A Celebration of The Life of Howard Keylor
by Clarence Thomas
The following are the remarks of ILWU Local 10 pensioner Clarence Thomas, at “A Celebration of The Life of Howard Keylor,” held in the Henry Schmidt Room at ILWU Local 10 in San Francisco on January 25, 2024.
Howard Keylor
A longtime “Militant Longshoreman” and political activist. Howard passed away in October 2024. Howard introduced the motion in 1984, to not work the South African cargo on the Nedlloyd Kimberly. Howard had a long history of being an anti racist fighter. It was rank-and-file leader Leo Robinson, who wrote the amendment to Howard’s motion, which called for longshoremen to work all the cargo on the Nedlloyd Kimberly, except the cargo from South Africa. The event was chaired by ILWU Local 10 retired member and anti apartheid activist Jack Heyman. The event was standing room only.
Howard Keylor’s career on the waterfront started as a casual in Stockton in 1953, during the era of anti-communism and blacklisting. This was 3 years following the introduction of the Magnuson Act of 1950, to screen “subversives” during the lead-up to the Korean War. The primary targets were the ILWU, the marine cooks, and stewards because of their militant and progressive histories.
The ILWU opposed the Act and fought against it in court. The ILWU was one of the few places men who shared Howard’s politics could find work and be defended by the union.
Howard was a Bolshevik. He was a member of the International Bolshevik Tendency, a Marxist organization fighting for an international working-class revolution to overthrow global capitalism.
Antonio Francesco Gramsci the Italian Marxist philosopher, linguist, and journalist once wrote:
“A trade union is not a predetermined phenomenon, e.g., it takes on a definite form, to the extent that the strength and will of the workers who are its members impress a policy and propose an aim to define it.” Howard Keylor was such a member of ILWU Local 10.
This can best be exemplified by the motion put forward by Brother Keylor and passed by the executive board to boycott South African cargo on the Nedlloyd Kimberly. “For eleven days in November through December 1984 the Nedlloyd Kimberly, full of cargo from South Africa sat and rusted in San Francisco Harbor as 300 longshoremen refused to touch the apartheid freight on board. This dramatic act of militant labor solidarity with the embattled black masses of South Africa by members of Local 10 of the ILWU, sent a powerful message that reverberated worldwide and was hailed by Nelson Mandela as having “established the ILWU as the front line of the anti-apartheid movement.“ The longshore action was actively supported throughout by hundreds, who rallied at the gates of Pier 80 to show their solidarity.”
Howard was not only a trade unionist and political activist, but he had a revolutionary profile that was manifested by his social practice: from opposing vicious apartheid in South Africa and standing in solidarity with the South African working class; to opposing Zionist Israeli apartheid and supporting the Palestinian struggle. This contributed to shaping ILWU Local 10 militant, and yes, revolutionary character.
Speaking as an African American trade unionist, Howard’s anti-racist political and social consciousness is indeed instructive to white trade unionists and others. We have recently witnessed the leaders of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the International Longshoremen’s Association kissing the hand of Donald J. Trump. That reminds me of how pervasive racism and white supremacy is not only amongst the white working class but the labor movement specifically.
All rank-and-file members of unions must be willing to embrace leftist politics to support rank-and-file unity, democracy, and an anti-racist agenda. The actions of trade unionists willing to saddle up with white neo-fascists show the lack of class struggle working class consciousness which is what Howard exemplified throughout his life.
Brother Keylor's understanding of the relationship between race and class was shared by Harry Bridges and others who sought the solidarity of the Black community to support the Waterfront Strike of 1934. They were communists, leftists, and anti-racists who believed in rank-and-file unity and democracy.
It is the radical anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, anti-racist politics that has contributed to building the long and glorious militant tradition of ILWU Local 10.
The memorial today is not only honoring Howard’s memory and legacy but also making it known to the working class oppressed at home and abroad.
YouTube Video Links:
ILWU Local 10 Commemorates The Life Of Local 10 Member Howard Keylor
ILWU Local 10 held a memorial meeting for internationalist member Howard Keylor. Keylor played an important role in the local's fight against racism, apartheid South Africa and against imperialism. The memorial took place on January 25, 2025 and speakers talked about his history and struggles inside Local and the ILWU.
Additional Media:
ILWU 10 Recognizes Howard Keylor's Struggle For Union & Working Class
ILWU Struggles 1984-2010, The Struggle Continues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABosvjawnj4&t=74s
ILWU Local 10 Howard Keylor Knows Which Side He Is On
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp3CmtXNqFs
Production of Labor Video Project