William Bonaparte, Jr. (Finding Aid)

William Bonaparte, Jr.

1942 -

Favorite Color: Green and Black

Favorite Time of Year: When it's warm and sunny

Favorite Vacation Spot: Anyplace to fish and whale watch

Interview Length: 178 minutes

Interview Date(s): July 9, 2003

Interview Location(s): 1455 S. Michigan, Chicago, Illinois, 1455 S. Michigan Chicago, Illinois, 1455 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, Illinois, 1455 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois, 1455 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ilinois, 1455 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL

Abstract

William Bonaparte shares many quietly emotional and poignant insights about his family history and his upbringing in Princeton Park. He remembers his grandfather, Papa, who survived life as a slave and the lessons he imparted to a young Billy. Bonaparte also discusses how his parents escaped the sharecropping life in rural Arkansas. William Bonaparte Sr. hoboed with his brother along the railraod as part of the Great Migration to prosperity in the North. William and his older brother, Matthew, were born in Chicago to two extremely hard-working parents, whose limited education and skills shaped the way young William perceived life. The segment closes as Bonaparte begins reminiscing about his favorite elementary school teacher. William Bonaparte recalls his teenage years in Chicago during the late 1950s-early 1960s, including attending the new (in 1958) Harlan High School--an experiment in integration with the races nearly evenly divided--and his experiences playing drums in a band with blues legend Bobby 'Blue' Bland. After high school, greatly disappointed that his family could not afford to send him to college, Bonaparte gets a job and then joins the Army. Telecommunications entrepreneur, William Bonaparte, recounts several anecdotes of racist encounters, beatings and discrimination he faced after joining the army in 1961. Living in Chicago did not prepare him for the level of racism in the South. In an extended story, Bonaparte relates how he and several fellow black soldiers were arrested while driving through Kentucky. Bonaparte also served in Vietnam in 1962 as an advisor, where he saw things which still shake him to his core today. Upon returning from the service in 1963, Bonaparte joined in the picketing of area industries which refused to hire blacks for anything other than menial positions. He was hired for a communication apprentice position with Illinois Bell, which would put him on track to become a telephone installer. As one of the first black members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Bonaparte blazed trails, and endured a physical attacks and arrest from Chicago Police who could not conceive a black man could be a telephone i This segment opens with William Bonaparte sharing another story of physical abuse in the workplace when he was a Journeyman. Eventually, he worked his way into the executive offices of Illinois Bell which coincided with the political rise of Harold Washington. When Washington became mayor of Chicago, area businesses, like Illinois Bell, began to make a more concerted effort to adhere to affimative action efforts. As an executive, Bonaparte was able to start programs which created pools of eligible black employees for Illinois Bell. Bonaparte details the massive changes during the divestiture of the Bell systems he faced as an employee and opportunities the divestiture offered. William Bonaparte details his decision to strike out on his own after the breakup of Illinois Bell. He seized an opportunity to provide wiring services for businesses after realizing the new Bells were not. Bonaparte also discusses in detail the challenges he faced during his first years on his own, which included being fired from the first company he started by its board of directors. Undaunted, he formed the Bonaparte Corporation in 1991. There are several lessons Bonaparte learned in those early years, including the importance of networking, mentoring and being mentored. William Bonaparte reflects on the changes he's been part of during his adult life and how diligently he's worked to provide opportunity for others. He's worked with several Chicago elementary schools to upgrade their computer labs and libraries. Bonaparte reflects upon his career and offers some insights on his success as a black entrepreneur. He also speaks of the changes he's observed in race relations over the decades. Finally, Bonaparte shares what he wants his legacy to be: that he triedto work hard an help others. The segment closes with 20 photographs from Bonaparte's early years. This segment contains 23 photos of William Bonaparte and many notable politicians, businessmen and entertainers and his 7th grade teacher Barbara Sizemore.

97 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)