Lionel Fultz
'If this is ever published, it would be like throwing a hand grenade into the middle of corporate America.' A quote from the 1st publisher that read 'A Look Behind the Tip of the Iceberg.' The author, IBM's first African-American Salesman and Branch Manager, holds nothing back in describing, through actual experiences, Corporate America's policies to tolerate but deny an equal opportunity to African American employee's. Like a dictionary, it should be on the desk of all corporate employees', both present and future.
Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. The youngest of four children of James and Alice Fultz. Entered army in August of 1943 and transferred to England in December, 1943. After serving in five campaigns with the 3rd Army, returned to the states and discharged in January, 1946. Joined IBM in 1950 and entered sales in 1951. Received many awards, including IBM's Outstanding Achievement Award and Manager of the Year three times. Did volunteer work with many community organizations, among them NEW START. New Start was a volunteer organization centered in the District of Columbia metropolitan area, that worked to rehabilitate prison inmates through education. He served as its President for fifteen years. Early in his retirement, he also worked for two years assisting the Chairman of the House of Labor Committee, Rep. William Clay of Missouri. Mr. Fultz is married, with two daughters and one stepson.
As Walt continued to quench his thirst, he said 'Lionel, here you are a Negro, with no rank in the
corporation, suddenly being called on to address a room full of corporate vice presidents. I
imagine you're wondering what the hell is going on and why you? I know you were told that IBM
is trying to find the reasons why Negro's don't apply for employment at IBM, and you were
brought in to possibly provide some answers. Well that's a bunch of horseshit. You were brought
in because Tom Watson (the CEO) is all over their asses, just like Lyndon Johnson was all over
Tom's the other day..' Walt continued..'You see, a couple of days ago, a young black kid applied
for a job at our Arlington, Virginia office. They immediatedly tested him, told him he flunked and
then escorted him to the door. Within two hours, Lyndon Johnson, who as Vice President, had as
one of his responsibilities, the Presidents 'Plans for Progress Program', where corporations
signed on, pledging to bring Negro's into the fold, was relating to this incident as he raked Watson
over the hot coals. You see, Lionel, IBM signed that pledge years ago, and the Vice president
wanted to know what IBM had accomplished. After Watson said he would get back to him after
gathering the figures, all the division presidents and top corporate officers were ordered to
immediately report their progress since the pledge was signed. You've been around for 13 years,
so I don't have to tell you what the figures were. You know what pissed Tom Watson Jr. off
more than anything else? Not the fact that no programs were in place and the same old practices
continued. What pissed him off was that this was the first time a Watson sent out a directive and
it was completely ignored. In other words, management viewed it as a cya (cover your ass)
directive that Watson sent out for his own benefit.' Walt continued...' Can you imagine the
response from Johnson when Watson told him they hadn't done a damn thing? Lionel, they were
frantic. Watson was boiling and no one could provide answers or possible solutions that made
sense. That's when Gordon Moodie decided to bring you in. And, oh, by the way, Lionel, the
lunch is on me,' as he whipped out his IBM charge card. In our discussion, Walter treated me as
an equal and I could sense that this was going to be a good relationship. Walt, now deceased,
earned my respect for his honesty and directness in our relationship.
