Black Leaders Discuss Political Checklist

• "Can I get a show of hands please. How Many are against the War in Iraq? How Many Want Universal Health Care? How Many Want the Minimum Wage Increased? Now How Many know someone who wants to get a same sex marriage? So how did that get on our Agenda then?" Jesse Jackson to a show of no hands for the last question at the State of the Black Union.
  

Black leaders debated Saturday how to develop a checklist of political priorities that could be submitted to politicians seeking support from black voters.  Tavis Smiley, the PBS late-night talk show host, asked about 40 leaders to consider whether a checklist could further the black American political agenda. He initially offered the checklist, or "contract," as a political sword, but others said it would be better used as a self-improvement tool for black Americans. "The next time you come calling on our vote, you come correct on the contract or you don't come at all," Smiley said at the sixth annual State of the Black Union Symposium, which also included the Rev. Al Sharpton and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. "Black folk have always been the conscience of this country," Smiley said. "We are doing our part to help redeem the soul of America ... When we make black America better, we make all of America better." There was no consensus on how the contract would be used. More meetings will be held to develop the list, which could include as many as 10 priorities. Farrakhan said politicians and political parties could not be trusted to fulfill a contract. He said any checklist should be used to mobilize black Americans. [more]

• SEE the "State of the Black Union" [here] courtesy of the Final Call [more]