She was a driving force, a revered leader, an esteemed educator, a powerful politician and a mentor, a former teacher, activist and professor, a loving wife, a nurturing mother, and if you didn’t know Alice Palmer, you would never guess that all of these outstanding attributes belonged to this kind and gentle soul. Alice Palmer was truly a quiet storm, and this is her story as told by her son, David Robinson and daughter, Zella Palmer.
Alice Palmer comes from a long line of outstanding African Americans. Her grandmother Zella Locklier Ward, was an activist in her own way during the Jim Crow era, a pivotal time in United States history. When the Black soldiers came back from World War I, they were not allowed to go to white hospitals, so Zella and her crew of activist ladies built a huge tent city, and she convinced their great grandfather Dr. Joseph Henry Ward to build and staff a Sanitarium, the only Black Sanitarium that would treat Black World War I officers. Dr. Ward served in France with the all Black 92nd Division during World War I. He was the only one of two African Americans commissioned as a major in the Medical Corps during World War I and the first African American to be appointed as a Medical Officer in charge of a United States Veteran’s Administration Hospital. He was also Madam C.J. Walker’s personal physician. Alice’s mother, Mary Ward Roberts was a schoolteacher, and her father, Erskine Roberts graduated third in his class from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1933. Alice continued that legacy of excellence, graduating from Indiana University at the age of sixteen.
Former Senator Alice received her master’s degree from Roosevelt, along with her first husband, Ben Robinson. After that marriage ended, she became a professor at Malcolm X College. That was a time of Black activism, and many of her students were members of the Black Panther Party. At the time, a young man was stalking Alice and she went to the Malcolm X security officer, Edward L. “Buzz” Palmer, for assistance. That was the beginning of a great romance, that led to a great marriage, a great friendship, and a great partnership. In David’s words, “Mom and Buzz were dynamic as a force.” Buzz was an activist also, and in 1967 he, along with the late Renault Robinson and Howard Saffold started the Afro American Police League.
Alice and Buzz were supportive of each other, David tells us that it was Buzz who encouraged Alice to pursue her PhD. “And while pursuing her PhD at Northwestern University she met Professor Jan Carew, which led to relationships with former Jamaican Prime Minister, Michael Manley, and the Poet Laureate of Granada. As David describes it, “Alice and Buzz were running buddies, and this was part of their gang. The gang included the top intellectuals in the world, and they traveled extensively and were engaged in many things all around the world.”
Student Center. “She had students she called her Black House Babies,” recalled David. “Many have gone on to do incredible things.” She continues to be loved by her Black House Babies, among whom are Charles Whittiker, currently Dean of Medill School of Journalism; Kevin Blackstone, regular commentator on ESPN Sports WTTW; professor at the University of Maryland and celebrated author; Dorothy Tucker, Chicago News Reporter; Harry Lennix, Actor; Marcia Davis, Award winning reporter at Channel Eleven; Michael Wilbon, Legendary sportscaster, and sports historian, to name but a few. She also supported nonviolent action against some racist policies at Northwestern University.
A retired military veteran joins Dr. Palmer and Zella Palmer at the dedication ceremony
“Both David and I benefited from the exposure to the world, beginning at a very young age,” said Zella, “We got a chance to see how they traveled the world, navigated and fought for justice and equality on a global scale and they would bring the news back to the community about how the world works. Their experience as activists influenced activism that was happening worldwide.” “A lot of folk don’t think of it this way,” noted David, “but Black folk served as the example in modern capitalist international society and white folk and others of color that were engaged in some kind of struggle held all of us that were involved at that time up as heroes, as examples of how you fight the power, and Alice and Buzz were at the vanguard of that, for certain”. David recalls, “ Our living room was the central hub of political strategies and actions. Harold Washington held his first fundraiser at our home,” It wasn’t long before the community was knocking at the Palmers’ door, asking if Alice would run for 7th Ward Committee Woman.
That began her political career. She was
appointed to fill the vacant seat of retired state senator Richard H. Newhouse, Jr. in 1991. David says, “Some of the politicians thought they could just put Mom in that seat until one of their political cronies came along. Well Mom took the seat and became one of the most admired, respected and thoughtful legislators in Springfield. And she held that seat and carried it forward” Zella adds, “She was co-chair on the Appropriations Committee, she used that seat to move dollars into education. She focused on appropriation and workforce development, both higher education and elementary school, so from that seat she was really able to do some innovative and excellent things in terms of being a legislator.”
Dr. Palmer, founding board member and Delmarie Cobb, CEO of Ida’s Legacy present the first annual Ida’s Legacy achievement award to Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton–2018 Sheraton Grand Ballroom.
David also stated that Alice and Buzz were very good at seeing cracks in the system and figuring out how to address those issues, particularly as it relates to Black people. She was effective as a senator, and respected for her work in that office, but then things began to change, as David explains, “Eventually she met this young man that they say was an organizer, Barack Obama. He was impressive and the progressive elite thought he could
David recalls, “ Our living room was the
central hub of that political strategies and
actions, Harold Washington held his first
fundraiser at our home,” It wasn’t long
before the community was knocking at
the Palmer’s door, asking if Alice would
run for 7th Ward Committee Woman.
be a really effective legislator and voice for the people. Therefore, he gathered quite a bit of support at that time. Around that time Congressman Mel Reynolds got into trouble and lost his seat as a result. Others suggested that
she run for the second congressional district seat that Mel had just vacated, and she did, but eventually lost to Jesse Jackson, Jr. Mom tried to come back to get her Senate seat and the Obama campaign folks challenged her petitions. She didn’t have much time to do a real petition drive, so the clock ran out before she could mount a campaign effective enough to retain her seat. This caused a little bit of riff in the Black community. Timuel Black and others tried to convince the Obama people to wait his turn, she was a senior and elder, and a shining star and he should kind of chill for a minute, and they refused to do that. So, Mom’s political life came to an end with the petition challenge.”
Undaunted by that loss, Alice and Buzz formed The People Program, which was an international exchange program of scholars, journalists, students, and other African American community leadership. They did trips abroad, trips to the United Nations where they became very familiar with Kofi Annan and established friendly relationships with all the leaders throughout Europe and much of Africa. The People’s Program got involved in many issues and brought the good news home about opportunities in a variety of sectors that people in the Black community could take advantage of.
Alice and Buzz, along with their son David and others worked on the celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the African Americans who fought in France in World War I and essentially were adopted by the French society. Jazz was introduced to France at that time They were going to do a Centennial Celebration about that time in French and American history, which would have featured Josephine Baker and others. As David reports, “We met with the Pritzker people, and the Military Museum folk. We had hoped to have a huge conference and a big celebration, but it didn’t get that far.” Obstacles, including the Pandemic of 2020 and 2021 prevented the continuation of the project.
Some things that people don’t know was the great influence Buzz had on many of Mayor Harold Washington’s decisions, such as convincing him to become more involved in global affairs. Buzz and Alice
connected him to the Free South Africa movement. “They were protesting at 444 North Michigan, a building that housed the South African Consulate” Zella recalls, “And Mom and Buzz and David and the whole crew of activists got arrested and charged with unlawful assembly.”
A young attorney, Tim Wright, (who later became Judge Tim Wright,) took the case to court, and won. The charges were dropped and the Jury said, “Not only do we find you all not guilty, but we’re also joining the movement!” David and Zella said they will never forget the celebration in Daley Plaza. Alice and Buzz and Mayor Washington and Bishop Tutu and all were there, holding up the poster “Freeing South Africa is Freeing Ourselves” and David recalls a famous picture depicting that celebration. “Buzz and Alice were at the forefront of that world-changing event” David proudly stated. That demonstration was only the beginning of their crusade against Apartheid. They encouraged cities not to invest in South Africa.
Dr. Palmer, founding board member and Delmarie Cobb, CEO of Ida’s Legacy present the first annual Ida’s Legacy achievement award to Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton–2018 Sheraton Grand Ballroom.
They started the whole municipal pullback between South Africa and the Congolese. Their activism paid off. Eventually apartheid was outlawed, Nelson Mandella, who had been imprisoned for twenty-five years, became President of South Africa.
When Alice and Buzz were often asked why they are always traveling over the world, their answer would be, “So we can bring something back to change the world.” And Zella and David said they proudly grew up in that spirit.
Buzz took David along to Brussels and Strasberg and London during the formation of the EU “We were at the table when the final vote the inside vote was decided that Europe was going to convert to the EU.,” said David, “ I have the original cufflinks that they passed out when the legislation was signed.”
Recently in 2016 Alice and Buzz instituted an international comparative labor studies program. David explains, “The only one is at Cornell, and it’s not really devoted to African American issues, so we worked with the Morehouse senior folks to launch it out of Morehouse and that was a proud moment.
It is named after a famous Black labor legend, William “Bill” Lucy. We had folks from around the world come and be a part of the “William “Bill” Lucy International Comparative Labor Studies Program at Morehouse College founded by me, Buzz and Alice Palmer in 2017.”
Indianapolis Indiana Dedication of national historic site plaque on the former site of the Sanitorium founded by Dr. Joseph H. Ward (Also a Col.)to serve Black veterans of WWI. Standing include veterans there to honor Dr. Ward, elected officials, Edward L. “Buzz” Palmer (Dr. Palmer’s late husband) Zella Palmer (Dr. Palmers daughter, and David Robinson (Dr. Palmer’s son). Dr. Palmer is seated.
Alice was proud of her family’s legacy. Zella and David were in Indianapolis when their great-grandfather, Dr. Joseph Henry Ward’s legacy was recognized by the National Historic Registry. That was a great moment for Mom, ” said Zella, “I mean our great grandfather was one of the most important figures in United States history and nobody knew, and that was one of those moments when his legacy was celebrated at the right scale.”
“Mom loved children, loved family, loved her children. She developed a real fondness for collecting stuff,” Zella told me, “She celebrated everyone else’s success. She was a mentor to many people, helped them navigate the vagaries of big decisions and life and major stuff.”
“She had a way with young people, without being overbearing and telling them what they should do,” Zella recalls, “She, had a way of laying things out on the table and giving you options and letting you choose. She always finds opportunities and suggests that you apply for something.
She saw past your vision. If you’re good at this, you should look at that, have you thought about this? She loved the train and little shops and resell shops. She was a quiet storm.”
In 2019, David co-edited The World is Watching, with his mother, Alice Palmer, and stepfather Buzz Palmer. The book is described as “Part historical, part reflective essays and interviews, a riveting and imperative autobiographical collection of international struggle, world travel and conversations, and remarkable and unfiltered interactions across languages, cultures and continents.”
Alice Palmer passed away on May 25, 2023, her legacy of love, faith and leadership remains for the world to cherish.
“The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.” Kalu Ndukwe Kalu, political scientist.
Alice’s son David, is a non-profit senior executive and is also the Director of External Affairs at Manufacturing Renaissance. He serves on several other NGO boards, and consults on various projects around politics, policy, and strategy.
Her daughter Zella, who was named after her great grandmother, Zella Locklier, is a professor at Dillard and runs the Ray Charles Program in Material Culture.
