LITHONIA, Ga.– Black leaders debated Saturday how to develop a checklist of politicalpriorities that could be submitted to politicians seeking support from blackvoters.
Tavis Smiley,the PBS late-night talk show host, asked about 40 leaders to consider whether achecklist could further the black American political agenda. He initiallyoffered the checklist, or “contract,” as a political sword, but others said itwould be better used as a self-improvement tool for black Americans.
“The next timeyou come calling on our vote, you come correct on the contract or you don’tcome at all,” Smiley said at the sixth annual State of the Black UnionSymposium, which also included the Rev. Al Sharpton and Nation of Islam leaderLouis Farrakhan.
“Black folkhave always been the conscience of this country,” Smiley said. “We are doingour part to help redeem the soul of America … When we make black Americabetter, we make all of America better.”
There was noconsensus on how the contract would be used. More meetings will be held todevelop the list, which could include as many as 10 priorities.
Farrakhan saidpoliticians and political parties could not be trusted to fulfill a contract.He said any checklist should be used to mobilize black Americans.
“Powerconcedes nothing without a demand, but power won’t even concede to a demand ifit comes from a weak constituency,” Farrakhan said.
The Rev.Joseph Lowery, the former president of the Southern Christian LeadershipConference, suggested any contract be called a covenant. “We’ve got to recapturethat spirituality; that’s our strength,” Lowery said.
Other panelsat the symposium included former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders,Princeton professor Cornel West, former Detroit mayor Dennis Wayne Archer andthe Rev. Jesse Jackson.