Monday, August 18, 1997
Through his unique Cadillac, Ozell Roberson honors people who
have struggled for equalityBy Meghan Ward
Daily Bruin Contributor
It roams around Los Angeles surrounded by the faces of the likes
of Martin Luther King and Barbara Streisand.
The chef d’oeuvre in question, a 1958 Coupe de Ville Cadillac
the color of the sky on a smogless day, dates from the year
segregation was first attempted in the South.
Decorated from bumper to bumper with laminated magazine and
newspaper photos, Ozell Roberson’s car is a symbol of two great
American phenomena reminiscent of Roberson’s youth: the Cadillac,
as the archetypal icon of American society, and Martin Luther King,
Jr., leader of the Civil Rights Movement and winner of the 1964
Nobel Peace Prize.
All of the people depicted on Roberson’s car have one of two
things in common. They have either suffered at the hands of violent
criminals, or they have aided in King’s struggle to end racial
prejudice so that "black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles,
Catholics and Protestants will one day be able to join hands and
sing."
Among those whose faces appear against the shiny blue exterior
are Martin Luther King, Jr.; John F. and Robert Kennedy; Rosa
Parks; Viola Lizzo; Rev. James Reed; and Hollywood celebrities such
as Barbara Streisand, Ennis Cosby, and Nicole Brown Simpson.
Alongside King, Simpson plays a particularly important role in
Roberson’s life.
"I change (the pictures) weekly or monthly, depending on what
happens. With Nicole, it’s not a racial issue, it’s a matter of
justice or injustice. She was an innocent woman and O.J. should be
punished for his crime."
Roberson speaks of the opposition he has encountered in his
defense of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. "I took flowers to
their graves. My people (African Americans) are in denial. They’ll
admit to me that O.J. is guilty, but they won’t admit that to
whites. If we’re going to balance the racial issue, we’re going to
have to put the blame where it belongs," says Roberson.
On affirmative action, Roberson speaks candidly. "Affirmative
action is discrimination in reverse," he says. "It was originally
designed for underprivileged persons, but then it was taken out of
focus."
Roberson found the inspiration to combine his two passions into
one reality one evening in 1971 as he sat down to watch the
news.
A young African American girl, who had just graduated from an
otherwise all-white high school, was gunned down by three youths on
her way into a restaurant with her parents after her graduation
ceremony.
With the words of Martin Luther King in the back of his mind,
"Let no man pull you so low as to hate him," Roberson decided to
take action.
He solicited friends, acquaintances and strangers for money to
support the grieving family of the deceased. At his own expense,
Roberson drove across the country to the town of Drew, where he
presented the child’s parents with the thousands of dollars that he
had raised.
Roberson spoke with the younger brothers of the girl and with
other youths in the town of Drew, reminding them of King’s
teachings. "Do not match violence with violence," he told them.
There were no riots in Drew.
Since 1971, Roberson has come to the aid of victims of violence
on various occasions, including the kidnapping of heiress Patricia
Hearst, and more recently, the Simpson-Goldman murders.
Several respected individuals such as publishing magnate Edward
A. Hearst, Sen. Edward Kennedy and Sen. Tom Hayden have sent
Roberson letters of gratitude for his generous donations.
Unlike others who seek to attract attention with their
automobiles, such as actor Dennis Woodruff and billboard queen
Angelyne, Roberson does not seek any personal gain in his mission.
His aims are to pay homage to those who have aided in African
Americans’ struggle for equality and to keep King’s message
alive.
"I see myself as a sort of messenger boy for God, and for Martin
Luther King," says Roberson.
On Aug. 7, Roberson was privileged to witness several random
acts of kindness bestowed upon him by "a lot of nice white
people,"as he put it.
On his way home from work that evening, Roberson was hit
broadside by a man driving under the influence.
The scene that unfolded was not as tragic as Roberson imagined
it would be. Roberson discovered that the message elicited from his
automobile, the manifestation of a dream conceived by Roberson 26
years ago, turned what could have been a nightmare into a
surprisingly pleasant experience. He was taken aback by the
benevolence of various bystanders who witnessed the crash.
"One woman who held a bag of groceries said she was so shook up
she couldn’t eat. She gave me the groceries. Another woman ran
inside to get me the number of her lawyer. One man offered me a
ride home," relates Roberson.
Somehow, the Rodeo Drive sign across the left fender did not
seem to relate to the theme of the rest of the car.
As King himself said, "No man is an island. We cannot walk
alone." For Roberson, that includes walking down Rodeo Drive.
Photos by Meghan Ward
Ozell Roberson drives this 1958 Coupe de Ville Cadillac (top),
which he decorates with laminated magazine and newspaper photos
(bottom) of victims of violent crimes and people who have aided
Martin Luther King’s struggle for equality.