Author Description

Homeboy Came to Orange tells the story of ordinary citizens who changed their city. Inspired and led by Ernest Thompson -- an extraordinary organizer with decades of experience in some of America's roughest political arenas -- they defined a vision for a just and beautiful city and they worked tirelessly to advance their dream. They fought for a holistic program that included better schools, relocation for people in the path of a new highway, jobs, recreation, and crime prevention. Their most important success was in rescuing the city's school system from decades of neglect. Their courage and tenacity enabled them to win political power and use it in the best interests of the city's people. At the heart of their success was that these black Americans fought not for themselves alone but for a better life for all. Their inclusive stance transformed the city's social relations. In time, political alliances transcended the convenient and became what Thompson called "pure coalition" coalition based on friendship and mutual respect. Though Thompson died in 1971, the work of these loving friends reaches out to guide Orange and the nation.