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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1972)
\ - ì P o i tla n d /V b s e i v e r T h u rs d a y , Feb. 3, 19 7 2 Black politicai action for 1972 gains momentum res|>ected B la ck D e m o n at. Instead out co m m u n ity was o tte re d a s p e c ia lly c ie a te d " N e g ro V ic e -C h a ii m a n s h ip ." I lieu ami t lie ie we deckled we had hud enough ot th is p la n ta tio n -s ty le p o litic s , and we tu n n e d the -'1st ( ’ o n g ie s - s Iona I D ls ti let Caucus w ith m y b ru th e i as Its c h a irm a n . I lie caucus endorsed I m ils stokes fo i i e -e le c t lo ll to C o n g re ss in 1970 ami made o thei e n d orse m en ts to i the s ta te L e g is la tu re , fo r C ity C o u n c il, to i J u d icia l posts ami to r County C o ilu n ls s io n e i on the basis ol tlie ca n d k la te s ' q u a lific a tio n s ami w illin g n e s s to a d d re ss th e m se lve s to the needs ot the 21st D is t r ic t le s k le n ts , not on tlie b a sis ol th e n D e m o c ia tlc P a rty a ttllia tio n o r la ck ot it. lli. it is why In th is e x h ib itio n re la tin g to eco n om ic c o n ce rn s, t ie Reverend Jackson undei stood that p o litic a l powei to take the needed d ra s tic s te p s " m ust le co n sid e re d fo r im p le m e n ta tio n . It is n a tio n tim e l I he black and brown A m e i leans, the pool w h ite , the e ld e rly , the o p p re s s « ! know w hat tu n e it is lu s to i I c a lly . I Iwy a re not to o le d. I liey could have w i itte n tlie fo llo w -u p i-e p o its in the w.ui'evl bodies uni re ta i leil m in d s o l th e ir lit t le boys and g ir ls , the ra t-m te s te d houses tliev liv e in, tlw u in a b ility to get health c a r e , the lack ot r e c ie a tio n f a c ilit ie s , tlie it jo b le s s n e s s , tlie tra p p e l, d e h um a n izin g , d e g ra d in g e x p e rie n c e ot being a second- I'he fo llo w in g a re p o rtio n s o f an a d d re ss by C a r l B . Stokes, fo r m e r M a y o r of C le v e la n d , at B la c k E xpo 1971, held in C h ica g o , I llin o is . c l is ■ c itiz e n . I hey know, lie tte r than the s o c io lo g is ts and e con o m is ts , that only a re a l re v o lu tio n , n e c e s s a rily a n o n -v io le n t in v o lu tio n , lo t nonetheless a re v o lu tio n w ith in and a re v o lu tio n w ith o u t can change t h e ir p lig h t. I t m ust be a p o litic a l re v o lu tio n led by those m ost a ffe c t« !. A m e ric a is standing .( a c i o s ic o a d . B ut so a ls o does B la c k p o litic a l le a d e rs h ip w hich m ust now Iw conie re a l o i r e h e a t to the old isla n d s ot p e titio n and p io te s t. Such a re tu rn w ould l«e unthinkable. It would bi ing the k e e n e r C o m m is s io n lo re c a s t ol H s ii to 19/ It would doom m illio n s ot black A m e ric a n s to an ii te ti lev able p h y s ic a l ami s o c ia l b a n k ru p tc y . And It would do m oi e than any thing e ls e to m ake n o n -v lo le n t i e v o lu tio n im p o s s ib le tml le a l in e vita b ly to v io le n c e ami genocide. This , then, is the reason to i th e c a ll to a B la c k p o litic a l s ti a t- egy lo t 1972 to " c h a n g e " those now in pow er to those who w ill take the " d r a s t ic a c tio n " ne ce ssary to b rin g p a rtic ip a tio n ami sharing to the m illio n s o f o p p ie ssed black A m ei leans. I his m ay mean t ie a ctual running o l a B la c k fw rs o n fo r p re s id e n t of tlie United s ta te s , a num ber o ld m e ie n t B la c k p e rs o n s f o r fa v o rite S' ns amt o th ei v a rie tie s o t c o m m ittin g p ie s k te n tla l delegates oi i c o m b in a tio n of them a ll. I tie s p e c ific i it Iona le to r tlie several a v a ila b le s tra te g ie s w ill lie sjvelled out at o u r p o litic a l w orkshops by o u r s e v e ra l d is tin g u is h e d B la c k p o litic a l le .s le rs . But in keynoting the s p e c ific d is c u s s io n s that a re to fo llo w p e rm it me to say: we cannot do it alo n e 1 W e have to e ffe c t tlie c o a litio n ot in t e ie s tw ith o th e r s im ila r ly oppressed and denied people: tlie young, tlie e ld e r ly , the C h ica n o , the P u e rto R ica n and the A p p a la ch ia n s. W ith t ie help ot w h ite , brow n ami black v o te rs I w is elected in ls*o2 as the only b la ck lie m o c ia t e v e r to be elected to the ! io le g is la tu re m t i e 170 year s ot o u r le in g a s ta te . In fa c t, no othe black I e n io c ra t has sin ce te e n e le cte d on a c o u n ty - w kie b a s is . In I9o7 I w is ele cte d as A m e ric a 's f i r s t B la c k M a y o r ot a m a jo r c ity ami re -e le c te d in |9t>9. C le v e la n d was a p re d o m in a n tly w h ite c ity in I9o7 ami it is s t i l l 62 je r c e n t w h ite now. M a y o r C a r l B S tokes _ M y co n ce rn as m a y o r o f the tenth la rg e s t c ity o f th is n a tio n, Cleveland, ( hto, with oarer three juartera I i m ini e is shaped and w hetted by la s t w e e k's re le a s e o f the N a tio n a l L • ban C o a litio n s fo llo w -u p on the k e r n e l C o m m is s io n s tu d y. 1 hey fo u n d , th i e e - a n d - a - h a lf y e a rs a fte r th e s tu d y : continues at Its p re se n t ra te and it the ra c is m - a ccounting fo r it con tin ue s m o st c itie s by N so w ill be p re d o m in a n tly B la c k ami We have developed a s tro n g p o litic a l o rg a n iz a tio n , the -’ 1st Brown and totally bankrupt.** And then, the report ” • • • : w a .p riva tely o r publicly, wield the power that ' America, not signify thM they were w illin g to ta k e su p p o rt and tru s t ot the B la c k c o m m u n ity ami has developed an e ffe c tiv e c o a litio n w ith pool ami m o d e ra te incom e ami lib e r a l w h ite s , In d ia ns, Puer to R icans ami othei Spanish- speaking people. When the tim e c u m , early In 1970, I itioi 1. H ousing is s t ill tne " n a tio n a l s c a n d a l" it was then. the d ra s tic a ctio n neces--arv to m ake A m e ric a n c itie s I iv a b le - . Schools a ie m o r e t e f io u s , ' a veeven le ss q u ality and r e f ect a g a in ." m o re tu rb u le n c e . W e ll, | gueaa they wouldn't Be , ■ 3. I tie ra te s of c r im e , une m p lo ym e nt, ¡» ease anv' :ru g a d - d ic tio n a re h ig h e i. l* t liv e in the city - they use and p r o f it fro m the c ity . ■*. W e lfa re r o lls a re la r g e r and a p p ro p ria tio n s fo r the needv a re le s s . • ' • He - bility to i ike 5. W ith tew e xce p tio n s, tne re la tio n s between m in o rity g ro u p s those " d r a s t ic steps necessary to m ake . . . c itie s liv a b le a- and p o lic e are as h o s tile as e v e r. noe In power w ill not? W ell, of course, to you, Then, the c o m m issio n re p o rte d . . sin ce it is hard to be poor white and el le rly , an I B la c k o r B ro w n in A m e ric a todav and not be p o o r, it th is tren d concerned A m e ric a n s who a ie trapped by w h ite ra c is m ami e co n om ic p re ju d ic e in these c itie s . Lerone Eennette, J r , Senior E d ito r o f E bony, is the autho ot “ Befere the Mayflower**, “ The Negro Mood“ , "C on frontation: B la c k and w h i» " , and o th e r books. ( E d it o r 's N ote: The fo llo w ing a re e x c e rp ts fro m an a d d re ss g ive n to the C o n g re ssio n a l B la c k Caucus at its N o ve m b e r 20 co n fere n ce in W ashington, D . C . The s p e e c h , though w id e ly p ra ise d by the b lacks who heard it , re ce ive d lit t le a tte n tio n fro m the p re s s .) By L e ro n e B e n n e tt, J r . We can no lo n g e r avoid tne ch a lle n g e o f c re a tin g and d is s e m in a tin g a com m on black a g e n d a ... I t is im p e ra tiv e , it is a m a tte r o f life and death, f o r us to develop a s e rie s of co m p re h e n sive plans id e n tify ing the b la ck in te re s t and the b la c k p o s itio n in e v e ry fie ld . We m u st plan now not o n ly f o r the 1972 e le c tio n but also fo r the 1976 e le c tio n and tne 1980 e le c tio n . We m u st plan now not o n ly fo r the N ixo n s and A gnew s of today but also f o r the N ixo n s and A gnew s and R ehnquists of to m o rro w . T h e re a re at le a st fiv e m a jo r ite m s on tlie b la ck agenda o f the se ve n tie s. F ir s t of a ll, and m o s t im p o rta n tly o f a ll. Is the ques tio n o f s u rv iv a l. In o rd e r to plan f o r to m o rro w , we m ust liv e to d ay. And in o rd e r to liv e today, we m u s t conceive and p ro je c t e m e rg e n cy plans f o r e m p lo ym e n t, w e lfa re ,e d u c a tio n , p ris o n r e fo r m , and he a lth. A second m a jo r ite m on tne b la ck agenda, is e m p o w e r m e n t, the s o lid ific a tio n of e x is tin g pow er in tlie c u ltu ra l, p o litic a l, and e co n om ic fie ld s , and the fu lfillm e n t of the po te n tia l pow er o f b la ck people on the lo c a l, state and fe d e ra l le v e ls . A c o m p le m e n ta ry need is fo r de ve lo pm e n t plans which in c re a s e the human c a p ita l and s k ills o t the b la ck com m u n ity and w h ich guarantee b la cks a p ro p o rtio n a te share o f the g ro s s n a tio na l p ro d u ct. I t goes w ith o u t sa ying that th is ite m in clu d e s b la ck c o n tro l of tlie re s o u rc e s and In s titu tio n s o f the b la ck c o m m u n ity and of a ll b u re a u c ra c ie s w h ich v i t a lly a ffe c t the liv e s of black p eople. A th ird agenda item is black re n e w a l. And by th a t I mean a ren e w a l of the st u c tu re s , e n e rg ie s and values of tne b la ck c o m m u n ity . 1 here is a n e e l, (o u rtb ly , fo r a m a ssive m o b iliz a tio n of a ll the re s o u rc e s ot the black c o m m u n ity . B la c k la b o i, b la ck c a p ita l, the b la ck in te lle c t, and the b la ck b a llo t m u s t be org a n ize d w ith in and w ith o u t e x is tin g s tr u c tu ie s w ith in the p e is p e c tiv e of tne va lu e s a n d in te re s ts of t n e b la ck c o m m u n ity . T h e re is also a d e sp e ra te n e e l le t m a ch in e ry to tap tlie rage and energy of b la ck youth and tne s k ills and re s o u rc e s o f tne b la ck m id d le c la s s . Ih e r e a r e b la ck m id d le c la s s peoplew ho can g ive fro m one hundred to fiv e hundred d o lla rs to su p p o rt b la ck p o litic ia n s and b la ck in s titu tio n s . I t is one of t ie c ru c ia l ta sks o f tne seventies to re a ch these In d i v id u a ls and to m ake them re a liz e that “ fre e d o m a in 't fr e e ” . . . An a d d itio n a l and p e ih a p s even m o re im p o rta n t task is t ie re g is tra tio n of the u n re g - ls te ie d and tlie p o litic a l edu ca tio n o f the re g is te re d and the u n re g is te re d . As so many people have said h e re , our only s a lva tio n is the p re c in c t- b y - p r e c in c t m o b iliz a tio n of t ie b la ck c o m m u n tiy . . .w ith in a new p o litic a l p e rs p e c tiv e . T h e tia d ltio n a l A m e ric a n idea o f o rg a n iz in g people to tra d e th e ir votes fo r garbage c o l le c tio n and p e tty patronage jo b s is not only no pow er - it is the p re c is e op posite of pow e r. P o litic a l pow er is not garbage c o lle c tio n o r petty p a tronage in a ro tte n p o litic a l system but the a b ility to t i jn s - fo rm p o litic a l s tr u c tu ie s so th a t people w ill not have to beg a lie n s and a d v e is a n e s lo r re s o u rc e s and s e rv ic e s that g o ve rn m e n ts should p ro vid e ro u tin e ly . T he f ifth and fin a l g e neral area o f Im p o rta n c e on the b la ck agenda o f the se venties is the tra n s fo rm a tio n of tne in s titu tio n s of Arne: lean so ci ety w h ich th re a te n o r p re ve n t the fu lfillm e n t o f ite m s o re , tw o , th re e , and fo u r. Now, flo w in g w ith and out ot these g e n era l s tra te g ic con s id e ra tio n s a re two o r th re e ta c tic a l ite m s w h ich 1 w ould lik e to d is c u s s in some le - t a il. I e f i r s t tactical ite m , ot co u rse , is black u n ity , w ! ich is a p re c o n d itio n f o r t h e c r e a - tio n of a com m on b la ck agen d a . The c re a tio n o f u n ity is o u r m o s t im m e d ia te and u r gent task because the basis o f o u r weakness is d is u n ity . The w hite man is s tro n g not only because he has his own stre n g th but a lso because ne has o u r s tre n g th , and because we re fu se to use o u r s tre n g th . And if d is u n ity is the basis of o u r weakness, then u n ity is oui o n ly hope o f s a lv a tio n . I f we pooled a ll o u r re s o u rc e s a ll one our fo rc e s Mack and crea te d superpower, we c o u n try , in a few weeks o r a few m onths . . . I t is ne ce ssary now fo r us to disengage o u rs e lv e s fro m w h ite people’ s a rg u m e n ts and re d e fin e a ll concepts and as so cia tio n s in te rm s o f the fun da m e n ta l in te re s ts o f black people. V\e a re one ¡jeople, and we sh a ll s u rv iv e as one Iie o p le , ot we s h a ll go, one by one, B a p tis t, M e th o d is t, C a th o lic , P ro te s ta n t,R e p u b li can, D em o, i at, to that w h ite doom th is so cie ty is p re p a rin g fo r a ll b la ck people . . . The m o st p re s s in g n e e l of the seventies - to repeat - is o p e ra tio n a l u n ity . A c o r o l la r y o f o p e ra tio n a l u n ity is begin tlie se rio u s wor k of re specting o u r b ro th e rs a n d s is te r s . The C o n g re ssio n a l B la ck Caucus has broken n e w g io u rxl In th is a re a . And one so lu tio n to o u r d ile m m a is the c re a tio n of b la ck c o a litio n s and bla k caucuses, s im ila r to tlie BI *ck Caucu , in ever y m a jo r c ity ami e v e ry m ajor region in th is c o u n try . A second ¡tern, under th is g e n e ra l heading, is the d e ve l opm ent and d is s e m in a tio n o fa b la ck a n a ly s is . I he fo rw a rd m o tio n of the black re b e llio n has cre a te d new p ro b le m s w hich cannot he r e s o lv e ! un t i l we c la r if y and d e fin e o u r ta s k s and r is e to new le v e ls of a w areness amt o rg a n iz a tio n . And since no black p e rso n :an f u lf ill h im s e lf if t h i s m ove m e n t goes a s tra y , it is incum bent upon a ll black people to p a rtic ip a te a c tiv e ly in the deve lo pm e n t o f a r a d i c a lly re le v a n t b la ck a n a ly s is e m b ra c in g a lo n g -ra r.g e s tr a tegy and a d e fin itio n of goals, in s tru m e n ts , and a gencies. In th is co n n ectio n , i t i s c r u - C ia lly im p o rta n t fo r us to re p la ce the illu s io n o l in sta n t re v o lu tio n w ith the concept of lo n g -ra n g e s tra te g y . W e m u s t not th ink, nW dart th a t the w o lve s o f the w o rld w ill lie down and d ie when we stage a d e m o n s tra tio n o r put down a bad ra p . T he w olves of the w o rld a re w is e r and s tro n g e r than th a t . . . The re v o lu tio n is not going to com e M onday m o rn in g o r the next M onday o r the Monday a lte r th a t. We a re engaged in a lo n g -ra n g e p ro c e s s in v o lv in g phases and c h a ra c te r is tic s w h ich cannot be fo re seen at th is tu n e . And it Is n e ce ssa ry to p re p a ie tor a s tru g g le o f fiv e , ten, md ever fifte e n y e a rs . . . A m a jo i ta s k of the seven tie s is to in c o rp o ra te th is in s ig h t in to a s tia te g y of con scious and a n ta g o n is tic p a r ti c ip a tio n . By th is , I mean a s tra te g y o f w o rk in g in sid e in s titu tio n s w ith the e xp re ss pu rp o se o f pushing them le ft w ard and b la c k w a n ts . In g e n - • t 11 » ra ta, fl 11 i ■ ...... the le g itim a c y o f the system to d e - le g it im i/ e the syste m . It m eans w o rk in g everyday in the m id s t of w h ite so c ie ty w itt, the in te n tio n of tra n s fo rm in g it . I t m eans u sin g tlie system in o rd e r to d e s tro y tha syste m . I o 1« more preciat, md to ,|>e Ik s;ie, ll l i l l y ol p o lt t k ,, it m eans u sin g the whole a r senal o t p a rlia m e n ta ry t i l , hs » alow lown, II i ipt stop p ro ce e d in g s w hich ad v e rs e ly .iffe c t the in te ie s ts ot b la ck people . . . T h is b rin g s us to the th ird m ajor ta c tu d a re a , the de ve lo pm e n t of m in i- m ax plans not o n ly in the ir e is ol h e a lth, e lu c a tio n and w e l fa re , but also in the areas ol fo r e ig n p o lic y and flsca» p o lic y . Some jieople w tllr ie r id e th is suggestion that b la ck people should c o n ce rn them selves w ith fo re ig n p o lic y . But a la rg e n a tio na l g io u p has a fo r- i • ' ■ ■!•■1 Is a minority to Cleveland, , which bee earned the total I the ire , the Bind '■ We w o rke d h a rd on the b e s ic s . m itee m e n , organised m i imps e n t ia l c ity in 1967{ my brother, I • , ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ - ., a ei it o r n o t. A la rg e na tio na l g ro u p has e ith e i a le c la r e io r a de (a c to r fo ie ig n fio llc y . When a b la c k man d ie s in V ie tn a m , we e v iie iie n c e trie fo re ig n p o lic y of b la ck people who say they have no fo re ig n p o lic y . When a b la ck m an is a b la ck s o ld ie r is c rip p le d ui b lin d e d , when b la ck wom en and b la c k c h ild re n w ith e r because of m a ln u tr itio n and poor hous ing and p o o r s c h o o ls , w h ile th is nation spends b illio n s on fo re ig n a d ve ntu re s, w e e x p e r- lence in the flesh the fo re ig n p o lic y o f b la ck people who a re scandalized by the idea ot a b la c k v ie w p o in t on fo re ig n p o l ic y . In tlie se ve n ties, we m ust d e ve lo p m a c h in e ry fo i p ro je c tin g o u r own c o m p re h e n sive pla n s (in the fie ld s of fo re ig n policy, health, odu ,ti,,n , e m p lo y m e n t, and (»cal m.imge- in e n t j. We m ust become soph- Jstecated enough in th is de c a d e to c re a te rna ste i plans f o r the de ve lo pm e n t o f o u r own a re a s and re s o u rc e s . N ot o n ly that; we m ust r is e to the le v e l o f c re a tin g plans to r the developm ent of w hole c itie s and the whole c o u n try . A t t ie same tim e , we m ust com e to g rip s w ith the d o m i nant A m e ric a n m y th o lo g ie s , in c lu d in g the m y th o lo g ie s of pr iv a te and ix ib llc Investm ent and the question of the re d is tr ib u tio n ot incom e and r e s o u rc e s . . . T he w h ite pr oblem in A m e r ica cannot he solved w ith o u t a p rofound s tr u c tu r a l m o d ific a tio n o f A m e ric a n s o c ie ty , w ith o u t re a l changes In the ta x s tru c tu re and the re la tio n between t ie p riv a te and p u b lic s e c to rs , w ithout i re d e fin itio n of va lu e s, a re d e fin itio n of w o rk , le is u re , and p riv a te p ro p e r ty , md • r e l is h Ibutlon of Incom e. I f we a re s e rio u s about c re a tin g a new p o litic s In th is land, we a re going to have to deal w ith the s yste m . T he p ro b le m is not t ie p o o r; the p ro b le m is tlie pow e r f u l. I he p ro b le m Is not the d is trib u tio n o f c o n tra c e p tiv e s ; the pr oblem Is the d is tr ib u tio n of in co m e . T h e p r o l^ lem is not the ghettop the p ro b le m is the w h ite system w hich cre a te d the ghetto ami w hich p e rp e tu a tes it. Am i if you m eet a man who says he w a n ts to deal w ith tne p ro b le m w ith o u t d e a lin g w ith ■- USEA F A M II/V HAM AD • p. , . we put it togethei by the n u m le i s not p re s s re le a s e s am* that S what has to le lone by black people n a tio n a lly lo i H e 1972 e le ' lio n s . • eeo re ommendaUene w ill II c they a ie what 1 se e as n e r e s . a iy . s tttu te fo i wa l k K h e t u iu nn tome, but w ill n e v e i’ su Is It w on! 1 1« eo e i sy in p r o le s s lo n a l p o llt u .. I tnlM or to work I . ■ , h a lt of th is o r that cam tkla te o r p o te n tia l candidate ami tla n s it do w n . We liv e in an age of i le to , u ami s e lf-p r ,K Ia lin e .' e v p e .ts . | hut is one of t ie things that has te ld A r n e . ' , back an ! ! « | I black people k even lu i tfie r . c e d u ie s ami o rg a n iz a tio n . I ’e i s o n a h tie . . nine and g o , tl.i !•- ing b r ie f ly le fo r e us. But tlw is>ues ami tlie p ro ce sse s go on. Am i nuthing happens if you d o n 't le a rn the Iv is tc m e d ia n k s . I he Issue h e ie today is w le th e i B la ck p o litic a l pow er, ,i, the p o lk e, fo r I * is e ith e i a c h a rla ta n who needs a rre s tin g o r an innocent who nee Is p io te c tlo n fro m h im s e lf. A n o th e r c r u c ia l Ite m , on the ta c tic a l le v e l, is the develoi>- m ent of co u n te rp la n s to m eet the subtle ami n o t-s o -s u t tie d e v ic e s fo r m in im iz in g black p o w e r by m a n ip u la tin g m e tro p o lita n govei nm ent s tru c tu i es and vo tin g d is t r ic t s . I lin e • I t e i tim e a fte r tu n e , the w h ite m an lias c h a n g e l the ru le s in the m id d le of the gam e when the ru le s c o n tra d ic te d his in te re s ts . T im e a fte r tim e a fte r tim e , lie has refused to pay tlie b la c k w in n e rs of the p o litic a l sweep- s ta ke s. W e ll, b la ck jieople a re about to w in again by tlie old i u le s , and we nee I ■< ,,r ,- mon agenda and an u n y ie ld ing d e te rm in a tio n to n u k e s u ie the house pays o ff th is tim e by the ru le s w h ich w e re in fo rc e w le n tlie c a rd s w ere c u t. L e t me say in c o n c lu s io n that the de ve lo pm e n t o f th is agenda would le a s e rv ic e not on ly to b la ck Am er icans but also to w h ite A m e ric a n s . For b la ck people em body the m ost advance! s o c ia l and e co n om ic in te re s ts of th is s o c ie ty . Ami a ctio n on th e ir b ehalf is ac tio n on behalf ol the re a l in te re s ts of m o s t A m e r ic a n s .. . We m u s t stop dem anding p a rtia l re fo rm s . We m ust no content o u r selves w ith s p o ra d ic o p p osi tio n to the p la n s o l o ilie r s. We m u s t begin to e x e rc is e hegemony ovei th is n a tio n . We m ust re c o g n iz e and v a li date o u r ro le as the re a l p ro ta g o n is ts o f w h ite A m e rican h is to ry . In th is s p ir it , w ith th is de te rm in a tio n , w ith th is a g jm la , we can f u lf ill tlie d re a m s of o u r fa th e rs ami pave the way fo r the g re a t ila y when the b la ck liv in g ami the b la c k dead ind the black unborn w ill jo in hands to re b u ild tlie d e stro ye d s h rin e s to the souls o f black fo lk . e, bloc I beck amt got them t< Vole m.: to vo(,. , the f i r s t B la ck C o n g re ssm a n in the h is to ry ot O hio in 1968, ami my Ic in g r e - e le c t« ! by tw ic e m y p i e v io u s w in n in g m a rg in in Novi On tlie lie m o c ra tic tic k e t, the p a rty 's s e lf-a p p o in te d W e e le c te rt pre» im t c o m - IM l e v e ry tb tn g s down on p a je r in a svstem .itt/e.1 ami planned oi le r ot a p p ro a c h . We le g is le ie d o u r people ami then went ■ m s ol Cleveland wet e ignored in t ie b ackroom d e c is io n s w ith re g a rd to the sla te to he p ie s e n tm l to tlie county p a r ty 's co n ve n tio n . Instead ol reco g n izin g the lo y a lty ami co n siste ncy ot B la c k D e m o c ra ts bed with . i; e ne w I H esucceeilad laele ting me m lyoi : the we tu rn e d out in h ig le i iw ic e n te g e s than t ie w h ite Votei b. v e ry candidate e rid u ise c by the a u cu s w on h is e le c tio n . I h a t's p o litic s . i i 1 unty ttraocrntic Party, Including the elec- e taioamakera lid not consult with me, my b ro th e r,» any A Black agenda for the seventies In ta c t, we endorsed the R e |iu b llca n who i an against me to r M a y o r ot C le veland in |9o7 - se tli I a ft, g i amlson of a P ie s id e u t ol the I dined sta te s - fo rC o u n ty C o tu n iis s io n e i ovei the In cu m tw n t, old lin e I x m o c r a t . Ami w ith the m a t g in we gave h im in the p re d o m in a n tly B la c k ami I le m oci a tlc e a s ls k le w a ils , lie became the ( l i s t K epublh a ll to l<? ele> lei I County C o m m is s to n e i in ovei 40 y e a rs ! What may tw ol u ite ie s t to you is the ta ct that the caucus had its iw o p le v o le fo i Seth I att amt against R o te i t I a lt on the same b a llo t - a r e m a rk able d e m o n sti a tlo n of t ie s o p h is tic a tio n ot the B la c k v o te i. D ie 21st d is t r ic t caucus In Cuyahoga County shows how we should p ro v e « !. It shows tlie kim l ol im lepem lence, t ie k lm l ot u n ity , the ih so lu te le tu s a l to l e ig n o re d , that . l i e n e ce ssary on a na tio na l level it B la c k people, it ju s t p la in (o ik s a re to p a rtic ip a te m e a n in g fu lly in the p o litic a l p ro c e s s e s . The 21st D is t r ic t Caucus le c e n tly d isp la ye d its now e sta blish ed p o llli- ca l powei ami p o litic a l s o p h is tic a tio n in • w av i<ei haps nevei 'lone le f o ie by a m ln o i ity B la c k g io u p . c u t . am lklate lo i M a y o r, Arnold P in k n e y , was not on t i e (•allot sin ce he was running as an independent on the N o v e m lw i (•a llo t. I here w e ie two candklates in th e p rim a ry e le tlo n , ix '1 ‘ . the City Council President md imaa named Carney who h a d n 't le e n on i b a llo t in tw enty y e a rs . We tevhted to le le a t t ie C o u n c il P re s id e n t since he i epi evented • ia c is t and d iv is iv e e le m e n t. I hough tlw C o u n c il P ie s k le n t was e n - d o i sod by t ie C le ve la n d " P la in D e a le r " , h u g e s t ne w sp a iw i in O h io , o ig a n i/e d la b o r, t ie I e n io c ia tlc p a rty m l a m .ijo i ity ol Councilm an, we e m lo rs « ! t ie w eakei im lk la te , went to o u r c o n stitu e n cy ami to ld tlw m C a rn e y was the le t t e i man to i Pinkney to lace in the ta ll. We joineu uui b la ck e a s t-s id e vote-, w ith t ie w h ite w e s t-s a le votes ami defeated t ie la u n , il P ie s k le n t ami a ll h is en.loi sem ents liy , ve i 10,1)00 votes. But we Ik ln t stop th e re . I (tree B la c k C o u n c ilm a n ha I te e n among the C o u n c il I ’ r e s k le n t's suppoi te i s . We defeated t le iu too. We re p la c e ! them w ith lo y a l caucus s u p fro rte ts am! elected ten othei lo ya l B la ck Caucus m e n d e r s to the C ity , II . • ' ' ■ , iv e il - ■ . I 1 ... highest na tio na l le v e l. | lie issue ils o Is that tlie p o litic a l successes we huve enjoyed do not o v e r- in fla te you co n ce ptio n ot tlie tough jo b aliead. In o rd e r to p u l tlie e n tire p ic tu re of B la c k p o lU lc a l powei in d ■ ~ , about the re s t of the n a tio n. A c c o rd in g to a le c e n t s u iv e y m ade by t f « J o in t C e n te i fo i Bid »a to W aal in -i n, i q i'., tlw m pn «ni I86U B la c k e le c te l o ffic ia ls in A m e ric a . A p re v io u s s tu ly by [II- M ei: opolitaB A ci'lie i R tM a i ' C«hMI 1 ’ ' . . ' I ' - I ■ 1 . : v - re fle c ts an in c re a s e of 22 p e rce n t sin ce F e b ru a ry of 197o. P l mk Reeves, i. ve c u tr.e Dtractoi • : tlw JototC«M «r, to»r« p re ts the la te s t s u iv e y as " e v s le iiie that B la cks a te g lin in g c lo u t m o te ami m o re in the n a tio n 's e le c to r al s y s te m ." Reeve- note-l, Ij.w e v e :, u p to -¡-ite el i - . -i.i galas. M a d H. - holders represent only th iw te n th a ol one percent ol He I ' -I Ol 1 12,000 e le le : o ( (k tala to (bi -. • . I 1 - of one p e rc e n t! H is fu r th e r o b s e iv a tlo n was t h a t " . . . I lie irn. te a ses in B la c k s e le cte d to p u b lic o ffic e te p re s e n t an en c o u ra g in g im l s ig n ific a n t tre n d , txrl B la c k s s t ill h u e . long way to g o l" Since L#>7 when I was elected a-, the f ir s t B la ck M ayo r of I BMjoi Amoi I in tity, Ihn num ber of Bla k Mayors ha » • I . Of I e r,6 9 a re M ad 12 a r t Vlce-i T h ir ty - e ig h t o l these men a ie 1 ' - - locate.1 [i in southern s ta te s . tlca lly be Blacks In the south h e a v ily outweigh tlie p ro g re s s le in g niade liy th e n co u n te r p a rts In the n o rth . South C a ro lin a , lu rin g tlie past y e a r, r e g is te r « ! the la rg e s t im l m ost d ra iiiu th in c re a s e of any s ta te . Ih e y in c re a s e ! th e ir to ta l of b la ck o ffic e h o ld e rs iio m •• 6 1 ,1 « tog the election of three to the State Leg lale- h " b i t time - nr <• reconstru tlon. Alabama, foi Instance, has m o re B la c k o lli ehol le i th in iih io - that le in g IOS to 100. I hrs new and d e te r m ln e l th ru s t to w a rd t ie a c q u is itio n ol p o litic a l p o w e r, whir Ii "N e w s w e e k " d e s c rib e s • " iju ic k e n in g Black Runh into the Americm Matoatream," point jp wvo il s ig n ific a n t fa c to rs . F ir s t , that d e sp ite t ie in e q u itie s o! w o rk ing w ith in the sys te m , that the ovei w h e lm in g m a jo r ity ol black c itiz e n s a ie s t ill d e te im in e I to m ake the system w oi k for th e m . Second, it a v k le n ie s the move aw ay H o rn tlie c i v i l l i g h t , th ru s t of the 6 0 's w ith its co n c o m ita n t d e m o n s tra tio n s , s it- in s , e ti ., to a staih e ol s e lf-d e te rm in a tio n th rough the a. c q ,i u ls ltlo n of p o litic a l |M/wei . I h lr r l, the p e ic e n ta g e . w hich I c ited above le lle i tin g the r a tio of B la c k ele cte d o ffic ia ls to the to ta l n u m le i of elected o ffic ia ls p o in t up the absolute n e ce ssity lo r c o a litio n p o litic s . U n le ss and u n til B la c k c o m m u n itie s co alesce th e n vote pow er w ith othei s im ila r ly situated gro u p s, su. h as M e x ic a n -A m e i i - can, Spanish su in a rn e .l |« o p le , pom l i t e i . l w h i t e m il othei m ln o i H ies, oui gains w ill continue at a d is p ro p o rtio n a te and e v e r-lo s in g perce n ta g e . l a s tly , iml |>erhaps m ost im p o i ta n tly , it points up the hu t that In h e ie rit in the p h ilo so p h y ol ie s p o n s lv e n e s s to iieople Is the re je c tio n of la b e ls . Both tlie Republican im l | e iiio c ia t ii p a rtie s have a long h is to ry o! d is c r im in a tio n against B la c k iie o p le . I he ie v e n t le p o rt i .-.ued by the M cG ove rn C o n m ils ion e n title d , “ M a n - bite fo i R e fo r m ," was in p a rt an e x a m in a tio n ol l u c r l i n l - n a tio n w ith tiie H e iu o c ia tir p a rty . lid s C o m m is ,io n 's r e p o rt to ld us that " o n ly 5,5 ,ie rc e n t ol the 1968 d elegates w e ie B la c k , although B la c k s c o n s titu te o ve i 11 p e rc e n t of the to ta l im p uta tio n and an even highei |>eicentage of D e m o c ia tlc votei s. | he m ost c re d ita b le data we have fro m the 1968 g e n e ia l e le c tio n in d ica te s that MS |>ei- cent nl the B la c k A m e i leans who voted c a s t th e n pi e s s e n tia l b a llo ts fo r the nom inee of the D e m o c ra tic p a rty . In l ‘«>I (P le a s e tin n to A -I)
