Black Americans diversifying views
Jpoe@ajc.com
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Though he has received the most media attention, Secretary of State Colin Powell was not the only high-profile African-American absent from a U.N. conference on racism in South Africa last week.
Many others skipped the meeting as well. Their absence at such a keystone event, over the objection of some other top U.S. black leaders, was further indication of growing diversity of black voices in American politics.Powell dispatched a lower-level delegation to the Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. He then called it home Monday, citing "hateful" language in the conference document on Israel.
Others sitting out the meeting included NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, National Urban League President Hugh B. Price, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Southern Christian Leadership Conference President Martin Luther King III.African-Americans at the conference include figures associated with traditionally
left-wing black politics: Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.That so many high-level African-Americans skipped the conference suggests the
solid-left allegiances of the civil rights era are no longer necessary for political credibility among black Americans.Already, black Republicans such as Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, presidential candidate Alan Keyes and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice have carved out nooks in the conservative political scene. Less noticeably but more commonly, other African-American leaders are willing to break from traditional fight-for-the-outsider orthodoxy, bringing a full-partner-in-power approach to bear.
Ten years ago, Clarence Thomas was widely criticized as an Uncle Tom for his conservative views. But
more recently black leaders have divided themselves over issues including welfare reform and reparations for slavery, and those with conservative leanings have escaped such vehement criticism. Now Powell and the Urban League's Price can advocate school vouchers --- a move that some fear would undercut the public education, an institution dear to many blacks --- and hardly cause a ripple. In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young took a moderate stance in the recent state flag debate, saying the state had more pressing issues to address. And no one called him a sellout.Robert Brown, a political science professor at Emory University, said black political alliances have become more complex because of integration and a growing black middle class. "There is a diversity in the black political scene and even tension among some black leaders," he said, "and that, certainly, is coming to the fore."
The diversity in the political world mirrors the growing complexity of black America. Over the past 30 years, a new generation of African-Americans has grown up in an environment without legal barriers to equality. This generation is enjoying unparalleled wealth and education and, consequently, demonstrating new views on race and politics.
U.S. Census figures show, for example, the income gap between black and white Americans has narrowed over the past few decades.
Though most African-Americans are still loyal Democrats --- Al Gore garnered 90 percent of the black vote, according to exit polls --- a recent survey by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies shows that one-third consider themselves "moderate," and about 20 percent consider themselves politically "independent."Joyce Ladner, who specializes in government studies and race relations at the Brookings Institution, suggests traditional political labels, such as "liberal" and "conservative," are hard to apply to black leaders. Most want to help black Americans and people living in poverty, but they have pragmatic differences about how to do so.
"There is less ideology and more concern about specific issues," Ladner said. "There is no party line."
Black leaders who stayed away from South Africa did not go so far as to actually criticize the conference, and many hastened to say they supported it.
Spokesmen for the Urban League and NAACP were quick to point out that, while top leaders did not attend, other representatives did. King said he couldn't attend because of an earlier commitment. In June, Powell told a Senate committee that he wanted to attend, but worried that the language on Israel might cause him to stay home. Lewis declined to comment on the conference.
The absent leaders' words of support weren't enough for critics from the left.
"I think if the world is convening on racism it seems to me the black leadership in the United States should be there," said Joe Beasley, Southern regional director for Jackson's Rainbow Coalition. "They, more than any other leaders, should have been present."Beasley and other critics singled out Powell, in particular, for pulling out of the conference. "I think he should have the strength to say to the Bush administration that this is something we need to deal with," Beasley said. "I think we should see him be his own man."
Wade Henderson, of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, called Powell's action "an abdication of U.S. leadership in the global effort against racism and bigotry."
Ladner said the debate underscores an increasing willingness of black leaders to diverge on major political issues.
"There are moderate voices and conservative voices," she said. "The black community has expanded enough to have a diverse set of voices overall."
Staff researcher Alice Wertheim and staff reporter Melanie Eversley contributed to this article.
End of Article
Question: Are Black People (African People) going to be controlled in this manner another 400 Years?
The above was written and published less than 48 hours before the Trade Tower Event and 24 hours
After the Racism Conference in Africa.