Remembering Dr. Ronald Walters

I had a certain commentary in mind for this week but when I received an email informing me that Dr. Ronald Walters, BlackCommentator.com editorial board member, and retired professor from the University of Maryland-College Park, had passed away, I knew that I would have to put that other topic on the back burner.

Several days ago I heard that Ron – as I knew him – had become ill. I was given no details but had no sense that it was life threatening. Life is strange that way. You sometimes think that you have all the time in the world to catch up with someone; to check in on them; to see them at the next social gathering; and then they are taken away from us, suddenly and with no apology or explanation.

Dr. Ronald Walters was a consummate political scientist. He was a regular commentator in both the progressive and mainstream print and electronic media. A very progressive analyst, I thought of him as a “race man,” a term from a different era for a Black person who was focused on the condition of Black people. His concern about Black people was not limited to African Americans, but was truly Pan African in its extent.

When asked about Ron Walters, I would think of three descriptions, all of which coexisted: brilliant; down to earth; and very cool. When I first met him, back in the 1980s, at the home of Dr. James Jennings (presently at Tufts University in Massachusetts) I was in awe. I had been invited to a meeting by Dr. Jennings that included Ron Walters and former Berkeley Mayor Gus Newport. The discussion focused on Black politics in the immediate aftermath of the 1988 Jesse Jackson Presidential campaign. I was struck by the breadth of Ron Walters’ knowledge, but I was equally struck by how approachable he was. I did not feel that I was sitting at the feet of a demigod, but rather interacting with someone with an incredibly sharp mind, who was quite prepared to listen to my own views even though I did not hold a candle in comparison with him.

Ron Walters was quite cool, and I mean that in the best sense of the word, as it was experienced in the 1950s and early 1960s. He was very humorous and did not act the role of an ‘old man.’ He seemed to be energized by younger activists and scholars, as a matter of fact.

When BlackCommentator.com was in the process of creating its editorial board, Ron Walters was one of the first people whose participation I thought to request. I had the honor of asking him. His response was so striking that I think that I will never forget it. He was both surprised and honored to be asked to join and had no reservations regarding coming on board. I had not expected him to sign on so quickly! I was delighted. He subsequently contributed regularly to our on-line magazine, helping to make it a reliable source of substantive analysis.

One is always saddened by the passing of a friend, an inspiration, a great thinker. In the case of Ron Walters – who served as all three for me – I am especially saddened that I did not have a chance to say good-bye. I wanted to have that one last chance to thank him for his contributions to progressive causes, to the struggle for Black Freedom, and for being a mentor to people like me who benefitted from his wisdom, warmth and commitment to the struggle.

We’ll see you on the other side, Ron.