More notes from RootsCampDC...

Organizing Minority Groups

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Key questions for discussion: marginalization of black issues within Democratic Party, empowerment vs. votes, accountability back to voters, racist assumptions of mainstream Democratic institutions, how can the black community fund its own politics, what kind of class differentiation exists in the the black community?

 

James Rucker asked if the Dem. establishment is authentically interested in having the Black leadership part of the process. There is a feeling that Dem. is not being served and outreach only during the Election.

 

One participant noted his experience with an unhealthy campaign tactic occasionally used for getting out the vote in poorer minority communities, which is taking cash and spreading it around the community to get the vote.

 

While many agreed that Dem. operatives are never proactively interested in having Black (or Latino or Asian etc.) as part of the process, folks also noted that even Progressives think that they know what is best for a particular community.

 

Several noted that there is a need to think of the black community as a mixed group of people on all positions in the economic spectrum bound by a common identity. For example, the civil rights mvt. was led by middle class blacks. Currently 1/3 of the community is not doing well and 2/3 is doing well. Progressive black leaders need to take some of that aspirational energy of the black middle class and channel it in the right direction.

 

Several participants noted that there is a need fore new leadership adn there there are some great leaders emerging including Tavis Smiley from PBS and XXXXX, from the National Urban League.

 

On the question of "Do black voters want to listen to white organizers?" we heard a range of answers. Most thought that generally minority voters will listen to anyone who shows enthusiasm and comes to their door, but some noted that there is some less credibility for some older African-American folks, which may be a generational issue.

 

Some positive case studies emerged in the discussion: One participant noted that We Americans for Democracy is a new organization that looks to create a model for ongoing community outreach after the Webb election. Another noted that Greater Chicago Caucus tries to do the same on a local level.

 

Others talked about some successful case studies where minority precincts were canvassed from April – November as well as outreach to Historically Black Colleges, Barbershops, and Churches.


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