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{{short description|American politician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}

<!-- [[File:Monning, Hsla-Coron, Cohen and Mason 2017.jpg|alt=Bill Monning, Ms. Hsla-Coron, M Cohen and Mel Mason|thumb|Bill Monning, Ms. Hsla-Coron, M Cohen and Mel Mason discuss 1060's activism in a panel 2017, photo by S Gerbic]] -->
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Melvin T. Mason
| name = Melvin T. Mason
| image = Monning, Hsla-Coron, Cohen and Mason 2017.jpg
| image = Melvin T Mason.jpg
| caption = Bill Monning, Ms. Hsla-Coron, M Cohen and Mel Mason discuss 1960's activism in a panel 2017
| caption = Mason in 2019
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1943|1|7}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|1|7}}
| birth_place = [[Providence, Kentucky|Providence]], [[Kentucky]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Providence, Kentucky]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| resting_place =
| occupation = Civil rights activist, social worker
| occupation = Civil rights activist, social worker
| known_for = 1984 presidential candidacy SWP
| known_for = 1984 presidential candidacy ([[Socialist Workers Party (United States)|SWP]])
| movement = [[Civil Rights Movement]]
| movement = [[Civil Rights Movement]]
| spouse = Regina Mason
| spouse = Regina Mason
| signature =
| signature =
}}
}}
'''Melvin T. Mason,''' is an [[United States|American]] politician who ran as [[Socialist Workers Party (United States)|Socialist Workers Party]] candidate for [[President of the United States|United States President]] in the [[1984 United States presidential election]].<ref name=":3">“Mason, Melvin T. "Mel",” ''Notable Kentucky African Americans Database'', accessed October 18, 2019, <nowiki>https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/1888</nowiki>.</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite book | title = Voices of change : the People's Oral History Project : interviews with Monterey County activists and organizers, 1934-2015 | last = Karnes | first = Gary | publisher = Community Printers | others = Araujo, Karen,, Martinez, Juan,, McDonald, Jennifer,, Hamilton, Patricia,, People's Oral History Project, Community Printers | year = 2016 | isbn = 9781943887002 | edition = First U.S. | location = Pacific Grove, California | pages = | oclc = 957494434}}</ref><ref name=":4" />
'''Melvin T. Mason''' (born January 7, 1943) is an American politician who ran as [[Socialist Workers Party (United States)|Socialist Workers Party]] candidate for [[President of the United States]] in the [[1984 United States presidential election]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web | title = Mason, Melvin T. "Mel | work = Notable Kentucky African Americans Database | access-date = October 18, 2019 | url = https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/1888}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite book | title = Voices of change : the People's Oral History Project : interviews with Monterey County activists and organizers, 1934-2015 | last1 = Karnes | first1 = Gary | publisher = Park Place Publications | last2 = Araujo | first2 = Karen | last3 = Martinez | first3 = Juan <!-- | last4 = McDonald | first4 = Jennifer | last5 = Hamilton | first5 = Patricia --> | date = September 20, 2016 | isbn = 9781943887002 | edition = First U.S. | location = Pacific Grove, California | oclc = 957494434}}</ref><ref name=":4" />


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== Early life ==
== education, basketball and military service ==
⚫
Melvin T. Mason was born in [[Providence, Kentucky]] on January 7, 1943<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> and moved to [[Seaside, California]] in 1956 with his mother when he was 13.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/cover/as-the-monterey-county-branch-of-the-naacp-enters-its/article_28bffbf4-9986-5f83-986c-372d075c1ab8.html | title = As the Monterey county branch of the NAACP enters its 80th year, the activists who helped build Seaside into a center of black power look back on the fight for equality. | last = Ryce | first = Walter | date = January 26, 2012 | work = Monterey County Herald|access-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref> Mason became a star basketball player at [[Monterey High School (Monterey, California)|Monterey High School.]]<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />


=== Early life ===
== Military service ==
⚫
Mason graduated from high school in 1960 and then attended [[Monterey Peninsula College]] (junior college) until 1961 when he entered the Air Force.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> Mason was named Air Force European Command Player of the Year in 1964, after setting high scoring records for the US military in Europe.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2">Congressional Record of the House of Representatives of the United States : passed on October 22, 2007 introduced by Sam Farr 110th Congress, Congressional Record; 1st Session Issue: Vol. 153, No. 160<br /></ref> The Air Force gave Mason a bad conduct discharge in 1965. Mason believes that the bad conduct status was because he had objected to bad treatment of black servicemen. US Senator [[Thomas Kuchel]] had the discharged changed to honorable.<ref name=":2" />
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Melvin T. Mason was born in [[Providence, Kentucky|Providence Kentucky]] on January 7, 1943 <ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> and moved to Seaside California in 1956 with his mother when he was 13.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/cover/as-the-monterey-county-branch-of-the-naacp-enters-its/article_28bffbf4-9986-5f83-986c-372d075c1ab8.html | title = As the Monterey county branch of the NAACP enters its 80th year, the activists who helped build Seaside into a center of black power look back on the fight for equality. | last = Ryce | first = Walter | date = January 26, 2012 | work = Monterey County Herald|access-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref> Mason became a star basketball player at [[Monterey High School (Monterey, California)|Monterey High School.]]<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />


== High education and collegiate basketball ==
=== Military service ===
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1966 Mason returned to Monterey Peninsula College where he became the only All-America basketball player in the school's history.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> He accepted an Oregon State University basketball scholarship but after taking stands against racist treatment of black basketball players, he lost his scholarship in 1966.<ref name=":2" /> Mason was banned from playing basketball at any college in the U.S and his sports career was over.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
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Mason graduated from high school in 1960 and then attended [[Monterey Peninsula College]] (junior college) until 1961 when he entered the Air Force.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> Mason was named Air Force European Command Player of the Year in 1964, after setting high scoring records for the US military in Europe.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2">Congressional Record of the House of Representatives of the United States : passed on October 22, 2007 introduced by Sam Farr 110th Congress, Congressional Record; 1st Session Issue: Vol. 153, No. 160<br /></ref> The Air Force gave Mason a bad conduct discharge in 1965. Mason believes that the bad conduct status was because he had objected to bad treatment of black servicemen. US Senator Thomas Kuchel had the discharged changed to honorable.<ref name=":2" />


⚫
In 1972 Mason earned [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in [[social science]] at [[Golden Gate University]],<ref name=":2" /> and in 1995 an [[Master of Arts|M.A.]] in [[social work]] from [[San Jose State University]].
=== Banned from basketball ===
⚫
1966 Mason returned to Monterey Peninsula College he became the only All-America basketball player in the school's history,.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> He accepted an Oregon State University basketball scholarship but after taking, ( then controversial,) stands against racist treatment of black basketball players He lost his scholarship in 1966.<ref name=":2" /> Mason was banned from playing basketball at any college in the U.S and his sports career was over.


=== Higher education ===
== Political activism ==
⚫
Mason joined the [[Black Panther Party]] in 1968.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereyherald.com/2011/03/20/a-lifelong-battle-for-equality/ | title = A lifelong battle for equality | last = Taylor | first = Dennis | date = March 20, 2011 | work = Monterey County Herald|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book | title = American Babylon : race and the struggle for postwar Oakland | last = Self, Robert O., 1968- | date = 2003 | publisher = Princeton University Press | isbn = 0691070261 | location = Princeton, N.J. | oclc = 51445643}}</ref> and in 1970 he organized the Black United Farmworkers (UFW) support committee.<ref name=":2" /> In 1976 Mason was involved investigations and campaigns to stop police brutality on the Monterey Peninsula and [[Salinas, California|Salinas California.]]<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":9" /> 1980 Mason was elected<ref name=":0">{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2015/0528/mel-mason-had-to-assert-his-own-humanity-he-also/article_466f8c40-04c4-11e5-be7b-8f74b83930d3.html | title = Mel Mason had to assert his own humanity, he also asserts the humanity of others | last = Ryce | first = Walter | date = May 28, 2015 | work = Monterey County Weekly|access-date=October 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018143103/https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2015/0528/mel-mason-had-to-assert-his-own-humanity-he-also/article_466f8c40-04c4-11e5-be7b-8f74b83930d3.html|archive-date=October 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> to the city council of [[Seaside, California|Seaside, CA]] . Mason had launched campaign to recall former Seaside mayor (then a city councilman) Lou Haddad, whom Mason called an “enemy of black people.” He joined a broad coalition called the Citizens’ League for Progress<ref name=":7">{{Cite book | title = Racial beachhead : diversity and democracy in a military town : Seaside, California | author = McKibben, Carol Lynn | date = 2012 | publisher = Stanford University Press | isbn = 978-0804778442 | location = Stanford, Calif. | oclc = 762325021}}</ref> and defeated Haddad. That next year, Mason ran for the Seaside City Council seat and won.<ref name=":7" />
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In 1972 Mason earned B.A. in social science at [[Golden Gate University]],<ref name=":2" /> and in 1995 a M.A. in social work from [[San Jose State University]]


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In 1982 Mason tried to run for Governor of California on the [[Socialist Workers Party (United States)|Socialist Workers Party]] ticket when he was ruled off the ballot.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book | title = International Trotskyism, 1929–1985: A Documented Analysis of the Movement | last = Alexander | first = Robert J. | publisher = Duke University Press | year = 1991 | isbn = 978-0822309758 | location = Durham, North Carolina | pages = [https://archive.org/details/internationaltro01alex_2/page/72 72, 873] | url = https://archive.org/details/internationaltro01alex_2/page/72 }}</ref> 1984 – Ran as Socialist Workers Party candidate for United States President in the [[1984 United States presidential election]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":4" /> Along with vice presidential candidates [[Andrea Gonzales]] and [[Matilde Zimmermann]] (different vice presidential candidates in different states), he received 24,672 votes.<ref name=":8" />
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== see also ==


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Mason was a 1988 plaintiff in a lawsuit against government spying on activists.<ref>{{Cite book | title = FBI on trial : the victory in the Socialist Workers Party suit against government spying | date = 1988 | publisher = Pathfinder Press | others = Jayko, Margaret. | isbn = 0873485327 | edition = 1st | location = New York | oclc = 19684874}}</ref> A federal court decision codified the successful fifteen-year legal effort by the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) regarding decades of spying and disruption by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/investigations/ChurchCommittee.htm|title=Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (Church committee)|date=April 29, 1976|website=United States Senate|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009090844/https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/investigations/ChurchCommittee.htm|archive-date=October 9, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref>
=== Key events in political activism ===
1968 Mason joined the [[Black Panther Party]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereyherald.com/2011/03/20/a-lifelong-battle-for-equality/ | title = A lifelong battle for equality | last = Taylor | first = Dennis | date = March 20, 2011 | work = Monterey County Herald|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book | title = American Babylon : race and the struggle for postwar Oakland | last = Self, Robert O., 1968- | date = 2003 | publisher = Princeton University Press | isbn = 0691070261 | location = Princeton, N.J. | oclc = 51445643}}</ref>


From 1996 until retirement in 2006, Mason worked at [[California State University, Monterey Bay|California State University Monterey Bay]] (CSUMB).<ref name=":2" /> He was appointed to the Access to Excellence Committee, designed to increase the admission of minority students with the [[California State University System]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6" /> 1998 The police shooting of Charles Vaughn<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/local_news/based-on-the-high-profile-killings-of-minorities-in-monterey/article_c2f1e112-0633-5665-9314-afee0d641c7f.html | title = Based on the high-profile killings of minorities in Monterey County and throughout the U.S., it's an ugly question that cries out for an answer | last = Worth | first = Mark | date = January 13, 2000 | work = Monterey County Weekly|access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> led to a new crisis intervention training for Monterey County police forces.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2019/04/04/the-cops-shot-chuck/ | title = The Cops Shot Chuck | last = Livernois | first = Joe | date = April 4, 2019 | website = Voices of Monterey Bay}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/local_news/monterey-county-s-finest-learn-how-to-deal-compassionately-with/article_2a6132fa-87b7-52af-b45b-e740332fa36e.ht | title = Monterey County's finest learn how to deal compassionately with the mentally ill. | date = April 27, 2000 | work = Monterey County Weekly|access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> In 2001 Mason was licensed as a clinical social worker (LCSW) by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. In 2002 Mason was elected President of the [[Monterey, California]] Peninsula chapter of the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] for two consecutive terms<ref name=":2" /> Mason chaired a committee that successfully created [[Monterey Peninsula College]]'s trustee districts to ensure voter equity and increase minority representation on the college's board of trustees<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.panettainstitute.org/about-us/institute-people/visiting-instructors/ | title = Mel Mason, President, Monterey Peninsula Branch, NAACP, and Co-Founder of the Village Project | date = October 21, 2019 | website = Panetta Institute | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160911212733/http://www.panettainstitute.org/about-us/institute-people/visiting-instructors/ | archive-date = September 11, 2016 }}</ref> Mason is the co-founder of The Village Project<ref name=":1" /> that provides services culturally tailored to African Americans and other populations historically underserved by mental health systems and after-school academy for high-risk students.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
1970 Mason organized the Black United Farm Workers [[United Farm Workers|(UFW)]] Union support committee.<ref name=":2" />


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== Awards and recognition ==
1976 He led investigations and campaigns to stop police brutality on the Monterey Peninsula and [[Salinas, California|Salinas California.]]<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":9" />


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* 1998 – Monterey County [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU) Ralph B. Atkinson Award<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1041&context=otterrealm | title = Outstanding Community Service Recognized | last = Marshall | first = Tera | date = May 4, 1999 | work = Otter Realm|access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>
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1980 Mason first elected <ref name=":0">{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2015/0528/mel-mason-had-to-assert-his-own-humanity-he-also/article_466f8c40-04c4-11e5-be7b-8f74b83930d3.html | title = Mel Mason had to assert his own humanity, he also asserts the humanity of others | last = Ryce | first = Walter | date = May 28, 2015 | work = Monterey County Weekly|access-date=October 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018143103/https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2015/0528/mel-mason-had-to-assert-his-own-humanity-he-also/article_466f8c40-04c4-11e5-be7b-8f74b83930d3.html|archive-date=October 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> to the city council of [[Seaside, California|Seaside, CA]] . Mason launched campaign to recall former Seaside mayor (then a city councilman) Lou Haddad, whom Mason called an “enemy of black people.” He joined a broad coalition called the Citizens’ League for Progress<ref name=":7">{{Cite book | title = Racial beachhead : diversity and democracy in a military town : Seaside, California | author = McKibben, Carol Lynn | date = 2012 | publisher = Stanford University Press | isbn = 978-0804778442 | location = Stanford, Calif. | pages = | oclc = 762325021}}</ref> and defeated Haddad. That next year, Mason ran for the Seaside City Council seat and won.<ref name=":7" />
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* 1999 – KSBW Jefferson Award for Outstanding Volunteer Community Service
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* 2002 –Baha'i 23rd Human Rights Award<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=12213870&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjI3OTU2MDQwNiwiaWF0IjoxNTcxNDEwMzE1LCJleHAiOjE1NzE0OTY3MTV9.VFfffv1QJcw8DlwM2LJ8Qxy6qBeK_w8zZsZ795NM5oA | title = Human Rights Award | date = December 2, 2002 | work = Salinas Californian|access-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref>
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* 2007 – Stephen E Ross award for community service and advocate for justice: awarded by the NAACP of the Monterey Peninsula<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
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* 2007 – [[Sam Farr]], US House of Representatives :resolution in honor of Mel Mason Congressional Record October 22,<ref name=":2" />
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* 2011 – California Community College Hall of Fame induction<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.mpc.edu/Home/Components/News/News/1139/2530?arch=1 | title = News & Special Events {{!}} Monterey Peninsula College|website=www.mpc.edu|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106132930/https://www.mpc.edu/Home/Components/News/News/1139/2530?arch=1|archive-date=November 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":6" />
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* 2018 – Cal Wellness Sabbatical Program Award<ref name=":1">{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereyherald.com/2018/11/08/mel-mason-executive-director-of-the-village-project-in-seaside-to-receive-sabbatical-program-award/ | title = Mel Mason, executive director of The Village Project in Seaside, to receive Sabbatical Program Award | last = Herrera | first = James | date = November 8, 2018 | newspaper = [[Monterey Herald]]|access-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018144115/https://www.montereyherald.com/2018/11/08/mel-mason-executive-director-of-the-village-project-in-seaside-to-receive-sabbatical-program-award/|archive-date=October 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> designed to improve the long-term effectiveness of nonprofits by investing in the health and wellness of leaders and building staff capacity to manage operations (give them a sabbatical break.)
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* 2018 – Monterey Peninsula College President's Award, shared with wife Regina Mason, for community service by MPC Alumni<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereyherald.com/2018/04/27/mpc-alums-receive-presidents-award-mel-and-regina-mason-recognized-for-social-justice-work-in-monterey-county/ | title = MPC alums receive President's Award: Mel and Regina Mason recognized for social justice work in Monterey County | last = Reyes | first = Juan | date = April 27, 2018 | newspaper = [[Monterey Herald]] | access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>


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== Books about Mason and his times ==
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1982 Ran for Governor of California on the [[Socialist Workers Party (United States)|Socialist Workers Party]] ticket when he was ruled off the ballot.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book | title = International Trotskyism, 1929–1985: A Documented Analysis of the Movement | last = Alexander | first = Robert J. | publisher = Duke University Press | year = 1991 | isbn = 978-0822309758 | location = Durham, North Carolina | pages = 72, 873}}</ref>


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# ''Mel Mason: The Making of a Revolution'' (1982) {{ISBN|0-87348-448-7}}.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book | title = Mel Mason: The Making of a Revolutionary | last = Mason | first = Melvin T. | publisher = Pathfinder Press | year = 1982 | isbn = 0873484487}}</ref>
1984: Mason ran as Socialist Workers Party candidate for United States President in the [[1984 United States presidential election]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":4" /> Along with Vice Presidential candidates [[Andrea Gonzales]] and [[Matilde Zimmermann]] (different vice-presidential candidates in different states.) He received 24,672 votes.<ref name=":8" />
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# ''The trial of [[Leonard Peltier]],'' Messerschmidt, James W. 1982 South End Press. Boston<ref>{{Cite book | title = The trial of Leonard Peltier | last = Messerschmidt | first = James W | date = 1983 | publisher = South End Press | isbn = 089608163X | location = Boston | oclc = 9926275}}</ref>

1985–1987 Mason lived in New York City and was an organizer for the demonstration against South African apartheid.<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/15/nyregion/thousands-in-new-york-rally-against-apartheid.html | title = THOUSANDS IN NEW YORK RALLY AGAINST APARTHEID | last = Hevesi | first = Dennis | date = June 15, 1986 | work = New York Times|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016231716/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/15/nyregion/thousands-in-new-york-rally-against-apartheid.html|archive-date=October 16, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

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Mason a plaintiff in a lawsuit against government spying on activists<ref>{{Cite book | title = FBI on trial : the victory in the Socialist Workers Party suit against government spying | date = 1988 | publisher = Pathfinder Press | others = Jayko, Margaret. | isbn = 0873485327 | edition = 1st | location = New York | oclc = 19684874}}</ref> A federal court decision that codifies the successful fifteen-year legal effort by the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) regarding decades of spying and disruption by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/investigations/ChurchCommittee.htm|title=Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (Church committee)|last=|first=|date=April 29, 1976|website=United States Senate|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009090844/https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/investigations/ChurchCommittee.htm|archive-date=October 9, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref>

2001 – clinical social worker's license (LCSW) from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences

2002 – President of the Monterey Penisula [[NAACP]] chapter for two consecutive terms<ref name=":2" />

From 1996 until retirement in 2006, Mason worked at [[California State University, Monterey Bay|California State University Monterey Bay]] (CSUMB).<ref name=":2" /> He was appointed to the Access to Excellence Committee, designed to increase the admission of minority students with the California State University System.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6" />

1998 The police shooting of Charles Vaughn<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/local_news/based-on-the-high-profile-killings-of-minorities-in-monterey/article_c2f1e112-0633-5665-9314-afee0d641c7f.html | title = Based on the high-profile killings of minorities in Monterey County and throughout the U.S., it's an ugly question that cries out for an answer | last = Worth | first = Mark | date = January 13, 2000 | work = Monterey County Weekly|access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> led to a new Crisis Intevention Training for Monterey County police forces.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2019/04/04/the-cops-shot-chuck/ | title = The Cops Shot Chuck | last = Livernois | first = Joe | date = April 4, 2019 | website = Voices of Monterey Bay|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/local_news/monterey-county-s-finest-learn-how-to-deal-compassionately-with/article_2a6132fa-87b7-52af-b45b-e740332fa36e.ht | title = Monterey County's finest learn how to deal compassionately with the mentally ill. | last = | first = | date = April 27, 2000 | work = Monterey County Weekly|access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref>

Mason chaired a committee that successfully created  Monterey Peninsula College’s trustee districts to ensure voter equity and increase minority representation on the college’s board of trustees<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.panettainstitute.org/about-us/institute-people/visiting-instructors/ | title = Mel Mason, President, Monterey Peninsula Branch, NAACP, and Co-Founder of the Village Project | last = | first = | date = October 21, 2019 | website = Panetta Institute | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160911212733/http://www.panettainstitute.org/about-us/institute-people/visiting-instructors/ | archive-date = September 11, 2016 | access-date = }}</ref>

Mason is the co-founder of The Village Project <ref name=":1" /> that provides services culturally tailored to African Americans and other populations historically underserved by mental health systems.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The Village Project Inc.also provides after school academy for high-risk students.

⚫
=== Awards and recognition ===

⚫
* 1998 Monterey County [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU) Ralph B. Atkinson Award<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1041&context=otterrealm | title = Outstanding Community Service Recognized | last = Marshall | first = Tera | date = May 4, 1999 | work = Otter Realm|access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>
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* 1999 KSBW Jefferson Award for Outstanding Volunteer Community Service
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* 2002 Human Rights Award: Baha'i 23rd Human Rights Award <ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=12213870&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjI3OTU2MDQwNiwiaWF0IjoxNTcxNDEwMzE1LCJleHAiOjE1NzE0OTY3MTV9.VFfffv1QJcw8DlwM2LJ8Qxy6qBeK_w8zZsZ795NM5oA | title = Human Rights Award | last = | first = | date = December 2, 2002 | work = Salinas Californian|access-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref>
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* 2007 Stephen E Ross award for community service and advocate for justice: awarded by the NAACP of the Monterey Penisula <ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
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* 2007 [[Sam Farr]], US House of Representatives :resolution in honor of Mel Mason Congressional Record October 22, <ref name=":2" />
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* 2011 California Community College Hall of Fame induction <ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.mpc.edu/Home/Components/News/News/1139/2530?arch=1 | title = News & Special Events {{!}} Monterey Peninsula College|website=www.mpc.edu|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106132930/https://www.mpc.edu/Home/Components/News/News/1139/2530?arch=1|archive-date=November 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":6" />
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* 2018 Cal Wellness Sabbatical Program Award <ref name=":1">{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereyherald.com/2018/11/08/mel-mason-executive-director-of-the-village-project-in-seaside-to-receive-sabbatical-program-award/ | title = Mel Mason, executive director of The Village Project in Seaside, to receive Sabbatical Program Award | last = Herrera | first = James | date = November 8, 2018 | work = Monterey Herald|access-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018144115/https://www.montereyherald.com/2018/11/08/mel-mason-executive-director-of-the-village-project-in-seaside-to-receive-sabbatical-program-award/|archive-date=October 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> designed to improve the long-term effectiveness of nonprofits by investing in the health and wellness of leaders and building staff capacity to manage operations (give them a sabbatical break.)
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* 2018 Monterey Peninsula College President’s Award, shared with wife Regina Mason, for community service by MPC Alumni<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.montereyherald.com/2018/04/27/mpc-alums-receive-presidents-award-mel-and-regina-mason-recognized-for-social-justice-work-in-monterey-county/ | title = MPC alums receive President's Award: Mel and Regina Mason recognized for social justice work in Monterey County | last = Reyes | first = Juan | date = April 27, 2018 | work = Monterey Herald|access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>

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=== Books about Mel Mason and his times ===

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# ''Mel Mason: The Making of a Revolution'' (1982) {{ISBN|0-87348-448-7}}.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book | title = Mel Mason: The Making of a Revolutionary | last = Mason | first = Melvin T. | publisher = Pathfinder Press | year = 1982 | isbn = 0873484487 | location = | pages =}}</ref>
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# ''The trial of [[Leonard Peltier]],'' Messerschmidt, James W. 1982 South End Press. Boston <ref>{{Cite book | title = The trial of Leonard Peltier | last = Messerschmidt | first = James W | date = 1983 | publisher = South End Press | isbn = 089608163X | location = Boston | pages = | oclc = 9926275}}</ref>
#''International Trotskyism, 1929–1985: A Documented Analysis of the Movement,'' Alexander, R. J. (1991). Duke University Press.<ref name=":8" />
#''International Trotskyism, 1929–1985: A Documented Analysis of the Movement,'' Alexander, R. J. (1991). Duke University Press.<ref name=":8" />
#''Racial Beachhead: diversity and democracy in a military town'' (2012) McKibben, Carol Stanford university Press {{ISBN|9780804778442}} <ref name=":7" />
# {{Cite book | title = Racial Beachhead: diversity and democracy in a military town | year = 2012 | last = McKibben | first = Carol | publisher = [[Stanford University Press]] | isbn = 9780804778442}}<ref name=":7" />
#''[[Reach: 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading and Succeeding|Reach: 40 black men speak on living, leading and succeeding]]'' [[Ben Jealous]] Simon and Shuster 2015 pp 143-140 <ref>{{Cite book | title = Reach : 40 black men speak on living, leading and succeeding | last = Jealous | first = Ben | publisher = | others = Jealous, Benjamin Todd, 1973-, Shorters, Trabian. | isbn = 9781476799834 | edition = First Atria paperback | location = New York | pages = | oclc = 900194086 | date = February 3, 2015}}</ref>
#''[[Reach: 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading and Succeeding|Reach: 40 black men speak on living, leading and succeeding]]'' [[Ben Jealous]] Simon & Schuster 2015 pp 143–140<ref>{{Cite book | title = Reach : 40 black men speak on living, leading and succeeding | last = Jealous | first = Ben | others = Jealous, Benjamin Todd, 1973-, Shorters, Trabian. | isbn = 9781476799834 | edition = First Atria paperback | location = New York | oclc = 900194086 | date = February 3, 2015}}</ref>
#''Voices of Change:the People's Oral History Project : interviews with Monterey County activists and organizers,'' 1934-2015 (2016) Karnes, Gary. Araujo, Karen. Martinez, Juan <ref name=":5" />
#''Voices of Change:the People's Oral History Project : interviews with Monterey County activists and organizers,'' 1934-2015 (2016) Karnes, Gary. Araujo, Karen. Martinez, Juan<ref name=":5" />


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Socialist Workers Party}}

{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, Melvin T.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, Melvin T.}}
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:Activists for African-American civil rights]]
[[Category:Activists for African-American civil rights]]
[[Category:African-American United States presidential candidates]]
[[Category:African-American candidates for President of the United States]]
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[[Category:California politicians]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 1984 United States presidential election]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 1984 United States presidential election]]
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[[Category:Golden Gate University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Monterey County, California]]
[[Category:People from Monterey County, California]]
[[Category:People from Seaside, California]]
[[Category:People from Seaside, California]]
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[[Category:San Jose State University people]]
[[Category:Socialist Workers Party (United States) politicians from California]]
[[Category:Socialist Workers Party (United States) politicians from California]]
[[Category:Socialist Workers Party (United States) presidential nominees]]
[[Category:Socialist Workers Party (United States) presidential nominees]]
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[[Category:20th-century African-American politicians]]
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[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:Monterey High School (Monterey, California) alumni]]
[[Category:San Jose State University alumni]]

Latest revision as of 21:36, 25 November 2024

Melvin T. Mason
Mason in 2019
Born (1943-01-07) January 7, 1943 (age 81)
Providence, Kentucky, U.S.
Occupation(s)Civil rights activist, social worker
Known for1984 presidential candidacy (SWP)
MovementCivil Rights Movement
SpouseRegina Mason

Melvin T. Mason (born January 7, 1943) is an American politician who ran as Socialist Workers Party candidate for President of the United States in the 1984 United States presidential election.[1][2][3]

Early life

[edit]

Melvin T. Mason was born in Providence, Kentucky on January 7, 1943[1][3] and moved to Seaside, California in 1956 with his mother when he was 13.[4] Mason became a star basketball player at Monterey High School.[1][3]

Military service

[edit]

Mason graduated from high school in 1960 and then attended Monterey Peninsula College (junior college) until 1961 when he entered the Air Force.[1][3] Mason was named Air Force European Command Player of the Year in 1964, after setting high scoring records for the US military in Europe.[1][5] The Air Force gave Mason a bad conduct discharge in 1965. Mason believes that the bad conduct status was because he had objected to bad treatment of black servicemen. US Senator Thomas Kuchel had the discharged changed to honorable.[5]

High education and collegiate basketball

[edit]

1966 Mason returned to Monterey Peninsula College where he became the only All-America basketball player in the school's history.[1][3] He accepted an Oregon State University basketball scholarship but after taking stands against racist treatment of black basketball players, he lost his scholarship in 1966.[5] Mason was banned from playing basketball at any college in the U.S and his sports career was over.[citation needed]

In 1972 Mason earned B.A. in social science at Golden Gate University,[5] and in 1995 an M.A. in social work from San Jose State University.

Political activism

[edit]

Mason joined the Black Panther Party in 1968.[6][7][8] and in 1970 he organized the Black United Farmworkers (UFW) support committee.[5] In 1976 Mason was involved investigations and campaigns to stop police brutality on the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas California.[2][4] 1980 Mason was elected[7][2] to the city council of Seaside, CA . Mason had launched campaign to recall former Seaside mayor (then a city councilman) Lou Haddad, whom Mason called an “enemy of black people.” He joined a broad coalition called the Citizens’ League for Progress[9] and defeated Haddad. That next year, Mason ran for the Seaside City Council seat and won.[9]

In 1982 Mason tried to run for Governor of California on the Socialist Workers Party ticket when he was ruled off the ballot.[10] 1984 – Ran as Socialist Workers Party candidate for United States President in the 1984 United States presidential election.[1][2][3] Along with vice presidential candidates Andrea Gonzales and Matilde Zimmermann (different vice presidential candidates in different states), he received 24,672 votes.[10]

Mason was a 1988 plaintiff in a lawsuit against government spying on activists.[11] A federal court decision codified the successful fifteen-year legal effort by the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) regarding decades of spying and disruption by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[12]

From 1996 until retirement in 2006, Mason worked at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB).[5] He was appointed to the Access to Excellence Committee, designed to increase the admission of minority students with the California State University System.[1][6] 1998 The police shooting of Charles Vaughn[13] led to a new crisis intervention training for Monterey County police forces.[14][15] In 2001 Mason was licensed as a clinical social worker (LCSW) by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. In 2002 Mason was elected President of the Monterey, California Peninsula chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for two consecutive terms[5] Mason chaired a committee that successfully created Monterey Peninsula College's trustee districts to ensure voter equity and increase minority representation on the college's board of trustees[16] Mason is the co-founder of The Village Project[17] that provides services culturally tailored to African Americans and other populations historically underserved by mental health systems and after-school academy for high-risk students.[7][17]

Awards and recognition

[edit]
  • 1998 – Monterey County American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Ralph B. Atkinson Award[18]
  • 1999 – KSBW Jefferson Award for Outstanding Volunteer Community Service
  • 2002 –Baha'i 23rd Human Rights Award[19]
  • 2007 – Stephen E Ross award for community service and advocate for justice: awarded by the NAACP of the Monterey Peninsula[5][17]
  • 2007 – Sam Farr, US House of Representatives :resolution in honor of Mel Mason Congressional Record October 22,[5]
  • 2011 – California Community College Hall of Fame induction[20][6]
  • 2018 – Cal Wellness Sabbatical Program Award[17] designed to improve the long-term effectiveness of nonprofits by investing in the health and wellness of leaders and building staff capacity to manage operations (give them a sabbatical break.)
  • 2018 – Monterey Peninsula College President's Award, shared with wife Regina Mason, for community service by MPC Alumni[21]

Books about Mason and his times

[edit]
  1. Mel Mason: The Making of a Revolution (1982) ISBN 0-87348-448-7.[3]
  2. The trial of Leonard Peltier, Messerschmidt, James W. 1982 South End Press. Boston[22]
  3. International Trotskyism, 1929–1985: A Documented Analysis of the Movement, Alexander, R. J. (1991). Duke University Press.[10]
  4. McKibben, Carol (2012). Racial Beachhead: diversity and democracy in a military town. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9780804778442.[9]
  5. Reach: 40 black men speak on living, leading and succeeding Ben Jealous Simon & Schuster 2015 pp 143–140[23]
  6. Voices of Change:the People's Oral History Project : interviews with Monterey County activists and organizers, 1934-2015 (2016) Karnes, Gary. Araujo, Karen. Martinez, Juan[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Mason, Melvin T. "Mel". Notable Kentucky African Americans Database. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e Karnes, Gary; Araujo, Karen; Martinez, Juan (September 20, 2016). Voices of change : the People's Oral History Project : interviews with Monterey County activists and organizers, 1934-2015 (First U.S. ed.). Pacific Grove, California: Park Place Publications. ISBN 9781943887002. OCLC 957494434.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Mason, Melvin T. (1982). Mel Mason: The Making of a Revolutionary. Pathfinder Press. ISBN 0873484487.
  4. ^ a b Ryce, Walter (January 26, 2012). "As the Monterey county branch of the NAACP enters its 80th year, the activists who helped build Seaside into a center of black power look back on the fight for equality". Monterey County Herald. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Congressional Record of the House of Representatives of the United States : passed on October 22, 2007 introduced by Sam Farr 110th Congress, Congressional Record; 1st Session Issue: Vol. 153, No. 160
  6. ^ a b c Taylor, Dennis (March 20, 2011). "A lifelong battle for equality". Monterey County Herald. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c Ryce, Walter (May 28, 2015). "Mel Mason had to assert his own humanity, he also asserts the humanity of others". Monterey County Weekly. Archived from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  8. ^ Self, Robert O., 1968- (2003). American Babylon : race and the struggle for postwar Oakland. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691070261. OCLC 51445643.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ a b c McKibben, Carol Lynn (2012). Racial beachhead : diversity and democracy in a military town : Seaside, California. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0804778442. OCLC 762325021.
  10. ^ a b c Alexander, Robert J. (1991). International Trotskyism, 1929–1985: A Documented Analysis of the Movement. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press. pp. 72, 873. ISBN 978-0822309758.
  11. ^ FBI on trial : the victory in the Socialist Workers Party suit against government spying. Jayko, Margaret. (1st ed.). New York: Pathfinder Press. 1988. ISBN 0873485327. OCLC 19684874.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. ^ "Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (Church committee)". United States Senate. April 29, 1976. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  13. ^ Worth, Mark (January 13, 2000). "Based on the high-profile killings of minorities in Monterey County and throughout the U.S., it's an ugly question that cries out for an answer". Monterey County Weekly. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  14. ^ Livernois, Joe (April 4, 2019). "The Cops Shot Chuck". Voices of Monterey Bay.
  15. ^ "Monterey County's finest learn how to deal compassionately with the mentally ill". Monterey County Weekly. April 27, 2000. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  16. ^ "Mel Mason, President, Monterey Peninsula Branch, NAACP, and Co-Founder of the Village Project". Panetta Institute. October 21, 2019. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016.
  17. ^ a b c d Herrera, James (November 8, 2018). "Mel Mason, executive director of The Village Project in Seaside, to receive Sabbatical Program Award". Monterey Herald. Archived from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  18. ^ Marshall, Tera (May 4, 1999). "Outstanding Community Service Recognized". Otter Realm. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  19. ^ "Human Rights Award". Salinas Californian. December 2, 2002. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  20. ^ "News & Special Events | Monterey Peninsula College". www.mpc.edu. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  21. ^ Reyes, Juan (April 27, 2018). "MPC alums receive President's Award: Mel and Regina Mason recognized for social justice work in Monterey County". Monterey Herald. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  22. ^ Messerschmidt, James W (1983). The trial of Leonard Peltier. Boston: South End Press. ISBN 089608163X. OCLC 9926275.
  23. ^ Jealous, Ben (February 3, 2015). Reach : 40 black men speak on living, leading and succeeding. Jealous, Benjamin Todd, 1973-, Shorters, Trabian. (First Atria paperback ed.). New York. ISBN 9781476799834. OCLC 900194086.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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