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photo by steed media service
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President and CEO, National Urban League
Ever since President Franklin Roosevelt instituted his New Deal in
1933, a series of programs and initiatives that promised relief, reform
and recovery for an economy devastated by the Great Depression, African
Americans have aligned themselves with the Democratic Party. Today,
while over 80 percent of African Americans consider themselves
Democrats, a growing number are rejecting this blanket support, which
often leaves candidates unaccountable, and constituents disillusioned
by hollow promises.
“The voter who is concerned about the urban community and about issues
of equality particularly economic equality which goes beyond the
African American community want to see their votes actively competed
for both in the primary process and general election,” explains Marc
Morial. “That’s what we’ve got to continue to work to achieve.”
Morial, the former twice-elected mayor of New Orleans, currently serves
as president and CEO of the National Urban League, a civil rights
organization that has fought racial discrimination and worked for
economic parity since 1910. The son of a teacher and New Orleans’ first
black mayor, Morial observed many politically charged discussions
around the dinner table and to this day still relishes in the thrill of
live debates.
“There’s something interesting about giving candidates the opportunity
to openly express themselves,” explains Morial. “I think it gives
people the opportunity to look into somebody’s soul and somebody’s
eyes, to get a sense of their command of the issue [instead] of
rehearsed responses. You get a sense of a person and their level of
maturity and their level to deal under some pressure.” – adam jones
