Stewart Alexander

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Alexander shortly after his nomination for Vice President of the United States of America at the Socialist Party USA National Convention in St. Louis, MO, October 20, 2007.

Stewart Alexis Alexander (born 1 October 1951) is a democratic socialist politician and the Socialist Party USA nominee for Vice President of the United States in the 2008 election[1][2][3]. Stewart Alexander has the distinction of being the first African-American or member of any ethnic minority group on the Socialist Party Presidential ticket, though there had been talk in the 1960's of running Norman Thomas with Martin Luther King Jr; however, no ticket was run and it is uncertain if King was involved in the discussion[4]. A resident of California, he was the Peace and Freedom Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2006. He received 43,319 votes, 0.5% of the total.

Biography

Early Life

Alexander was born at Elizabeth Buxton Hospital in Newport News, VA to Stewart Alexander Sr and Ann E. McClenney, one of eight children. After giving birth, he and his mother were moved to the hospital's basement as the result of enforced segregation. Alexander's first two years were spent in the Newsome Park project. In 1953 his family moved to New Boston, MI, a suburb of Detroit. There they were forced to purchase their own land to park their trailer since the trailer parks in the area refused to rent to non-whites. Within a year the family was forcibly vacated by Wayne County officials because the land was not zoned as residential.[5]

Stewart Alexander Sr spent the next couple months building a basic house for his family to live in. During this period, the family family lived in poverty, having to make use of an abandoned outhouse twice a week for their personal hygeine and a public park to supply water.[6]

During his early youth (circa age 5), he learned the trade of a brick mason, taught by his father and often given the task of training others[7].

In 1959, the family (Stewart's parents and six children) moved to the Watts community at 92nd St and Central Ave in Los Angeles, CA and discovered the racial segregation in the city. The family experienced financial difficulties due to a comparative lack of work for brick layers in the area. Food for the family was reduced to the bare basics: bread, milk and a few condiments. During this period, Stewart was active in visiting local churches; at one of these churches he met Malcolm X and developped an admiration for him.[8].

In 1961, Stewart moved back to Newport News, VA to live with his maternal grandparents: Norman and Rosa Lee due to his desire to live in the country, possibly due to his family's condition in Los Angeles. Here he was enrolled in an all-black elementary school: George Washington Carver Elementary initially, however he was one of the first five black students to attend Fergusson Highschool when it became desegregated. His grandparents parents were highly church-oriented and he attended with them at the Church of God (The Gospel Spreading Association), Monday through Friday and an all-day event on Sunday.[9].

Stewart initially was extremly pleased with the new living arrangements. His grandparents bought him an entire new wardrobe of clothes he considered to be nice, as opposed to used clothing from the thrift store that were all his parents could afford for him. His grandmother taught him proper grammar, ettiquette, and cleaning skills. He feels he had a strong work ethic instilled in him by the extensive yard work he was required to perform.[10].

However, he also had several domestic violence issues with his grandfather. If he failed to answer his grandfather's questions at the dinner table to satisfaction, he would be struck or beat as a punishment. Two particular incidents stuck in his mind as an adult. First, an incident at 13 when his grandfather chased him around the house and into the forest while wielding a 12 guage shotgun. His grandfather searched for him while Stewart hid. Second, a single strike to the head by his grandfather that caused partial deafness for weeks and migraine headaches for years.[11].

He moved back to California in 1966 to live with his parents in Inglewood. His father was working as a janitor and his mother became a nurse while attending the Los Angeles Trade Technical College to receive her title as a registered nurse. Stewart went to work with his father, cleaning airport terminals at the Los Angeles International Airport at nights. He also transferred to George Washington High School in Los Angeles County. Despite the drug culture of the era, Stewart steered clear and spent most of his free time either assisting his father or visiting churches with him where Stewart's father was serving as a visiting minister.[12].


References

  1. ^ http://vote-socialist.org/ accessed March 8, 2008
  2. ^ http://www.ballot-access.org/2007/10/20/socialist-party-ticket-is-moore-alexander/ accessed March 8, 2008
  3. ^ http://www.votebrianmoore.com/ accessed March 8, 2008
  4. ^ (Tash, Stephen "Socialist Party USA Picks its Presidential Ticket for 2008" The Michigan Socialist End of Year Issue 2007 p. 3)
  5. ^ http://www.stewartalexandercares.com/biography.php accessed March 8, 2008
  6. ^ http://www.stewartalexandercares.com/biography.php accessed March 8, 2008
  7. ^ http://www.stewartalexandercares.com/biography.php accessed March 8, 2008
  8. ^ http://www.stewartalexandercares.com/biography.php accessed March 8, 2008
  9. ^ http://www.stewartalexandercares.com/biography.php accessed March 8, 2008
  10. ^ http://www.stewartalexandercares.com/biography.php accessed March 8, 2008
  11. ^ http://www.stewartalexandercares.com/biography.php accessed March 8, 2008
  12. ^ http://www.stewartalexandercares.com/biography.php accessed March 8, 2008

Sources

See also

External links

Socialist Party USA website
Personal website
Official Campaign website

Preceded by Socialist Party Vice Presidential candidate
2008 		Succeeded by
To be determined
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