Who Is Dr. Vibert White?

What’s His Political Philosophy?

What’s His Forte’?

         I am pleased to introduce and reintroduce myself to friends, associates and supporters. First, of all—I am a proud single father who has blessed by God to rear a handsome and brilliant seven year old—Vibert III. I promised my creator that I would do everything in my power to labor to build a society that is better and more egalitarian than the one I was born into. My campaign is built on the premise that our best work as residents and citizens are upon us; we thus, must locally work towards a greater and progressive community.

          I am also a proud American who was reared in a multi-cultural family. My father, Vibert White, Sr. was born in Costa Rica, Central America, while my mother, whose family background is Haitian and Black American, created a home atmosphere that crossed cultural boundaries and spear headed diversity. That is, on any given day in our home you could hear standard English, Spanish, French, or various Caribbean dialects. In addition, the neighborhoods that we lived where always mixed with various ethnic and religious groups such as Jews, Catholics and Muslims. Thus, I was reared with the pluralist thought that our nation is one delicious bowl of alphabet soup that is flavored by many people and cultures.

       The diversity of thought in my family was however seasoned with the ideal that the United States is a very special nation in the eyes of God. I was taught that as an American I have a responsibility to continue the traditions of great Americans such as Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, Thurgood Marshall, and Madam Mary Bethune to support the growth and productivity of our society in order to create a more perfect union. In this light—I have attempted to do.

        In 1976 my parents—without my consultation, decided that I would attend the historically Black college—Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida. Under the tutelage of brilliant professors like Dr. Joseph Taylor, Dr. Jake Miller, and Dr. Audrey Wilson I was taught the philosophy of the school’s founder of “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve.” That is, specifically as Black leaders and Americans, we have a duty after the completion of our studies to serve the nation/community and not for the community to serve us. Much like the often stated; but little understood President Kennedy phase, “Don’t ask, what your nation can do for you? But ask; what you can do for your nation?’  Sadly, too many of our public servants have ignored the real meaning of being a servant of the public.

         In 1980 I graduated from Bethune-Cookman with honors while also lettering in track under the wonderful brutal practices of current head football coach Alvin Watt. After the completion of my studies I was blessed with a fellowship to pursue the Master’s Degree of History at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The award was not only pleasing to me and family; but, also the entire Cookman family. That is, I was the first graduate from BCC to ever earn a full financial fellowship to Purdue University. At Purdue University I studied under two of America’s great intellectuals—Dr. Darlene Clarke Hine and Dr. Howard Woodman. These two scholars impressed me with skills to constantly critique and analyze issues on truth; not political, religious, ethnic or racial rhetoric; lessons that I use constantly as a professor, public servant, and humanist.

        In 1984 I earned another fellowship for The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. At OSU I studied under the watchful eyes of Dr. Warren Van Tine, Dr. Henry Taylor and Dr. Helen Edmonds. Van Tine, a scholar of Labor and Social History; Taylor—an intellectual of Black History and Urban Development; and Edmonds—a scholar of Constitutional and Legal History—I forged a personal intellectual argument that combined the best of these unique scholars for progressive growth of our nation. In reference to Helen Edmonds, the first Black woman to earn the doctorate of History from OSU, an aid to former US Supreme Court Judge Thurgood Marshall who argue the famous Brown v. Board of Education (1954) case  that outlawed segregation in the United States, and the first Black to second the nomination of a major presidential candidate—Dwight Eisenhower, who appointed Earl Warren to the Supreme Court who agreed with Marshall and the NAACP that segregation was unconstitutional, I fully understood and recognized the greatness and the beauty of the U.S. Constitution as a mechanism to right the wrongs of society.

       From this diverse family structure and academic background I have been honored to travel the world, while representing the good and uniqueness of our nation. My thoughts have been recorded on such political diverse networks such as PBS, C-Span, CNN, MSNBC, BBC and Fox; while also being featured on 60 Minutes, Tony Brown’s Journal, The O’Reilly Factor, and the Tony Snow Show.  As a multi-cultural, bi-lingual American who is only concerned with the public good and progressive growth of our city I am ready and able to supply you with decent, honest and productive representation. In advance—I thank you for your support.

I am,
Your Servant,

Vibert White, Jr.,
Candidate for City Council
District #5