Mayor Barry smoking crack... on tape
In my sophomore year of college, I was lucky enough to endure enlightening hour and half introductory lectures into the practices and principles of public relations. I’m sure I learned many relevant concepts during those proceedings, but all I remember now is that my professor wore Brooks Brothers suits (yes, that was a topic of discussion for at least 15 minutes), National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month (which ironically takes place in June), and Mayor Marion Barry’s cocaine bust.
For some reason, we often came back to Barry’s cocaine habits and his subsequent reelection to Mayorship of Washington DC. I’m still not certain what made him a PR superstar: his reelection or his close ties to cocaine. Therefore, after he once again made headlines this week for his “twaggin” use of twitter, I decided to de-fob myself and look into this legend of the 90s.
Upon Googling this fine man, I was excited to learn that his full name was in fact Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. Who knew that this great black man, who used to pick cotton for a living in the deep south, would have familiar connection to the Great Comrade Shepilov! Unfortunately, it seems the nickname, which he adopted as his middle name, stems from some inside joke from his college years (probably acquired over a bottle of Southern Comfort, as those things usually go). Nevertheless, not wholly familiar with the life and times of Shepilov, I woke my mother from a deep REM cycle to ask what exactly he did. Her response was, “I don’t know. He did things. They all did things.” Finally it all made sense, since Marion Barry also DID things.
He did things: A short timeline of Things that Marion Barry Did:
• Proudly wore leopard print (1965)
• Shot in the chest by radical Hanafi Muslims (1977)
• Mayor of Washington DC (1979-91)
• Cocaine (mid-80s to present day (most likely))
• Frequented erotic clubs (same time frame)
• Busted by FBI for cocaine (1990)
• Served prison time (October 1991-April 1992)
• Mayor of Washington DC (1995-1999)
Famous things said by Marion Barry (allegedly):
• Bitch set me up.
• Get over it.
• Outside of the killings, DC has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.
• The contagious people of Washington have stood firm against diversity during this long period of increment weather.
• The brave men who died in Vietnam, more than 100% of which were black, were the ultimate sacrifice.
• People blame me because these water mains break, but I ask you, if the water mains didn’t break, would it be my responsibility to fix them then? WOULD IT!?!
My conclusions from Marion Barry:
• Marion Barry and the marionberry (unofficial state berry of Oregon) are NOT the same thing
• Bill Clinton had nothing on this man
• Barry’s ESL is worse than mine
• You don’t need foursquare to be Mayor of DC, you just need to be Marion Barry
• Nothing spells great PR like getting shot by terrorists
• Nothing spells great PR like doing cocaine and then feeling bad about it
• Only the greatest of men can wear leopard print and get away with it
I Fobbed the 90s 