The battle for political leadership in the 5th District of the Illinois General Assembly is extremely heated. The seat is currently held by Ken Dunkin who has been abandoned by his democratic colleagues because he dared break ranks with the Democratic super-majority on two key votes in Springfield.

Let’s be clear. Just because something is good for the Democratic Party does not mean it’s good for Black people. It’s just as true that just because something is good for the organized labor does not mean it’s good for Black people.

Often, with both groups, there is a tendency to “decide” what’s good for Black people without consulting Black people. That’s one description of plantation politics.

Dunkin has created controversy by siding with Republican Governor Bruce Rauner on several initiatives that have denied Democrats their 71-member veto-proof majority in the House. That decision has drawn the wrath of both Democratic Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and organized labor.

Dunkin is being challenged in the March 15 primary by Juliana Stratton, the former executive director for Cook County Justice for Children, and current the director for the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Center for Public Safety and Justice. The Democrats and unions are backing her.

The Illinois Opportunity Project (IOP) announced Feb. 1 that it was making a $500,000 donation to the campaign of State Representative Ken Dunkin, a Chicago Democrat. Critics charge that the IOP is a Republican Party organization that promotes public policy solutions rooted in economic liberty and the leaders who advance such solutions and because of that he’s a pawn for Rauner.

That makes no sense. If Dunkin wanted to be a pawn, why not choose the easy route and be a pawn for Madigan?

As stated in the Chicago Defender:

“Rep. Dunkin has shown independent thinking and provided support in policy areas of critical importance including:

(1) protecting honest, adversarial collective bargaining between the governor and public sector unions representing state employees, and

(2) ending the discrimination against children based on their household income and address when it comes to the primary and secondary schools they may attend. Dunkin’s support for certain structural reforms well predate the election of Gov. Bruce Rauner. For example, in 2010, Dunkin voted for the school choice legislation (SB 2494) sponsored by then State Sen. James Meeks.”

Speaker Madigan wields considerable power in Springfield, primarily because of the Democratic majority. Unity among the Democrats is key to his success. Dunkin’s independence short circuits Madigan’s  ability to override gubernatorial vetoes.

Meanwhile, Stratton announced support from Secretary of State Jesse White, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union.

Democratic opposition to Dunkin also includes includes Brian Hopkins, 2nd; Pat Dowell, 3rd; Leslie Hairston, 5th; Rod Sawyer, 6th; Michelle Harris, 8th; and Brendan Reilly, 42nd. The Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Catholic Church also is backing Stratton.

“When one guy breaks off the plantation it’s got to make a lot of people in Springfield nervous, real nervous,” Maze Jackson, a political editor for the Chicago Defender and a political consultant.

As it relates to Dunkin, Gov. Rauner said, “He and I share a passion around economic empowerment, especially in the Black community.”

Dunkin’s one vote did not destroy the Black community. Plantations, plantation politics, racism and white supremacy have. Dunkin is now fighting to pass a bill that will save Chicago State University because the Democrats and Republicans can’t settle their differences.

If Dunkin can win without the Democratic Machine it just may spark an overall revolt in Springfield that will lead to a real Black agenda that is neither Democratic or Republican, but self-determined.