Amsterdam News Article -- By Jamal Watson

Nationally renowned Blacks given prominent place at Democratic Convention
by JAMAL WATSON
Amsterdam News Staff
Originally posted 7/22/2004

When the Democratic National Convention kicks off next week in Boston, several prominent Black legislators and activists will be on stage to address a national prime-time audience.

Barack Obama, the rising state political legislator from Illinois who is considered a favorite to win the state's open U.S. Senate seat, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address to the nearly 5,000 delegates who will gather from July 26-July 29 to officially nominate the John Kerry and John Edwards presidential ticket.

Obama, 42, would be the only African-American in the United States Senate if he wins the election in November. Currently, he does not have an opponent, since the Republican candidate, Jack Ryan, dropped out of the race last month after embarrassing information was revealed from his divorce record.

The GOP in Illinois have been scrambling to find a replacement to challenge the Harvard Law School graduate, who currently teaches law at the University of Chicago. But so far, their efforts have proved futile.

''At a time when so much of our politics seems divided, the fact that, at least within the Democratic Party, we were able to pull together a broad-based coalition is encouraging to Democrats,'' said Obama.

Mary Beth Cahill, Kerry's campaign manager, said Obama represents ''the next generation of Democratic leadership. He really leaped out as someone who people would really love to see.''
In addition to Obama, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones of Ohio and civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton are both scheduled to address the convention.

Sharpton, who will speak at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27, has been crisscrossing the country on behalf of his former rivals, encouraging African-Americans to turn out to the polls to support the Kerry-Edwards ticket.

Democrats have rarely had a shortage of African-American speakers at their convention. And in recent years, Republicans have followed suit, giving highly visible speaking roles to Secretary of State Colin Powell and former Congressman J.C. Watts.

In 2000, Democrats invited Congressman Harold Ford, of Tennessee, to deliver the keynote address, and political observers still reminisce over Rev. Jesse Jackson's rousing 1984 address at the Convention in San Francisco.

That speech, which lambasted Ronald Reagan's policies, has been showcased over and over again, and studied in public speaking.

''That was a powerful speech,'' said Ron Walters, a political scientist who served as an advisor to Jackson that year during his run for president. ''Twenty years later, we're still talking about the speech.''

"The long-lasting effect of Rev. Jackson's run," Walters added, "is its opening of the political process to African-American candidates who were empowered by his candidacy," such as David Dinkins, who was elected mayor of New York City after Jackson's 1988 presidential run, and Douglas Wilder, who won election as governor of Virginia.

"Rev. Jackson's run created a model for African-American candidates in which each election itself is an exercise in building strength in numbers," Walters said. "[Jackson's] candidacy demonstrated the importance - and the doability - of establishing an ongoing base from which to wield influence. Win or lose, our candidates now stay to deal."

According to Democratic Convention organizers, nearly 40 percent of the delegates are of a minority background. To ensure diversity among the delegates at the convention, most states implemented diversity plans to ensure that minorities are adequately represented.

''There are specific rules that dictate they have to reach out,'' said Amy Isaacs, national director of Americans for Democratic Action, the country's oldest liberal organization.

''There are rules of the party that makes sure that affirmative action is adhered to so that there is real participation at every level.''
Some have expressed concerns with the convention being held in Boston, a city where African-Americans have long had a turbulent history. In the 1970s, African-American schoolchildren were the victims of racism after angry mobs attacked schools buses carrying Black children to white schools following a judge's desegregation order.

But political observers say that hosting the convention in Kerry's hometown, with past presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter in attendance, is symbolic of how important this election is for Democrats.

''There is a lot at stake,'' said Donna L. Brazile, a political consultant and campaign manager for former Vice President Al Gore's 2000 campaign. ''This election is extremely important.''

Jamal E. Watson can be reached at [email protected].