On November 11, Notre Dame alum David Bonior ('63) will release his latest book, "Eastside Kid: A Memoir of My Youth, From Detroit to Congress," a heartfelt recollection of his coming of age in working class southeast Michigan and his ascent to become the second highest ranked member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a position he held for 11 years. It's the fourth book authored by the former Democratic Whip in the U.S. House.
In a recent phone interview, Bonior told a member of NDPMA's advancement office that along with passages about his early childhood in Hamtramck, there is a lot in the book—including many photos—about his parochial school experiences at St. Veronica in what was then East Detroit (now Eastpointe) as well as about the time he spent at Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods. "I've written this book as a kind of family reminiscence," he said. "It's written as if I'm telling my kids and grandkids about what I've seen and experienced in life."
Bonior also said he'd like to visit Notre Dame in Pontiac. "If you folks would have me, I'd love to come to the school and talk with the students and teachers, and answer any questions they might have."
In fact, Bonior will be at Notre Dame in Pontiac on March 4 to tour the campus, speak with students and sign copies of his book.
From Georgia Congressman John Lewis about the new book:
“The Democratic whip for eleven of his twenty-six years in Congress, David Bonior never hesitated to take on the powerful on behalf of the powerless. Where did David’s fierce dedication to social justice come from? From his roots in the working class, from his immigrant grandparents, from the ball fields and gyms where he excelled as an athlete, from the nuns who taught him in parochial school that doing God’s work on Earth means striving to lift up those who have fallen. All these elements – and more – are present in this engaging, informative, often moving volume. How did this boy from Detroit grow up to become one of the most effective progressive legislators Congress has ever seen? Read Eastside Kid and find out."
Bonior's other published books:
"Taking Back the Workers' Law: How to Fight the Assault on Labor Rights" by Ellen Dannin and David E. Bonior (Jan 17, 2008)
"Walking to Mackinac" by David E. Bonior (Jun 20, 2001)
"The Vietnam Veteran: A History of Neglect" by David Bonior, S M Champlin and Timothy Kolly (Dec 31, 1985)
The following comments and information are from Prospecta Press, the publisher of his latest book, "Eastside Kid: A Memoir of My Youth, From Detroit to Congress":
"Did you ever wonder what a member of congress was like as a juvenile roaming the streets of his or her neighborhood? Probably not. But nevertheless all of these people in our nation's capital were once kids. They grew up with a set of interests and values that they would take with them to the halls of a great democracy. Tracing his roots back to the small and large towns in Europe, Bonior recounts for us the coming of age of his boyhood in the Polish/Ukrainian community of Hamtramck, Michigan.
"The foundations of his boyhood, his Catholicism and athleticism, were where he often sought and found comfort. It was then he learned to embrace the struggle of the underdog. He was taught the value of work by a loving, yet taciturn father and grandfather. And he grew up faster than most boys his age as he lived with the specter of his mother's early death at 37 years of age.
"David Bonior was a working-class kid with big dreams. This book is about the lessons of his youth and how he used them to navigate life on Detroit's eastside. How he became a leader in his community on and off the sports field and then used those skills to become not only a member of congress, but the House Whip, the number two person in his party in the United States House of Representatives.
"This is a book of early memories. It's about "Elbowing his way into memory." It is about an American town where he took his first step, said his first word, and learned the fundamental life lessons that made him the legislator he was and the person he will always be.
"Fully illustrated with period and family photographs, this story is an invocation of a truly American life."
About the author
Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, David Bonior served Michigan's Macomb and St. Clair Counties for 26 years and has the longest tenure of any Congressman from this district. When he retired at the end of 2002, he had held the position of Democratic Whip, the second-ranking Democrat in the House, for 10 years.
Bonior currently serves on the board of directors of Jobs With Justice and was the founding chair of American Rights at Work.
His tenure in Congress was marked by a passion for social and economic justice. Bonior earned a reputation as a strong voice for working families and as a leader on the environment, fair trade, jobs, and human and civil rights.
Born in Detroit, he graduated from the University of Iowa, received a master's degree in history from Chapman College, served in the Air Force, and worked as a probation officer and adoption caseworker before he was elected to the Michigan Legislature in 1972.
He has been a professor at Wayne State University and was recently appointed a visiting professor in political science at Iowa.
David and Judy Bonior have a combined family of three children and eight grandchildren.
Follow Notre Dame on Twitter at @NDPMA.
About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.