‘Lesson I hope we can all learn.’ Rep. Alma Adams honors Ella Scarborough on US House floor
U.S. Rep. Alma Adams on Wednesday honored Ella Scarborough on the U.S. House floor for her life and role as a political pioneer in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and North Carolina.
Adams called Scarborough her friend, a trailblazer and a “sincere, authentic, humble servant of God, always looking out for the least of these.”
Scarborough, 75, died May 24 after taking a leave of absence from the the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners due to health concerns. Scarborough’s health continued to deteriorate and the commissioners appointed an interim replacement.
“Ella’s loss is immeasurable in part because she was a veteran of the civil rights movement going all the way back to her youth in South Carolina,” Adams said. “The consciousness and conscience of that movement was seen in her work as a pillar of our community who fought for our vulnerable and marginalized.”
Scarbourough’s work
Adams said Scarborough worked for equality and equity for Black Americans as well as the homeless and youth literacy and public education.
Adams told her colleagues Scarborough was a graduate of South Carolina State University, a historically Black university; was the first African American woman elected to the Charlotte City Council and the first to serve as chair of the Mecklenburg County commission. She was also the first Black woman to run for mayor of Charlotte.
“Her leadership opened doors and inspire others,” Adams said. “She encouraged other black women to run and serve, but Ella was the kind of person who was more concerned about the work she did then the history she made.”
Civil Rights
Adams told her colleagues Scarborough’s entire family was involved in the civil rights movement. She is the great grandniece of renowned civil and women’s leader Mary McLeod Bethune.
“Overcoming adversity and integrating segregated spaces was something she did since the day she was born,” Adams said.
Scarborough was born premature and only 3 pounds. Adams said back then babies weren’t guaranteed incubators and had to fight for themselves, but her father convinced a Charlotte hospital to admit his daughter to the Intensive Care Unit.
“She became the first Black baby in that space,” Adams said. “Perhaps that miracle was why she was never afraid.”
In 1963, Scarborough helped to integrate a segregated movie theater in her community.
In 1968, she tried to do the same at a bowling alley in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
“This time, the activists weren’t so lucky,” Adams said.
She detailed how South Carolina Highway Patrol officers fired into the crowd of students, including Scarborough’s friends, killing three people and injuring 28, in what became known as the Orangeburg Massacre.
“Ella was spirited away out of danger by a member of the football team,” Adams said. “It is a blessing that Ella was spared that day to continue her fight.”
Lessons from Scarborough
Adams said the greatest miracle of Scarborough’s life was counting her blessings and extending them to others. As a result, people of all walks of life benefited — from Scarborough’s church congregation to the public she served in office.
“Blessings are not just ours to have, but to give,” Adams said. “That was the lesson that I hope we can all learn from Councilwoman, Commissioner and Chairwoman Ella Scarborough as we honor and remember her today.”
This story was originally published June 8, 2022 at 12:21 PM.
