Honoring Civil Rights Warrior Lucius Ware On His Birthday

SOUTHAMPTON, NY— Lucius Ware, president of the Long Island chapter of the NAACP, is a man who's devoted his life to the fight for civil liberty and human rights. He's a trailblazer, a community leader and activist, a man of great faith and a fearless and tireless advocate for the people he's spent a lifetime defending.

And on Saturday, the Southampton community came together to celebrate his 84th birthday.

A party for Ware was held at the United Methodist Church in Southampton, where guests spoke from the heart about the impact he's made on lives on the East End and in the nation.

"Lou is in the community," said Diane Rulnick of the Southampton Anti-Bias Task Force. "Yes, he's an activist, but he also gets people to know how important values are . . .'democracy', with a small 'd,'".

According to Fred Havemeyer, "He is a dear friend, the best of the best. When it comes to being on the right side and doing the right thing, Lou is right there, with flags flying. And it's natural — it comes from inside," he said. "He's always been a special man. He commands a presence — don't fool with Lou, if you're on the wrong side. But if you're on the right side, he'll go to hell for you, two times over."

Charlotte Havemeyer, Fred's daughter, who has grown up with Ware a strong presence in her life, agreed. "He's a force. He's an eloquent and intelligent force — a sage person."

She reflected on the work Ware has done with civil rights movement veteran Bob Zellner. "Both are icons in their own worlds," she said.

Ware's work in Southampton Town has been profound, she said. "No one wanted to tackle creating diversity in Town Hall, when even women were minorities," she said. "It was a difficult thing to open that discussion and say, 'We mean business,' but he did it, carefully and methodically. It takes a special person to be able to accomplish something like that without backing down. People follow him. He's someone you want to follow."

Ware was instrumental in advocating for affirmative action in Southampton Town and has rallied against institutionalized racism on the East End for decades.

Jim Banks, coordinator of multicultural affairs at Suffolk County Community College, and also chair of Southampton's anti-bias task force, spoke about Ware's legacy.

"On Long Island, he has been a pioneer," Banks said. Banks said he grew up taught by his mother to believe in civil rights for all people. "I was spiritually drawn to him, because of that. I've got his back. We stand for, and believe in, the same things."

Ware, addressing the group gathered in the garden, enjoying a summer buffet, spoke of his son, learning to surf in Hawaii.

"You could just see them way out there. Finally, he'd get a wave in and come in. And then they'd have to go back out. They'd get a joy of coming in resting a bit and going out again. And they'd do it again and again, every day. And that's the way it is, unfortunately, with civil rights. We make some gains, sit on our laurels, and have to go back — again and again. That's just the simple truth of it, and I applaud those that do that on a daily basis."

Patch photos by Lisa Finn.

Patch courtesy video.