Charles C. Flint The Man And His Times

By Agin Abass Shaheed

Charles C. Flint's life story reveals the Political life of a pioneer Black man in service to his community and uplifting of his people.  "Charles C. Flint The Man And His Times," chronicles the remarkable life of one of the City of Los Angeles most remarkable Black Citizens.  Flints arrival to Los Angeles in 1883 after g

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paradigm Change Inc.
• Release date: Apr 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9780578432175

Book preview

In Memory of Our Family Griot

Jana Maxine Ervin

Charles C. Flint Oldest Grandchild

This written account of the Charles C. Flint family, is in dedication to my mother Jana Maxine Ervin and grandmother Olivia Flint-Ervin

Charles C. Flint’s daughter, Olivia and her eldest daughter Jana, in early 1950’s.

Agin A. Shaheed Great Grandson

FORWARD

The story of Charles C. Flint, began as a labor of love for his descendants to remember him. His remarkable personality and contributions to the turn of the century, and pre-world war II history of Los Angeles, grew into a request to share his story with the public, Charles C. Flint as an eyewitness to history, his public recognition, and by popular account some believing him to be one of the influential blacks in Los Angeles 19th century history.

The documentation of this biography, comes in part from the contents of a family trunk, originally meticulously kept private, by Flint’s daughter Olivia, passed on to eldest daughter Jana, who before her death invited me, to explore with her the contents, and passed the trunk on to me, her eldest son, Agin Shaheed. I was asked to keep the collection in tack, and to tell the story to the family, and to the interested public. Oral interviews of Jana, and newspaper accounts, give further testimony to the illustrious life of C. C Flint, thought by some to be Los Angeles most influential black pioneer from the late 1880’s to the early 1930’s.

The writing of this story fulfills a promise to my mother to chronicle the story of C. C. Flint, and equally that of James MacFarland Ervin her father, breaking the silence, revealing the contents and story of the family trunk that had been used by Flint's son in law, as he traveled to and from USC college, and his father's college Jarvis Christian, kept and stored away. For ten years my mother Jana, asked me to help her inventory the trunk. Finally I was, while on winter break from San Diego Unified Schools, able to dedicate two weeks to the task. A treasure trove revealed artifacts, pictures, writings, letters, newspaper articles, and the makings of this narrative. This story opens a pandora's box, of a family tradition of several Black families tied through marriage, that begins in Colonial times and continues right into the present. This family story, is a thread woven into the the tapestry of the story of America, through the journey of a Black family, whose members have contributed to significant facets, of America's diverse story.

I recall that my grandmother Olivia, whom I saw daily from early childhood to late teens, and who was such an influence in my life, had not shared any of her father's history to me. Events in her later life, eclipsed an unusual childhood, and young adult social life as the daughter of C. C. Flint. A purposeful silence about the life of her father and equally remarkable husband, James MacFarland Ervin, was only hinted at in the words of a favorite song, the world I used to know. I also recall my grandmother having much to say about a lot of things, everything except her father or husband. The tragic death of her youngest son Charles Nelson, was a precursor to a mental breakdown, that she never recovered from, that advanced to a state of dementia. The reinvented self of Miss Ervin as she was often called, who sacrificed a life of privilege, ushered in by the equally tragic death of her husband, who never worked a day in her life, trained to work at first in the post office, and later became a registered nurse. For the remaining years of her life experience as a dedicated mother and grandmother, Olivia lived in almost social obscurity, in contrast to her early life as the daughter of Charles C. Flint.

The early memories of Olivia’s eldest daughter, Jana my mother, kept the story of C.C. Flint and other family history alive, validating the contents of the Trunk. She recalls as a small girl how she and her brothers and young sister, used to play with many of the wearable, and touchable items in the trunk. A part of a much larger collection of family memorabilia, that slowly disappeared thru moves to new living places, weather damage, theft, and being sold in hard times, hints at the grandeur of a collection that spans over a hundred years, and may be among the finest of a black family in the West. San Francisco author John William Templeton, teamed with Agin Shaheed in 1996 to write, Our Roots Run Deep Vol. 2 The Black Experience in California, 1900-1970. Chapter 2, "C. C. Flint: ‘Yours for the Progress of the Race,’’’ introduces Charles C. Flint to the contemporary public for the first time chronicling Flints political life. The last paragraph informs the reader, that Shaheed the great-grandson, would later create a complete documentation of the many accomplishments of C. C. Flint and his influence on the West. That story now begins…...

PREFACE

Charles C. Flint’s life story reveals the Political life of a pioneer Black man in service to his comunity and upliftment of his people. Charles C. Flint, The Man and His Times, chronicles the remarkable life of one of the City of Los Angeles most remarkable Black citizens. Flints arrival to Los Angeles in 1883 after growing up in metropolitan Washington, D. C., graduating from Wayland seminary school, and a tour as a Buffaloe Soldier, places him as a member of the original black population of 1,270, Los Angeles,1900 census. He is publicly recognized as being in the forefront of every social and political effort for the advancement of Afro-Americans until his death in 1933. Statesman, political activist, race leader, journalist and columnist, publisher, businessman, orator, chef, archivist, promoter, and a member of the social elite of black and white Los Angeles society. Charles C. Flints life and times reflect the construction of an American black culture, that enjoyed a standard of living, social acceptance, and advancement that may have led the Nation in the integration of blacks into mainstream American culture. Flints profiled life continues the story of one of the few American major cities where its founders and contributors to sustained social advancement were black.

Charles C. Flint, The Man and His Times, provides perhaps, one of the most indepth reflections through pictures, articles, essays, and personal testimony, of the life of a early 1900’s Black man, fulfilling Plato’s invitation that, a life unexamined is no life at all. This text complete with a treasure trove of primary resource documents, may become one of the most detailed accounts and examination of a black citizens, family and social life in California history. The author is simultaneously creating the Charles C. Flint Exhibit available to museums and exhibition organizations.

Author Agin Shaheed in recognition of those before him who have publicly recognized the history of Blacks contribution to Los Angeles and California culture, in his book Charles C. Flint, The Man and His times, pays tribute to their scholarship. The author hopes to be counted as another voice to that story.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The following people have been instrumental in assisting and supporting me as I developed and wrote this publication. The Wednesday Night Men’s Group; Dr. Norman Chambers, Dr. Abuwi Mahdi, Ali Rasheed, Kalil Latif, Lee Muhammad, Mikiel Askia Toure, Ralph Softly, Enri Brown, Larry Malone, Musa Kaleem, Chris McIntyre, and Kasimu Harley, all long time personal friends and thought partners. Special thanks to Leonard Thompson friend, business partner, and editor and production manager for this publication, without whom the professional development and illustration of this book would not have been possible. Dr. John Robert Browne, friend and mentor, thought partner, and critic. Assembly woman Dr. Shirley Weber who in part this book is dedicated to, for her political prowess in the tradition of Charles C. Flint. Abdur Rahman Ali and Najm, spirtitual guides, and the daily support of my Wife Jameelah Shaheed, children and grandchildren, my brother Dr. Stephen Greene, and Aunt Mahasin Shaheed, C.C. Flint’s youngest grandchild. Grateful thanks to cousins Rose Tate, Midge LaClair, and Jason Ford whose research on family history was a particular inspiration to me. A long time ago thanks, to Council Woman Jackie Goldberg, who as my eleventh grade social studies teacher, who first inspired me to speak to the public…...and to all the rest of you, too many and numerous to mention who have played important roles in my life…..

TABLE OF CONTENTS

In memory of family Griot; Jana Maxine Ervin

Dedication to Olivia Flint & Daughter Jana

Forward

Preface

Acknowledgements

Table of Contents

Illustrations

Timeline

Geneaology

Descendents

Charles C. Flint, early life

Flint’s California Black History

Charles C. Flint arrives in Los Angeles

Charles C. Flint, marries first wife, Olivia Wallace

Charles C. Flint, marries second wife, Lora Jacobs

Charles C. Flint marries third wife, Cassie Jacobs-Bowles

Charles C. Flint maternal uncle, Dallas Demal

Charles C. Flint sister Katie son, Eural Childs

Charles C. Flint’s son Herbert

Charles C. Flint’s daughter Olivia Thelma

Charles C. Flint Statesman, politial activist, race leader, journalists, Columnist, publisher, businessman, orator,chef, archivist, and promoter

Charles C. Flint, Negro Industrial Committe advised by Booker T. Washington

Charles C. Flint, Azuza Street Mens Forum

Charles C. Flint, address’s Men’s Forum

Charles C. Flint’s, political appointments

Charles C. Flint, Afro-American League

Charles C. Flint, Resolutions condeming Lynching of Postmaster Baker and Family Maryland

Charles C. Flint Colored Voters Independent Protective League

Charles C. Flint Colored Campaign Club

Charles C. Flint and Mayor Shaw remembered by granddaughter Jana

Charles C. Flint property owner

Charles C. Flint Los Angeles Times Eulogy

Charles C. Flint Pioneer Passes, California Eagle

Charles C. Flint, Reflections on his mortality

Charles C. Flint, Family Memories

Charles C. Flint, Remembered A Hundred Years Later

Charles C. Flint, Remembered A Hundred Years Before

Charles C. Flint, At City Hall, newspaper article as city councilman Candidate 1913

Charles C. Flint, The Grocer, Reasons why the neighborhood store Should be patrionized.

Charles C. Flint, The Grocer, newspaper articles

Charles C. Flint, The Race Leader

Charles C. Flint speaks out on the plight of Black Nurses 1912

Charles C. Flint on Poet Laureate Steven McGroarty

Charles C. Flint, San Pedro home to first Black businesses

Charles C. Flint, Am I My Brothers Keeper.

Charles C. Flint, Addresss the Socialist Party 1903

Charles C. Flint. Los Angeles Times, One Hundred Anniversary President Abraham Lincoln

Charles C. Flint, Writes tribute to Jewish Philantrophist Julius Rosenwald

Charles C. Flint, The Journalist

James Bland and other songwriters

The Negro Newspaper

Untitled Poem

Postum Cereal Contest

Letter to W. E. B. Dubois 1925

Charles C. Flint, Writes about the Los Angeles Earthquake 1933

Charles C. Flint, The Columnist

Brownsville Riot 1906

The Republican Party

The Right of Citizenship

Useless to look to Republican Party

Herbert Hoover pre election

Governors Race, C. C. Young

Rating the Democrats in1932

Democratic Party’s approach to the Black Vote

Watch your steps 1929

Colored Campaign Club

Charles C. Flint, Political and Social Activist

Governor did Penance to Flint

President expected much from politician

Anti-Taft

Must Vote against Taft

Democratic Headquarters invitation

Republican National Committee 1896

T. Thomas Fortune Afro American Journal of News

The Southern California Institute of Negro Social Work

Good Roads

Edward T. Hubbard for 74th Assemblyman

Fredrick Roberts lst Black legislature California, Flint Campaign Manager.

Flints letters of recommendations for:

James McFarline School Attendance Superintendent

President Calvin Coolidage

Postal Employees

County Library supervisor Tarrance

Paul M. Nash municipal

Eugene C. Jennings Municipal Judge

Congressman Joe Crail United States Senator

Charles C. Flint Campaign Strategist and Voter Registration. Flint speaks on social phenomenon of Municipal activity in Los Angeles

Charles C. Flint Campaigns for Mayor Snyder 1917

Charles C. Flint Campaigns for Mayor Harper 1906

Charles C. Flint Campaigns for Mayor Shaw 1933

Charles C. Flint favorite Reflections

Charles C. Flint favorite Quotes

Mahatma Ghandi

Plato

Jesus

Nietzchsche

Socrates

Pythagoras

Will Durant

Schopenhauer

Russeau

Bertrand Russell

Emerson

Seneca

ILLUSTRATIONS

Jana Maxine Ervin family Griot

Jana Ervin and mother