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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.