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Why Must There Be A Contract with Black America?
One reason is that the (white) progressive agenda is too
narrow. It's pretty clear from general
voting patterns that white people on the right will numerically defeat white
people on the left, if people of color are not involved.
The nation is too much at risk to wait for a critical mass of white progressives to accept this reality, in order to build the multi-racial coalition that is needed. Therefore, it is up to people of color to spell out in concrete terms what we want, so that the Democratic Party and other white-led progressive advocacy groups can follow.
The ideals and common sense of African-Americans here come into play. Today, 85-90% of African-Americans support the Democratic Party. Despite our ideological differences within, we have maintained this consensus for 10+ years. We have achieved this consensus without a network of town meetings. Without the Internet. With limited political programming and publishing devoted to our interests. What do we understand that others can learn? How do the priorities of Black America reflect where this nation should be headed?
Posted by Quintus Jett on August 22, 2005 at 08:08 PM | Permalink
Comments
African Americans for Democracy has several members developing a contract. I'll be here to answer any questions that you have about, and will respond to any other questions that you raise.
Posted by: Quintus | Aug 22, 2005 8:12:18 PM
What kind of policy objectives and areas are we looking at in the contract. I have some ideas, but what are some that have been put forth.
Posted by: Chipper | Aug 22, 2005 8:16:15 PM
Hi Quintus,
Do you have a draft of the contract that we could discuss?
Posted by: Jessica | Aug 22, 2005 8:16:25 PM
Quintus, I agree that no demographic should ever be taken for granted. As an environmentalist, I know what it's like to keep having your issue sidelined by the Party. It's frustrating and a tactic that keeps us from actually making any progress.
What types of issues are they including in the contract? Do the issues really differ that much from what whites of similar economic and regional backgrounds want?
Posted by: Charlene | Aug 22, 2005 8:17:48 PM
The contract has two major components. Political rights, which black people are known most for advocating, and also economic rights. A subtext for this is the restoration of the accumulated damage done when discrimination was accepted practice.
Posted by: Quintus | Aug 22, 2005 8:21:54 PM
Well, I'm not black, but I am a woman...Another group that is taken for granted by the Dem Party, and has their own sort of invisible bond that holds them together and to the Dem Party (at least historically).
I feel women have stuck with the Dems because they've always been the party of equal rights, and a woman's right to choose (which is actually part of equal rights...but that's another topic). However, the more they water down those values, the more women they will lose...and the more people of color they will lose I imagine.
Posted by: Jessica | Aug 22, 2005 8:23:34 PM
Hi Jessica,
Once a group of us got together to discuss a contract, we realized there were a lot of assumptions and intentions that we had to work out first.
One principle that came up is something that promotes a positive vision for ourselves (black people) and by extension the nation. Another was to develop something that wasn't just a partisan reaction. Through our conversations we discoverd that some of the left/right and liberal/conservative distinctions don't neatly capture the black experience.
We're at the stage of compiling lists of issues now.
Posted by: Quintus | Aug 22, 2005 8:26:00 PM
Political rights? Does this mean things like actually being able to vote and have that vote count or is this something different?
Economic rights as in reparations? If so, I understand the reasoning, but I'd be interested in hearing more about how this is developing in the contract.
Posted by: Charlene | Aug 22, 2005 8:27:33 PM
Charlene and Jessica, I think you bring up great points about other issues that have been sidelined. Environmental and women's issues are both things that have been white-led, but could benefit from developing black perspectives.
Also, I suspect talking about race is a gateway to talking about additional issues in progressive communities. So among those of us working on it, we know the contract isn't solely about us as black people, although that is a primary motivation for us.
Posted by: Quintus | Aug 22, 2005 8:29:30 PM
A subtext for this is the restoration of the accumulated damage done when discrimination was accepted practice.
Posted by: Quintus | Aug 22, 2005 8:21:54 PM
What does this mean exactly? Monetary reparations? Or, like, building more community centers in low income neighborhoods?
Posted by: Jessica | Aug 22, 2005 8:31:03 PM
sorry I'm late but this is an important subject and I am advocating LISTENING in this phase of the election cycle and formulating a national platform(contract)
we need to be an advocate party
Posted by: Phil*in* Iowa | Aug 22, 2005 8:32:37 PM
Particulars of political rights so far: The Voting Rights Act, Restoring the vote of former felons who have served their time, etc.
Economic rights: we don't deal (yet?) with reparations, although it is on our minds. Mostly framing economic rights in terms of things like health care, social security, investing in Americans for global competition..
Posted by: Quintus | Aug 22, 2005 8:33:11 PM
My understanding is that reparations came from the promise of "40 acres and a mule" for former slaves becoming farmers. What I'm not clear on is if the U.S. ever fulfilled that promise or if we made it difficult to get.
Posted by: Charlene | Aug 22, 2005 8:35:26 PM
political rights means the voting rights act re-authorization as part?
Posted by: Phil*in* Iowa | Aug 22, 2005 8:35:43 PM
I think the fundamental correction that needs to be made is for America to restore for African American children the *assumption* that life can be better. This was lost thru generations of statement in essence and in word that they will never achieve more than they were born into. This is what they need the most to build for *themselves* a better future. I think the Democratic Party is, by far, in the best position to argue that it's platform is strongest for this. A contract can spell out exactly how it's policies will do this.
Posted by: Demetrius | Aug 22, 2005 8:36:10 PM
Jessica, i can answer your question about reparations this way: the contract is evolving into less a series of "demands" than a series of priorities that we will work for on behalf of our communities - in terms of advocacy, supporting candidates, etc.
The key criteria seen in the Republican Contract for America was goals that could be measured as having been accomplished or not. That's the spirit we would like to have too.
Posted by: Quintus | Aug 22, 2005 8:36:35 PM
Posted by: Quintus | Aug 22, 2005 8:33:11 PM
Those are things that affect all races.
Why is it a Contract with "Black" America? Why not just a Contract with America?
Posted by: Jessica | Aug 22, 2005 8:36:43 PM
One part of the political rights planked I'd like to see. A verifiable paper trail. :)
Posted by: Chipper | Aug 22, 2005 8:37:07 PM
members of the Black Caucus are all heroes of mine
and have a coherent voice now
we need to elevate their voice in the party as well as this fine effort
I think a progressive platform would have most (if not all) in common with a Contract like you propose
Posted by: Phil*in* Iowa | Aug 22, 2005 8:41:10 PM
Wow, a site i can actually figure out.
Hi jessica, Phil and Quintus.
Posted by: Dave in Georgia | Aug 22, 2005 8:41:15 PM
Posted by: Demetrius | Aug 22, 2005 8:36:10 PM
I'd love to see that! Makes me feel hopeful for this country's future just reading it.
Posted by: Jessica | Aug 22, 2005 8:42:24 PM
"Why is it a Contract with "Black" America? Why not just a Contract with America?"
I think there are specific issues to be addressed per the AA community that are a *part* of a larger Contract with America. But, I think it needs to be officially recognized when our government has been complicit in taking something away from a specific group. Women also have special issues of concern. A "Contract With American Women" would not be out of line to see that they are being addressed.
Posted by: Demetrius | Aug 22, 2005 8:42:32 PM
on reparations, the 40 acres and mule were never received.
the voting rights act does refer to the re-authorization. we've discussed the problem of having to constantly have to get voting rights provisions continually re-authorized.
why is this the black contract? for instance, you really don't see the restoration of votes for former felons brought up as a priority among white progressives, although it hits us much closer to home. the restoration of voting rights in iowa was a good example of the multi-racial grassroots action that can take place on this issue.
Posted by: Quintus | Aug 22, 2005 8:42:39 PM
I like the ideals behind health care, social security, but I think we need to cast an eye toward economic justice worldwide. The Grover Norquist Agenda calls for a race to the bottom. That damaging for every community, but it is especially damaging for mine, and that's not just here in the U.S. but throughout the diasphora.
Remember Lincoln,
""All that serves labor serves the nation.
All that harms labor is treason.
No line can be drawn between these two.
If a man tells you he loves his country yet hates labor he is a liar.
If a man tells you he trusts his country yet fears labor, he is a fool.
There is no country without labor,
and to fleece one is to rob the other"
Posted by: Chipper | Aug 22, 2005 8:42:51 PM
Wow, a site i can actually figure out.
Posted by: Dave in Georgia | Aug 22, 2005 8:41:15 PM
Yup, it's pretty simple. (No offense Deaniac. LOL)
Any lurkers out there, just type and post. No registration required.
Posted by: Jessica | Aug 22, 2005 8:44:13 PM
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