Retired judge makes his own black history
Published Feb 19, 2008
JOLIET—Black History Month is celebrated across the nation in February. It is a time that people honor African-Americans that have made great contributions to society. Although he humbly disagrees with the ruling, retired Judge Raymond Bolden is among the crowd of noteworthy blacks making his own history in Joliet.
On Feb. 8, the member of Sacred Heart Parish in Joliet invited the Catholic Explorer into his home and shared his insights on being a black community leader for several decades. Bolden responded to being the recipient of a recent honor by the newly formed Black Bar Association of Will County, by chuckling and stating, “It’s because I’m the oldest lawyer in town.”
The 74-year-old gentleman’s sense of humor paled in comparison to his ability to be a trailblazer for the legal profession in Joliet. For about 20 of the 45 years he served as a criminal defense lawyer, the graduate of the University of Illinois was the only black lawyer practicing in Joliet. The former member of the U.S. Navy was also the second black to serve on the Will County bench.
Bolden said that he leaned heavily on his faith during his 15 years on the bench before he retired in 2001. The white-haired gentleman recalled, “I used to pray every morning before I walked onto the bench for the Holy Spirit to walk with me. And to make sure I had my mind and heart open because to be unjust to another human being was something I wished I would never do, and certainly not with those robes on.”
During a telephone conversation with the Explorer, Joliet-based attorney Eric Mitchell recalled the days he pleaded his case before Judge Bolden. He commented, “He treated everyone with fairness.”
Mitchell, who has been practicing law for 10 years, said he came to admire Bolden as a judge and then later as a partner in the firm of Mitchell-Bolden. His mentor retired from the practice in December 2007, but still serves in an advisory role. Mitchell added, “I never had a role model like that—especially an African-American male—that I could work so closely with.”
Bolden recalled making the decision to become a lawyer at the age of 9; it was a bold move in the pre-civil rights era. But it was Bolden’s baseball heroes—such as Ernie Banks and Jackie Robinson—that showed him the heights he could aspire to in his chosen profession. Bolden was at a formative age of 13 years old when Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first black player in the major leagues in the 20th century. He said, “I used to wonder why it was such a rigid rule—as a kid I played against white teams all the time.”
Four years after Bolden was born, the Negro American League was formed and it began its inaugural season with seven teams, including the Chicago American Giants. Bolden’s eyes glowed as he remembered cheering for the baseball players hitting home runs in one of Chicago’s ballparks. He said, “I used to go to the East-West games at Comiskey Park.”
The nation’s pastime reflected the changes society was undergoing, he said. As players were admitted into the major leagues, blacks were starting to make in-roads in other areas. The civil rights era began and legal changes were made.
Bolden cheered and joined in on the civil rights movement by making changes in the Joliet area, battling for equal treatment in education and recreation. He said, “The sad and tragic history of this country is that while we have solved the legal question of racism—it’s unlawful to be racist—but you can deny them for so many others reasons, barriers that you can create that deny people access. Poverty is a way of denying people access—poverty of the spirit, poverty of information, poverty of hope.”
For about 20 years, he served as president of Joliet’s branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Bolden credited the organization with making great strides in correcting the accepted injustices present in society during his childhood and adulthood. He said, “I grew up with the NAACP.”
Bolden was born in Chicago, but at the age of 13, he started living with his grandfather in Joliet. Bolden added, “Racism wasn’t new to me. Segregation was there when I lived in Chicago. I knew it was there. We heard about lynchings all the time. We knew about the Ku Klux Klan, the White Citizens Council. We knew about the white senators that controlled the senatorial congressional committees that let the Civil Rights Bill out of committee.”
The father of three, grandfather of 11 and great-grandfather of three expressed gratitude for the changes in society since his childhood. He also appreciates his faith community. He said, “I’m grateful that I’ve been in a church that has lived the idea of everybody ought to be treated fairly and their culture is respected. It’s a place that celebrates diversity and welcomes it and welcomes everybody who believes in it. And if you don’t, come out and hang out with us for a while, and maybe we’ll change your mind.”
Bolden added, “Sacred Heart is the place that I go to commune with the Holy Spirit. That’s who has uplifted me my whole life. He’s walked with me all my days. I know that.”
His pastor, Father Raymond Lescher is proud to call Bolden a parishioner. During a telephone conversation with the Explorer, he said, “He’s a marvelous man.”
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