The death of Ambassador Walter Carrington about two weeks ago at the age of 90 brought to an end a remarkable life, of this extraordinary man, who grew up long before the civil rights movement who came of age in this city, and who rose to the heights on the back of hard work, the power of his great personality, and due to the development of a powerful intellect.
He was among a handful of black men and women living in this city when he came of age.
The city accepted Walter Carrington, not because he was black, but rather, because he was the real thing even as a young man starting out in his life.
He came to be a notable civil rights leader and always noted his beliefs were forged growing up in Everett and then at Harvard University, where he was one of four black students in his class.
As a younger man rising in civil rights circles, he became friends with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
He once debated Malcolm X when he was an undergraduate at Harvard.
He graduated from Harvard Law School.
Ambassador Carrington’s work in Africa became his enduring legacy as the Ambassador to Senegal appointed by President Jimmy Carter and then later, as President Clinton’s ambassador to Nigeria.
Continue reading “Ambassador Carrington’s life an inspiration to all”