I made this photograph of Willie L. Brown Jr. a very long time ago and like every other photo it has its own story.
Willie Brown in the 80’s when he was California’s legendary Speaker of the Assembly.
Let’s go way back to the Tri-X days pushed to 3200 using HC110. (A little technical back in the day chatter for those in the know.) It was an election night. Ronald Reagan just won his second term though results were not all in yet. I was working at my first newspaper job and was full of the vim and vigor of life in the blush of my young career as a photojournalist. My great friend Alex Clausen, who was the Associated Press photographer at the time, invited me along to cover the election parties that night. I was delighted! It would be high level stuff and a real insiders view. Alex knew all the ropes, took me wherever he went and let me have a blast. There was a huge party on L Street in one of the fancy buildings celebrating the election. But upstairs, in more rarified quarters was Willie Brown, California’s legendary State Assembly Speaker, in the glow of a news camera being interviewed for the 11’0clock TV news. I stood quietly back with a long lens and just patiently waited, waited, and waited some more. I waited a long time, camera lens to my eye anticipating that perfect moment and finally it happened. Brown slowly swiveled his face my way, lowered his gaze directly at me and held it just long enough till I snapped my shutter. I knew he had given me a gift. The powerful glance he gave me made my night. And my portfolio! Now I’m proud to honor the legendary Willie L. Brown Jr with an inaugural place in The Legacy Project, Sacramento. To read more about him on the honoree page, click here.
Here’s a bit of interesting current news. The resolution, ACR 65, would recognize Willie Brown’s lifetime of accomplishments by naming the span closest to San Francisco the “Willie L. Brown, Jr. Bridge”. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the NAACP came up with the idea and asked Assemblyman Issadore Hall III, a Democrat from Compton to introduce the resolution. Now we will just have to wait and see what happens!
