New Haven Independent

Freddie Fixer Passes

by Paul Bass | January 5, 2010 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (34)

His real name was Ed Grant. He pioneered “environmental justice” before anyone invented the phrase.

Edward B. Grant’s mission took hold in the 1960s. He died on Jan. 1 at the age of 87; the mission will continue.

In that mission, Ed Grant made no distinction between the quest for a clean environment and organizing the grassroots to challenge power.

The mission started in 1962, with a broom. Dixwell, his neighborhood, needed sweeping. Soon he had a neighborhood imitating a fictional character, “Freddie Fixer,” sweeping the streets and marching for social change. The name was technically a riff on Grant’s comrade in community-rousing, Dr. Fred Smith. (The full story of how that happened appears later in this article.) Grant would remain the inspiration and personification of the event for decades to come. He became Freddie Fixer.

The idea caught on so much that a Freddie Fixer Parade — the black community’s largest annual outdoor event — grew up around the clean-up. It attracted other black pride events to go along with it, filling up entire weekends some years. Black firefighters and cops and other groups travel from states around to march in the parade.

Through the Freddie Fixer organization, Grant also pioneered the first organized recycling in town when recycling returned to fashion in the 1980s.

His decades of environmental activism earned him New Haven’s first-ever “Green Award” in 2005 (he’s pictured in top photo receiving the award, with Mayor John DeStefano at left).

Confronting Power

That’s what Ed Grant will most be remembered for. His activism went well beyond Freddie Fixer. During the heyday of social-change activism in New Haven in the 1960s, he helped to organize groups like the Black Coalition and the Angry Young Black Men. He knew people in power well. He negotiated with them from the grassroots. While his name didn’t always make headlines, he was in the middle of history in the making.

Like many other black activists, he was offered money to inform on the political dissidents for overreaching law enforcement agencies in the 1960s. “You know damn well, you’re talking to the wrong man right now!” he remembered responding.

He reflected on a lifetime’s worth of lessons in this interview with Sarah Raymond. Click on the links below to hear him describe some of those lessons:

• The Angry Young Black Men

• Near-Riots and Police Informers

• Civil Rights Days in New Orleans

• Teaching and Talking about Change

• Caps on Backwards

One Bugle, One Drum

In fact, the origins of the Freddie Fixer clean-up mixed environmentalism with a challenge to power. Larry Young (pictured), who inherited the Freddie Fixer Parade mantle, told the story to the Independent’s Allan Appel in 2007.

“When I took this job,” Young said then, “Ed Grant sat me down and made sure to tell me the history of the parade, which not everyone really knows.” He remembered Grant telling him that “Freddie Fixer is not an African-American event, or a Puerto Rican event, or a white event. It’s an ecology event.”

When it started in the early ’60s, Grant told Young, he and a fellow Dixwell leader, Dr. Fred Smith, “wanted to show the community was taking care of itself. They also wanted to point out that Dixwell was not getting its fair share of city services — there were even some houses back then that still had dirt floors.”

So they started a march, with just seven people, one bugle, and one drum. They marched around the block. Neighbors joined, one by one, and helped clean up trash. Winos joined in, sweeping up glass.

The next year they decided to take the march downtown. City officials hesitated to grant permission. Smith had pull; he was a housing commissioner, and the city’s first black police commissioner. He intervened; the parade route extended downtown.

The parade wasn’t called Freddie Fixer at first. Then one day Grant and company were drumming up interest at the old Winchester School. They asked the kids what to name the parade. “Freddie the Fixer,” one kids piped up, referring to Dr. Smith. The name stuck, minus the “the.”

Monday Funeral

A funeral service commemorating Grant’s life will take place at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 111 Whalley Ave. Monday at 11 a.m. Grant belonged to the church his whole life; he was a member of the vestry board and the Men’s Club, and he oversaw the young adult fellowship.

Grant’s burial will take place at Hamden Plains Cemetery.

Grant is survived by sons Edward Grant Jr. of Sydney Australia, Bruce Grant (Mary) of Atlanta; a daughter, Marilyn Grant of Fairfax, Va.; a brother, Avbrey Grant of New Haven; two grandchildren, Lauren Grand and Lowell Grant of Atlanta; amd greatgrand Jaylen Hunter also of Atlanta. He was predeceased by his wife, Virginia Grant; daughter DeVeria Grant, and brother William Grant.

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Comments

Posted by: Andrew Orefice | January 5, 2010 2:23 PM

Thank you, Mr. Grant. You'll be missed.

Posted by: Bruce | January 5, 2010 2:28 PM

Sad news!

Posted by: Pat | January 5, 2010 2:36 PM

It's great to have coverage of local people and their stories. This one really touched me.

Thank you, NH Independent for sharing this.

Posted by: Michael Morand | January 5, 2010 2:42 PM

If it's true we stand on the shoulder of giants, New Haven stands very high thanks to Mr. Grant. A life well lived in the service of others and the community.

Posted by: MRocky | January 5, 2010 3:01 PM

Thank you NHI for your tribute to Mr. Grant and for using his sad passing as an opportunity to remind us, through Mr. Young's retelling of the story, that the parade had community wide origins. At a low point a few years ago, I called it the Freddie F#&@up Parade. Only if it's Knuckleheads are kept under control, can New Haven successfully continue the tradition, stand on the shoulder of giants, stand with pride as a community, and enjoy without unease, the Freddie Fixer Parade.

Posted by: Lisa J. Hopkins | January 5, 2010 3:02 PM

The Legacy that Mr. Grant has left us with is one of integrity, dedication and true community activism; my heart is heavy; our city has lost a real urban pioneer!

Posted by: Aleta | January 5, 2010 3:21 PM

A huge loss for the New Haven community. He will be missed.

Posted by: sandstorm | January 5, 2010 3:28 PM

Ed Grant really understood the impacts and ramifications of environmental disparity. He was an absolute gentleman with gentle and focused powers of persuasion. He was the voice of those who could not or would not speak for themselves; he spoke eloquent volumes on their behalf.

Our city is a better place for his having been here. That is a legacy we can all strive to achieve.
R.I.P.

Posted by: Rep. Pat Dillon | January 5, 2010 3:31 PM

Thank you for everything you did, Mr. Grant.
And thank you NHI for posting his interviews for us.
We are all special in God's eyes, but even so this is not an ordinary passing.

Posted by: Raquel Santiago-Martinez | January 5, 2010 3:38 PM

One of the first names I heard when I first moved to New Haven...and deservedly so. So often we forget to acknowledge those that have gone before us. Thank you NHI for a beautiful tribute to one who deserves it.

Posted by: Brian Roccapriore | January 5, 2010 3:39 PM

An absolutely inspirational human being. Thank you for everything Mr. Grant.

Posted by: Sergio Rodriguez | January 5, 2010 4:09 PM

To Mr. Grants family I am very sorry for your loss. Mr. Grant, you made significant contributions to our city and although you will be missed by many, you will be remembered for leaving one piece of the world a better place for us all becaused you cared.
Thank you Mr. Grant.

Posted by: Alderman Greg Morehead | January 5, 2010 4:13 PM

Mr. Grants name was synonymous with change. He will be greatly missed especially over here in the Dixwell neighborhood. Our prayers go out to his family. This years Freddie Fixer Parade and Ed Grant fishing derby will be memorable events in his honor.

Posted by: Henry Fernandez | January 5, 2010 5:21 PM

I had the fortune to work with Mr. Grant over the years. He was smart, witty, effective, caring and a real gentleman. Great vision. Wonderful man.

Posted by: Martha Smith | January 5, 2010 5:55 PM

New Haven is a better place because of Ed Grant. He was truly a great gentleman, who will be missed.

Posted by: Joanne Solar Youth | January 5, 2010 6:11 PM

Ed Grant gave me the confidence to start Solar Youth, and was there to support me from the very beginning. His no "bs" integrity was always inspiring. There was no one else on earth like him, and he will be missed terribly.

Posted by: abg | January 5, 2010 6:44 PM

Sad news indeed... in addition to his social and environmental activism, Grant was a mentor to many, many young people in the community.

New Haven should name its recycling center after him - maybe a school as well. There should be a plaque in his honor along the Farmington Canal in Dixwell. Mr. Grant should get his due.

Posted by: LaShell Rountree | January 5, 2010 8:06 PM

It was my great pleasure to have known and worked with Mr. Grant. I have adopted many of his life lessons. He has had a postive impact on me and the community at large.

Posted by: Lee Cruz | January 6, 2010 8:33 AM

Mr. Grant loved the natural environment and human-made environments. He showed us the connection between our neighborhood and our planet. He also showed us the value of making a life's work out of leaving one of each of these for the generations that follow. Thank you Ed Grant, you will be missed.

Posted by: streever | January 6, 2010 10:22 AM

Thanks for covering this community leader NHI: Sad to lose such a legend.

Posted by: jonathankoppell | January 6, 2010 11:27 AM

Ed Grant inspired with his dedication and passion for New Haven and, in particular, its children. A true loss to our town but a legacy that will endure and serve as a model.

Posted by: Honda | January 6, 2010 11:33 AM

Reflections: When I look at leadership in the African - American Community I saw Mr. Ed. Grant. I remember as a young girl marching with Mr. Tony Goodman in the Fenix Drill Team saluting Mr. Grant as we passed the judges stand.

Now Mr. Grant I still salute you for you hard work in paving the way for others to stand in leadership, I salute you for being a strong community activist and Mr. Grant I salute you for being a Legend.

I will never forget your smile when I passed through the transfer station, that smile told me that you were pleased in what I was doing.

Thank You and God Bless the Grant Family.

Posted by: Christel Manning | January 6, 2010 12:38 PM

Ed Grant was one of the founding members of the New Haven Environmental Justice Network. He was there when we fought a dirty diesel power plant at English Station, when we pushed for sound barriers at Farnam Court, when we negotiated for community benefits in the regionalization of the WPCA, when we lobbied for statewide EJ legislation in Hartford . . . While others came and went, Ed was always there, sharing his wisdom, his humor, his passion, and his strength. He will be deeply missed.

Posted by: Christel Manning | January 6, 2010 12:42 PM

Posted by: Lynne Bonnett | January 6, 2010 1:05 PM

Ed was a gentle, caring person who was able to look in our hearts and act with integrity. He faced his illness with courage. I will miss him.

Posted by: joyce poole | January 6, 2010 3:42 PM

A real New Haven Hero.

Posted by: Nan Bartow | January 7, 2010 1:05 AM

When Ed Grant was young, he gave a piece of his heart to Beaver Pond Park. Those of us who came along later gave our hearts to him. His spirit will always remain with us, and we will miss him greatly.

Posted by: angeloreyes | January 7, 2010 9:13 AM

i never had the pleasure of meeting mr grant,and embarasing enough never knew the true meaning of freddy fixer.thank you NHI for letting the world know about our hidden treasures.this makes me proud to be a part of new haven.

Posted by: CJ May | January 7, 2010 9:47 AM

Ed's recycling facility out by the current transfer station was our recycling mecca in the late 80s. Yale Recycling students brought our glass bottles out every few weeks. We received something great in return...a chance to meet with Ed and see how he had been pioneering recycling for decades. Let us keep his optimism and dedication going!

Posted by: Denise Liburd | January 7, 2010 8:18 PM

To Bruce & Family: Nothing but joy comes to my mind when I think of your Dad who was like a Father to us all that grew up in St. Lukes Church an in the community. Our families go way, way back and like my dad, Joshua Liburd it is very, very important to keep the legacy of what these Honorable Black Men from Old New Haven stood for and did for the community. I am sure someone will keep the torch going. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Denise liburd

Posted by: Denise Liburd | January 7, 2010 8:19 PM

Denise liburd

Posted by: Francine Caplan | January 8, 2010 8:06 AM

Ed is the example of what it means to be dedicated to your community. He had great ideas and he showed up to talk about them. His support of the Friends of Beaver Pond Park will not be forgotten. How about an Ed Grant tree planting ceremony this spring?

Posted by: Walt | January 8, 2010 9:43 AM

Nice guy, Ed Grant, but I always read his and Dr. Smith's efforts re Freddy Fixer as more of a Black Pride program than an environmental effort.

Clean up your neighborhood was the idea. Show that Blacks have civic pride.

Makes no difference, I guess but I prefer my interpretation---Ed and Dr. Smith---- both standouts in the 60's and the years that followed.

Posted by: Maureen | January 8, 2010 3:05 PM

Thank you for sharing this. Ed Grant was a true gentleman and a credit to his family and to the city he loved.

Freddie Fixer Passes

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