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Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Civil rights’ next generation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An analysis of voting patterns that led to Cynthia McKinney’s defeat prompted this remark from a Tucker resident, Raymond Jenkins, who voted for winner Hank Johnson as the “more competent” candidate who would also “bring more credibility to the seat.” Then he had this to say:
“I understand this is the birthplace of the civil rights movement, but the problem is that these old civil rights leaders are not passing the torch to a new generation to fight the fight in a different way.”
McKinney, of course, is not into torch-passing. Speaking Tuesday in Augusta, she blamed her loss on crossovers and on electronic voting machines, which she believes blacks should oppose. She said, too, that she considers herself “a black political paramedic” though the “black body politic is near comatose.” Whatever.
Paramedic or not, I think it’s a misnomer to refer to present-day celebrities of color as “civil rights” leaders simply because they are activists for liberal causes, some of which may interest a segment of the black community. Some like Jesse Jackson were, but for decades now have been garden variety liberals using race to gain partisan advantage for leftwing causes.
Rising political figures like Hank Johnson, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, U.S. Rep. Harold Ford who is attempting to succeed U.S. Sen. Bill Frist in Tennessee, and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin all differ in style and interests from the old-line activists who, like Cynthia McKinney the politician, could never adjust outlook or rhetoric to the diversity of modern America.
Blacks are now a minority within a minority. Hispanics are 14.5 percent of the population, compared to 12.8 for blacks. Whatever leaders are called, the 4th District voter has presented an interesting question: How and when does the torch pass? And what, precisely, would be “fighting the fight” in a different way? What issues of particular concern to blacks should leaders be addressing? Hint from the right: Marriage and out-of-wedlock births.
