-Light for 
Brooklyn and for all urban communities struggling for empowerment. She 
was a point of light for all Americans. She was a totally unique 
creation, a magnificent fabric woven from both the rough strands of the 
street and the well refined strings of mankind's highest cultural 
aspirations. Ruby Nottage could walk with kings, after all, and never 
lose the common touch because Ruby Nottage was born a natural queen.
  At a time when education has assumed its rightful place on our 
national agenda it is important to first note that Ruby Nottage was a 
teacher. She enjoyed a 30-year career in the New York City public 
school system as a teacher; assistant principal and as principal of 
P.S. 93 in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Ms. Nottage also proudly served as a 
Member of the Board, president and trustee of the Brooklyn YWCA for 15 
years. She was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo to the New York State 
Martin Luther King Commission, and also served as Political Planning 
Chair of the Brooklyn Women's Political Caucus. She was also a member 
of the Community Advisory Board for Medgar Evers College. Ms. Nottage 
was one of the founders of an independent Democratic Club: Partners for 
Progress. She was also a founding member of the Brooklyn Coalition for 
Community Empowerment. In 1984, she was elected Democratic District 
Leader of the 57th Assembly District. Ruby Nottage was also recognized 
as 1996 Woman of the Year by Brooklyn Links, Inc.
  Ruby was as much at home with a political party nominating petition 
in her hand as she was reviewing a fine work of art. She could prepare 
and appreciate the finest cuisine. But if a late session at the Board 
of Elections required that she eat cold fast food she had no 
complaints. She had ``class'' in the best sense of the word. She would 
do nothing in a sloppy way. To every action and activity of her life 
she applied high standards. Ruby was a glowing example of how a royal 
style can bloom within the context of American grassroots democracy.
  My remembrances of Ruby are slightly different from most of her other 
admirers. I didn't have the delight and the pleasure of growing up with 
Ruby; of going to school with her; or of working with her as a 
colleague during her 30 years in the NYC school system. Ruby was a 
member of a rare species, the native New Yorker, born and raised here. 
She didn't come like many of us from Tennessee or Texas or Jamaica or 
Panama or New Jersey. She was a daughter of New York City--of 
Brownstones, subways, and skyscrapers.
  Since I was not fortunate enough to grow up knowing Ruby I had to 
discover her. What her close friends may take for granted I have had to 
observe with a sense of wonder and awe. She was a Renaissance woman 
with a broad range of interests. She reached out for the whole spectrum 
of experience, the pleasant and the difficult. the same sensitivity and 
intellect that she brought into a theater or an art gallery she carried 
into the dirt and grime of partisan politics. She brought the same 
passion to a discussion of the transition of the Brooklyn political 
machine that she brought to the merger of modern painting concepts with 
African diaspora subject matter and contents.
  It was as late as 1982 that I first discovered Ruby Nottage. She was 
a founding member of the Brooklyn Coalition for Community Empowerment. 
We later shared the euphoria of the Jesse Jackson bid for the 
Presidency and the David Dinkins mayoral victory. We also shared more 
than a few excruciating disappointments in the arena of politics. 
Throughout some very intense group soul searching and heated debates 
Ruby never lost the nobility in her demeanor. She was always the 
teacher who used exemplary English and offered clarity and logic to 
keep the deliberations on track.

  We all appreciated very much Ruby's dedication to the cause of 
community empowerment. On one occasion following a very discouraging 
meeting she pulled me aside and pointing a finger in my face, 
whispered: ``You know, Major, you are one of the few people who have 
continued to believe in group decision-making and real community 
empowerment after you got elected.''
  I have a vivid recollection of that compliment. Her words were like a 
Congressional Medal of Honor. When you are in the political trenches 
surrounded by sell-outs and cynicism there are few things as inspiring 
as recognition and understanding from a respected fellow worker.
  It was an honor to receive praise from Ruby because she had no hidden 
political agenda. She was the most unselfish District Leader in 
America. Politics added nothing to her life except headaches and 
challenges. It was by choice, not need, that she accepted the 
challenges and became the District Leader for the 57th Assembly 
District. By choice this Renaissance Lady had woven a life for herself 
that was unique. Where else could you find the combination of school 
principal and District Leader? Along with her husband, Wally, and the 
rest of the family, Ruby created a combination Brownstone palace and 
art gallery on

[[Page E57]]

Dean Street. Where else could you find such a collector of precious 
items willing to offer her home as a meeting hall and site for 
political fundraisers? Few galleries in Brooklyn are as fascinating as 
the Nottage home, but you don't have to pay a fee or purchase a 
painting there.
  Because of what I experienced in my relationship with Ruby over the 
past sixteen years, nothing surprises me about her record of 
accomplishments before I me her: That she traveled to Farmville, 
Virginia during the Civil Rights struggle to provide service to schools 
that had been closed is one more example of her being willing to place 
herself at risk on the firing line. Despite her appreciation of the 
finer comforts of life she also braved the inconveniences and hardships 
of Haiti to help set up day care centers for children. It is not 
surprising that as a responsible, professional resident she served for 
fifteen years as a member of the Board of the Brooklyn YWCA. It is also 
consistent with her unique duality that she was a founder of an 
independent Democratic club, Partners for Progress. Moving from 
participation in an established national institution to an almost 
revolutionary grassroots base was not a difficult transition for Ruby. 
The common touch didn't stop her from walking with kings and vice 
versa.
  In all that she did Ruby could blend the practical and the sublime. I 
am certain that her son Aaron reflects these same ingredients in his 
pursuit of law. His cases will never be handled with less than maximum 
thoroughness and responsibility. Since tickets for her recent play were 
all sold out I could not yet see the recent work of Lynn Nottage; 
however, I am certain that her drama will be a blend of meaningful 
contents and message with great style and method. Ruby's genes and 
nurturing would allow it to happen no other way.
  Ruby Nottage now belongs to the ages. She now becomes one of the 
ancestors for our children and grandchildren. Our ancestors are our 
eternal role models. As she was a role model in life we should strive 
to keep her forever a role model. Cinque, the leader of the Amistad 
rebels insisted that in a moment of crisis he would not be alone 
because he would be joined by his ancestors. To gain strength from 
their ancestors our children need to know who they are. Television 
cameras, movies and celebrity magazines will never tell them who their 
living role models are. We can certainly not depend on the media and 
our official school curricula to let our children know who their 
magnificent dead ancestors are. It is my plea to all who cherished her 
that we do more than merely fix a monument to Ruby in our minds.
  Ruby Nottage now has a place among our magnificent ancestors. For the 
next few years we must strive in every way possible to move beyond the 
monuments in our minds to pay homage to Ruby in some concrete and 
highly visible ways. Little Brooklyn girls and mature men and women 
should be able to know Ruby's story and call up this beautiful ancestor 
for inspiration in the future. Some have pledged to go forward and get 
busy to write a book about Ruby or name a street or erect a statue or 
start a scholarship fund or name a school after her or do all of the 
above.
  Just because she was in a class by herself is no reason why others 
should not be encouraged to strive to match her magnificent 
performance. Ruby Nottage was a Point-of-Light that must be magnified 
and multiplied.

                          ____________________