Quick can you name the leader of the African-American community?
Recently, the Associated Press tried to get a group of African-Americans to do just that and the list may surprise you -- or maybe not. Jesse Jackson with 15 percent of the vote and Condoleezza Rice with 11 percent got the most support in the AP- AOL Black Voices survey. The poll asked people to name the nation's "most important black leader". Following Jackson and Rice on the list were former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Illinois freshman Senator Barack Obama with eight and six percent respectively. These answers might not be as surprising simply because those four black faces were the most identifiable to the majority of the American people. The survey went further by asking whether it was even appropriate to even ask the question. Many African Americans sided by questioning whether any one person can wear the leadership mantle for such a large and diverse group of people. Nearly a third of those surveyed declined to volunteer a name. Rounding out the list were Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan who got 4 percent and talk show host Oprah Winfrey who received 3 percent. A follow-up question on the survey asked whether those polled thought the present black leadership was actually effective. Less than one in five of those polled, 18 percent, said the current black leadership is doing a "very effective" job while half described African American leadership as "somewhat effective." And it seems to be that 50-percent which may have non-traditional leaders and the Republican Party grinning from ear to ear. Recently, one political season was titled the year of the woman. This year may end up being the year of the black politician and particularly the black Republican politician. The Washington Post's George Will made this point in his column this past week. Will accurately identified this year’s political season cold produce two additional black U.S. Senators and two black governors. On the senate front Maryland’s Michael Steel -- the current lieutenant governor is a serious contender and in Michigan, Keith Butler is making headway, as well. Kapitol Hill pointed out last Summer the football legend Lynn Swann would run for governor of Pennsylvania and the other black Republican looking to live in his state's governor's mansion is Ohio's Ken Blackwell, the Buckeye State's current secretary of state. During the 2004 elections President Bush's political machine made a point to slice into the overwhelming support blacks have given to the Democratic Party. He ended up with 11-percent of the black vote a significant jump from the just below eight percent he won in 2000. This increase in black politicians and the increase in Bush's vote tally does not necessarily mean blacks are becoming more politically conservative; however, it could mean the GOP has been able to culture a message of social conservatism -- which most African-American seem to sway -- especially with topics like gay marriage and other hot button issues. But the fact a majority of African-Americans have lost confidence or focus in who speaks for them also is playing a role. The Black community has never been a monolithic group -- it is still divided over issues like school vouchers and welfare reform. Nevertheless, it was clear in the 1960s Martin L. King, Jr carried overwhelming support. In a similar poll take then more than 60-percent of African-American's identified him as the most significant black leader. It is safe to say that just because a politician happens to be black does not necessarily mean they will look out for the interest of black people and that will be the challenge the neo-black conservative candidates will have to overcome. If they come off as too conservative on issues like the War in Iraq and how to assist the disenfranchised there could be a backlash. If they seemingly side with the black community on more liberal platforms such as affirmative action they're declaration of being Republicans could seem disingenuous and black voters may see them as trying to cater to them just for a votes sake.
The solution for not only these potential black leaders but those who still are worthy to make the list is to be honest and care about people and their problems. If they can do this the gamble will not seem as risky and the reward might be more beneficial.
RESOURCES
- Lupus Foundation of America – www.lupus.org The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA) is the foremost national nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and providing support, services and hope to all people affected by lupus.
- http://my.barackobama.com/
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation – www.wkkf.org The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families, and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society
- Community Voices – www.communityvoices.org Community Voices: Health Care for the Underserved is a group of community-based demonstration projects dedicated to finding real-life ways to provide greater access to quality health care to the underserved and uninsured people in America.
- Children’s Defense Fund – http://www.childrensdefense.org/ The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a healthy start, a Head Start, a fair start, a safe start and a moral start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
- National Criminal Justice Reference Service – http://www.ncjrs.gov/
- National Urban League – http://www.nul.org/ The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities.
- National Association for the advancement of Colored People – www.naacp.org The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a civil rights organization for ethnic minorities in the United States.
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