Yale roommate vouches for Dean on race

[Freddie Stubbs]

By GAYLE WHITE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Don Roman taught Howard Dean some of his earliest lessons on race.

Now Roman, who lives in Stone Mountain, is on the campaign trail, telling people his old friend took those lessons to heart and is committed to fairness and racial understanding.

Roman, 55, who is black, roomed with Dean at Yale in the tumultuous days of 1967 and 1968. They talk at least once a week now that Dean is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, Roman said.

He said he feels obligated to share what he knows about the former Vermont governor -- especially when some of Dean's opponents are questioning his credentials on race. So Roman serves as a surrogate for Dean, campaigning in South Carolina for the Feb. 3 primary, for instance, while Dean concentrates on the more imminent Iowa and New Hampshire contests.

more: http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0104/15roman.html