 Mr. Conyers was a magnet for people with progressive views and kept an open ear. Kenan Keller is a lawyer with the House Judiciary Committee and worked closely with Conyers. Everybody knew Reparations Ray. Conyers couldn't ignore Ray. For one thing, Regal says that in 1964, Ray hosted a fundraiser at his home, helping Conyers become one of only five black congressmen in the nation.