danny - Blogs - TheBlackList Pub2024-03-29T06:10:51Zhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/dannyChicago's Leading Black Mayoral Candidates Meet To Discuss Unityhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/chicagos-leading-black-mayoral2010-12-23T11:41:29.000Z2010-12-23T11:41:29.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><p> </p><div style="border:medium none;text-align:left;background-color:transparent;color:#000000;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;"><h1 class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510entry-title">Yesterday the three leading Black candidates for Chicago Mayor met to discuss the possibility oftheir uniting around one, and while other Black leaders did not publicly respondwith any specific scenario to shape a united front, I am glad that I DIDpublicly offer one and STILL it was the best scenario to ADD to the Blackpolitical base and not lose ANY hard fought Black political seniority at theState and Federallevels.</h1>**************************************************************************************************<br /><br /><h1 class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510entry-title">Why Carol Moseley Braun Should Be The New Consensus Candidate From The Black Community -- IfSaving Black Political Seniority and Making New Black and Women PoliticalHistory Are Factors</h1><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510entry-header pkg"><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510entry-meta"><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510userpic pkg"><a><img alt="user-pic" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-23645-100x100.png" width="24" height="24" /></a></div><span class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510vcard author"><a class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510fn url" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/profiles/Marksallen" target="_blank"><span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_0" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts">Marksallen</span></a></span> on12.18.10 at 6:13 PM | <a class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510comment" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2010/12/why-carol-moseley-braun-is-the-new-consensus-candidate-from-the-black-community----if-saving-black-political-seniority-and-making-new-black-and-women.html#comments" target="_blank"><span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_1" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts">no comments</span></a> |</div><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510about-the-blogger pkg"><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510userpic-large pkg"><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510userpic pkg"><a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/profiles/Marksallen" target="_blank"><img alt="user-pic" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-23645-100x100.png" width="62" height="62" /></a></div></div><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510blogger-info"><span class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510vcard author"><a class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510fn url" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/profiles/Marksallen" target="_blank"><span id="lw_1293101842_43" class="yshortcuts">Marksallen</span></a></span><p class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510short-bio">One of the first community organizers to work with <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_2" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_44" class="yshortcuts">Barack Obama</span></span> in <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_3" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_45" class="yshortcuts">Chicago</span></span> for over 20 years. Now Associate Editorof The South Street Journal Newspaper and 37 year activist/journalist, recentlyselected as 2010 Who's Who In Black Chicago. (Office) <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_4" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_46" class="yshortcuts">312-624-8351</span></span> and (Cell) <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_5" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_47" class="yshortcuts">773-392-0165</span></span></p><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510follow-blogger"><span>Follow on:</span></div></div></div><div style="display:block;float:left;margin-left:0pt;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510share-tools-wrapper" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510pkg horizontal-share"><h3 id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510share-tools-title">Share</h3><div id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510share-tools" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510clearfix pkg"><ul><li><a class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510smedia facebook" title="Share on Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fblogs%2Fand-the-ordinary-people-said%2F2010%2F12%2Fwhy-carol-moseley-braun-is-the-new-consensus-candidate-from-the-black-community----if-saving-black-political-seniority-and-making-new-black-and-women.html&t=Why%20Carol%20Moseley%20Braun%20Is%20The%20New%20Consensus%20Candidate%20From%20The%20Black%20Community%20--%20If%20Saving%20Black%20Political%20Seniority%20and%20%20Making%20New%20Black%20and%20Women%20Political%20History%20Are%20Factors" target="_blank"><img alt="Share on Facebook" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/facebook.png" /><span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510facebook-share"></span></a><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510count">Facebook (0)</div></li><li><a class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510smedia twitter" title="Tweet this story"><img alt="Tweet this story" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/twitter.png" /><span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510tweetmeme-share"></span></a><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510count">Retweet (0)</div></li><li><a class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510smedia digg" title="Digg this story" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fblogs%2Fand-the-ordinary-people-said%2F2010%2F12%2Fwhy-carol-moseley-braun-is-the-new-consensus-candidate-from-the-black-community----if-saving-black-political-seniority-and-making-new-black-and-women.html&title=Why%20Carol%20Moseley%20Braun%20Is%20The%20New%20Consensus%20Candidate%20From%20The%20Black%20Community%20--%20If%20Saving%20Black%20Political%20Seniority%20and%20%20Making%20New%20Black%20and%20Women%20Political%20History%20Are%20Factors" target="_blank"><img alt="Digg this story" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/digg.png" /><span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510digg-share"></span></a><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510count">Digg (0)</div></li><li><a class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510smedia stumbleupon" title="Stumble this entry" href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fblogs%2Fand-the-ordinary-people-said%2F2010%2F12%2Fwhy-carol-moseley-braun-is-the-new-consensus-candidate-from-the-black-community----if-saving-black-political-seniority-and-making-new-black-and-women.html&title=Why%20Carol%20Moseley%20Braun%20Is%20The%20New%20Consensus%20Candidate%20From%20The%20Black%20Community%20--%20If%20Saving%20Black%20Political%20Seniority%20and%20%20Making%20New%20Black%20and%20Women%20Political%20History%20Are%20Factors" target="_blank"><img alt="Stumble this entry" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/stumble.png" /><span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510stumbleupon-share"></span></a><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510count">Stumble</div></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510entry-content"><br /><div align="center"><font style="font-size:1.25em;"><font size="5"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_6" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_48" class="yshortcuts">Why Carol Moseley Braun</span></span> Should Be The New Consensus Candidate From The Black Community -- If SavingBlack Political Seniority and Making New Black and Women Political History AreFactors</font></font><br /><br />Last week on radio station WVON several Blackpolitical analysts and journalists and the three leading Black candidates wereasked to discuss a scenario that would make one of them the stronger candidateby which the other two could unites around, yet no one actually produced a realscenario to consider, so I am putting forth a scenario where I believe that puts<span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_7" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_49" class="yshortcuts">Carol Moseley Braun</span></span> as the clear front runnerthat <span style="background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" id="lw_1293101842_50" class="yshortcuts">Senator James Meeks</span> and <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_8" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_51" class="yshortcuts">Congressman Danny Davis</span></span> couldunite around. This scenario would save much needed Black political seniority atthe State and Federal levels while adding to our political base by a Blackwinning City Hall. <br /><br />A Scenario I called "From Harold To Carol," for thiswill be the first election in over 20 years with no Daley on the ballot andwhere a Black candidate has the chance to be elected Mayor since <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_9" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" id="lw_1293101842_52" class="yshortcuts">Harold Washington</span></span>, thus mysymbolic title "From Harold To Carol." And for women, who are the majority ofChicago's registered voters, Carol would make women political history again,with Braun now becoming the first women to be elected Mayor since <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_10" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_53" class="yshortcuts">Jane Byrne</span></span>. And this "Haroldto Carol" is even more symbolic in that Harold DID call on Carol to be his <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_11" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_54" class="yshortcuts">floor leader</span></span> in The State Legislature, and HaroldDID call on Carol to be on his 1987 re-election "<span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_12" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_55" class="yshortcuts">DREAM TICKET</span></span>," and now again its "Harold toCarol."<br /><br />The Black community fought a long time politically to be in aposition to have a Senator Meeks with a Chairmanship and the seniority to push anew City legislative agenda from City Hall, just as Braun was in a position topush the City Education agenda for Harold. No one with Meeks seniority wouldreplace him with the same authority if he were to leave his position so Isuggest that our community maintain our Seniority in the State Senate withMeeks. Just this week, it has been proven how important the seniority of <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_13" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_56" class="yshortcuts">Danny Davis</span></span> and his vote is in Congress with hisseniority and member of the most power House Ways and Means Committee, and likeMeeks in the state, there is no Black with the same seniority to replace Davisif he would leave his position now with a Republican in line to take his place,just as we are going to be trying to regain his authority if Democrats regainpower in 2012. So, it is my suggestion that we maintain our political seniorityin Congress with Davis.<br /><br />Carol Mosley Braun, has NO <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_14" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_57" class="yshortcuts">political office</span></span> to give up, only a few paidboards that she may give up in order to focus full time on the Mayor's race, butin Braun, as Mayor, we ADD to our political base at the City, state, and federallevel with Braun as Mayor backed with the power and seniority of Meeks and Davisto push the Chicago agenda at the State and Federal levels. With this currentscenario, Davis and Meeks could sustain their state and federal power base,unite behind Braun and that unity is the foundation in place, then the rest isup to educating the people to mobilize, expand their <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_15" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_58" class="yshortcuts">political power base</span></span> and with Carol MoseleyBraun, her candidacy now pl;aces Chicago in the eyes of the world again, poisedto make Black, women, and political history again. Now in the background I amhearing the words of a Staples Singers song "LETS DO IT AGAIN" in that thepeople of Chicago voted and did it before, by making history with Braun as thefirst Black female elected <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_16" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" id="lw_1293101842_59" class="yshortcuts">United States Senator</span></span> and thepeople can "do it again" with this same woman poised to put Chicago in the <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_17" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_60" class="yshortcuts">political history books</span></span> again with her electionas next <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_18" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_61" class="yshortcuts">Chicago Mayor</span></span> - the firstwomen to be elected Mayor since Byrne, and the first Black to be elected sinceHarold - From "Harold to Carol".<br /><br />The next major item for a strong winningcampaign is money and of course Carol Moseley Braun's campaign can get nostronger financial base of supporters than John Rogers<br />and ElzieHigginbottom, and her "collective" outreach team has some of the absolute bestand brightest in political operations to reach voters across racial, ethnic,women, and grassroots lines. Carol's campaign kicked off with the strongendorsement of Congressman Bobby Rush and last week more Chicago electedofficial publicly endorsed her, and she won the N'DIGO/WVON Chicago Mayoralpoll, and she is about to open even more campaign offices across thecity.<br /><br />Of course there were a few "consensus" candidate selectionprocesses that took place in Chicago's Black community which led to Davis,Meeks, and Braun as the leading candidates from the Black community, and nowwith the latest discussion on WVON last week among the three on how they couldcould come to a consensus around one candidate brought a lot of discussion butnone of the candidates, leaders or journalists offered a real scenario toactually lead to the decision on one, so as a veteran Black political organizer,journalist, and activist myself, I will take the bold step of actually offeringup this political scenario of "Harold To Carol," one that preserves politicalseniority and adding to our political base. And with the election being heldduring Black History Month, this may indeed be a motivating factor that couldstimulate voter registration, voter education and Getting out the vote in theBlack community to make Black and political history again.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">And today, about 100 women gathered this morning to discuss yet another womens movement to electBraun as the first women <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_19" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_62" class="yshortcuts">Mayor of Chicago</span></span> since JaneByrne. Chicago made history with Braun before and can "do it again with Braun.And "electability" -- even during her last re-election bid she lost in 1998, shestill won 14 out of 15 elections and in 1998 with the attacks on her, she STILLwon the entire City of Chicago with 79.5% of the entire City of Chicago votes.<br /><br />"Harold To Carol."</div></div></div><div style="border:medium none;text-align:left;background-color:transparent;color:#000000;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;"><span><br /><br />Read more: <a style="color:#003399;" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2010/12/why-carol-moseley-braun-is-the-new-consensus-candidate-from-the-black-community----if-saving-black-political-seniority-and-making-new-black-and-women.html#ixzz18WDbhDgL" target="_blank"><span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_20" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts">http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2010/12/why-carol-moseley-braun-is-the-new-consensus-candidate-from-the-black-community----if-saving-black-</span></a></span></div><div style="border:medium none;text-align:left;background-color:transparent;color:#000000;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;"><span><a style="color:#003399;" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2010/12/why-carol-moseley-braun-is-the-new-consensus-candidate-from-the-black-community----if-saving-black-political-seniority-and-making-new-black-and-women.html#ixzz18WDbhDgL" target="_blank"><span class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts">political-seniority-and-making-new-black-and-women.html#ixzz18WDbhDgL</span></a></span></div><div style="border:medium none;text-align:left;background-color:transparent;color:#000000;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;"></div><div style="border:medium none;text-align:left;background-color:transparent;color:#000000;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;"><span><span class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts">..<br /></span></span></div></div>Why Carol Moseley Braun Should Be The New Consensus Candidate From The Black Community -- If Saving Black Political Seniority and Making New Black Political History Are Factorshttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/why-carol-moseley-braun-should2010-12-19T03:39:00.000Z2010-12-19T03:39:00.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><p><span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:x-small;" id="yiv1066596918role_document"></span></span></p><div class="yiv1066596918yiv1001442510entry-content"><span><br /></span><div align="center"><span><span style="font-size:1.25em;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_6" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_5">Why Carol Moseley Braun</span></span> Should Be The New Consensus Candidate From The Black Community -- If Saving Black Political Seniority and Making New Black Political History Are Factors</span></span><br /><br />Last week on radio station WVON several Black political analysts and journalists and the three leading Black candidates were asked to discuss a scenario that would make one of them the stronger candidate by which the other two could unites around, yet no one actually produced a real scenario to consider, so I am putting forth a scenario where I believe that puts <span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_7" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts">Carol Moseley Braun</span> as the clear front runner that Senator James Meeks and <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_8" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_6">Congressman Danny Davis</span></span> could unite around. This scenario would save much needed Black political seniority at the State and Federal levels while adding to our political base by a Black winning City Hall. <br /><br />A Scenario I called "From Harold To Carol," for this will be the first election in over 20 years with no Daley on the ballot and where a Black candidate has the chance to be elected Mayor since <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_9" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_7">Harold Washington</span></span>, thus my symbolic title "From Harold To Carol." And for women, who are the majority of Chicago's registered voters, Carol would make women political history again, with Braun now becoming the first women to be elected Mayor since <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_10" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_8">Jane Byrne</span></span>. And this "Harold to Carol" is even more symbolic in that Harold DID call on Carol to be his <span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_11" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_9">floor leader</span></span> in The State Legislature, and Harold DID call on Carol to be on his 1987 re-election "<span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_12" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_10">DREAM TICKET</span></span>," and now again its "Harold to Carol."<br /><br />The Black community fought a long time politically to be in a position to have a Senator Meeks with a Chairmanship and the seniority to push a new City legislative agenda from City Hall, just as Braun was in a position to push the City Education agenda for Harold. No one with Meeks seniority would replace him with the same authority if he were to leave his position so I suggest that our community maintain our Seniority in the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_11">State Senate</span> with Meeks. Just this week, it has been proven how important the seniority of <span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_13" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_12">Danny Davis</span></span> and his vote is in Congress with his seniority and member of the most power House Ways and Means Committee, and like Meeks in the state, there is no Black with the same seniority to replace Davis if he would leave his position now with a Republican in line to take his place, just as we are going to be trying to regain his authority if Democrats regain power in 2012. So, it is my suggestion that we maintain our political seniority in Congress with Davis.<br /><br />Carol Mosley Braun, has NO <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_14" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_13">political office</span></span> to give up, only a few paid boards that she may give up in order to focus full time on the Mayor's race, but in Braun, as Mayor, we ADD to our political base at the City, state, and federal level with Braun as Mayor backed with the power and seniority of Meeks and Davis to push the Chicago agenda at the State and Federal levels. With this current scenario, Davis and Meeks could sustain their state and federal power base, unite behind Braun and that unity is the foundation in place, then the rest is up to educating the people to mobilize, expand their <span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_15" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_14">political power base</span></span> and with Carol Moseley Braun, her candidacy now pl;aces Chicago in the eyes of the world again, poised to make Black, women, and political history again. Now in the background I am hearing the words of a Staples Singers song "LETS DO IT AGAIN" in that the people of Chicago voted and did it before, by making history with Braun as the first Black female elected <span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_16" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts">United States Senator</span> and the people can "do it again" with this same woman poised to put Chicago in the <span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_17" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_15">political history books</span></span> again with her election as next <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_18" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_16">Chicago Mayor</span></span> - the first women to be elected Mayor since Byrne, and the first Black to be elected since Harold - From "Harold to Carol".<br /><br />The next major item for a strong winning campaign is money and of course Carol Moseley Braun's campaign can get no stronger financial base of supporters than John Rogers<br />and Elzie Higginbottom, and her "collective" outreach team has some of the absolute best and brightest in political operations to reach voters across racial, ethnic, women, and grassroots lines. Carol's campaign kicked off with the strong endorsement of Congressman Bobby Rush and last week more Chicago elected official publicly endorsed her, and she won the N'DIGO/WVON Chicago Mayoral poll, and she is about to open even more campaign offices across the city.<br /><br />Of course there were a few "consensus" candidate selection processes that took place in Chicago's Black community which led to Davis, Meeks, and Braun as the leading candidates from the Black community, and now with the latest discussion on WVON last week among the three on how they could could come to a consensus around one candidate brought a lot of discussion but none of the candidates, leaders or journalists offered a real scenario to actually lead to the decision on one, so as a veteran Black political organizer, journalist, and activist myself, I will take the bold step of actually offering up this political scenario of "Harold To Carol," one that preserves political seniority and adding to our political base. And with the election being held during Black History Month, this may indeed be a motivating factor that could stimulate voter registration, voter education and Getting out the vote in the Black community to make Black and political history again. And today, about 100 women gathered this morning to discuss yet another womens movement to elect Braun as the first women <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_19" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_17">Mayor of Chicago</span></span> since Jane Byrne. Chicago made history with Braun before and can "do it again with Braun. And "electability" -- even during her last re-election bid she lost in 1998, she still won 14 out of 15 elections and in 1998 with the attacks on her, she STILL won the entire City of Chicago with 79.5% of the entire City of Chicago votes. <br /><br />"Harold To Carol."</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div></div><p></p></div>AfriCanhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/african-12010-09-30T04:06:49.000Z2010-09-30T04:06:49.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">September 30, 2010</font></font></font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><b><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Raynard Jackson</font></font></font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#000000;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">During the past two weeks I have been asked to be involved in two projects relating to Africa. While dealing with Africa can sometimes be very frustrating, after the past two weeks, I am very high on the future of Africa.</font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span style="color:#000000;">Last month I was asked to help put together the first ever Seychelles Investment Forum in New York. The event was held last week and was a great success. The Seychelles is off the east coast of Africa, surrounded by the Indian Ocean</span> <span style="color:#FF0000;">(<a href="http://www.seychellesembassy.com/">www.seychellesembassy.com</a></span><span style="color:#000000;">).</span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span style="color:#000000;">After the Seychelles event, I then had the opportunity to participate on a panel during the African Policy Forum, hosted by the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation in Atlanta, GA (</span><span style="color:#FF0000;"><a href="http://www.thesullivanfoundation.org/"><font color="#800080">www.thesullivanfoundation.org</font></a></span><span style="color:#000000;">).</span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#000000;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">I have been flying back and forth to the continent for many years, but this immersion in all things Africa has restored my optimism in the future of the continent.</font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#000000;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">The Seychelles event was an opportunity for American businessmen and media professionals to become acquainted with investment possibilities and to learn more about this quiet, tropical paradise.</font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#000000;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">The delegation was led by the vice president of the Seychelles, the Honorable Danny Faure. He is simultaneously serving as the minister of finance. Relatively young, he has lots of experience within government. He is extremely personable and has the charm of Bill Clinton. I see him being a “fix-it” man throughout the continent in the future. Remember his name. You will hear it many times in the future.</font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#000000;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Other members of the delegation included ministers Peter Sinon (Investments, Natural Resources and Industry), Jean-Paul Adam (Foreign Affairs), and their permanent representative to the United Nations & ambassador to the U.S., the honorable Ronny Jumeau.</font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#000000;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Mr. Sinon is a former executive director for the African Development Bank. He is a great strategic thinker and has an enviable rolodex of friends that spans the globe. I hope his president, James Michel, takes full advantage of Mr. Sinon’s great mind and rolodex. I am a political animal at heart, thus had a great time talking global politics with Mr. Adam. He reminds me greatly of our former secretary of state, James A. Baker. He has worked within various levels of the government and is a close personal advisor to the president. Mr. Jumeau is the well seasoned statesman that is very comfortable with change and has the uncanny ability to bridge the gap between the old and the young. He definitely has the skill set to be a great diplomat.</font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#000000;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Gregory Simpkins (vice president of the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation and one of the foremost experts on Africa in the entire U.S.) asked me to participate on a panel called “The Media’s Africa May Not Be Your Africa: Exploring Fact and Fiction.” This was part of the Sullivan Foundation’s Africa Policy Forum in Atlanta, GA.</font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span style="color:#000000;">The goal of the foundation is to “</span><span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><font color="#000000">bring the corporate and governmental communities together for the economic benefit of all, and invite businesses and individuals to create partnerships with Africa with our ultimate goal being a peaceful, prosperous, and powerful Africa.”</font></span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">The foundation is led by Ms. Hope Sullivan Masters (daughter of the great Leon Sullivan). She has taken the organization from a dream to reality. She put together one of the most substantive programs on Africa I have ever been a part of.</font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">As I indicated on the panel, African leaders should not expect the American media to accurately portray the totality of all the continent has to offer. Typically the media only show stories that deal with famine, war, or poverty. They never show the great education system of Botswana, the middle class wealth of Nigeria, or the modernity of Ethiopia.</font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">But, I also faulted African heads of state for not building relations with Black media in the U.S. How many African leaders have ever been interviewed by Black newspaper owners, magazines, or blogs? </font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">To my amazement, even former U.N. ambassador Andy Young and former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo agreed with my assessment. </font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">President Obasanjo, now an elder statesman, is a travelling trouble shooter throughout the continent. He is called on by world bodies to mediate various conflicts on behalf of the U.N., the African Union, etc. </font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en" xml:lang="en"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">I had the opportunity to spend some private time with him in his suite this past weekend. He is a remarkable, walking history of Africa. I hope my good friend Isaiah Washington (former star of Grey’s Anatomy) will one day do a film on the life of president Obasanjo. </font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span style="color:#000000;">I have known Isaiah a few years now and can visibly see the transformation that he has undergone since he began his travels back and forth to the continent. He served as honorary chairman of the African Policy Forum. You can see and feel the spirit of our ancestors speaking through him when he talks about Africa. One of my favorite scriptures from the Bible came to mind when I was listening to him. Ironically enough, it is Isaiah 61:1-2: <b><i>“</i></b></span><b><i><span style="color:#001320;">The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our Got; to comfort all that mourn.”</span></i></b></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#000000;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Expect Isaiah to be one of the leading voices on Africa during the next generation.</font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#000000;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">With young leaders being groomed for the future in the Seychelles; with elder statesmen like President Obasanjo imparting his wisdom to the next generation; and voices like Isaiah Washington conjuring up spirits from our ancestors, you should understand why it is up to all of us to put the can in AfriCan!</font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><i><span style="font-family:Calibri, 'sans-serif';color:#0000FF;font-size:10pt;">Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (</span></i><span style="font-family:Calibri, 'sans-serif';font-size:11pt;"><a href="http://www.excellstyle.com/"><i><span style="font-size:10pt;">www.excellstyle.com</span></i></a></span><i><span style="font-family:Calibri, 'sans-serif';color:#0000FF;font-size:10pt;">) & U.S. Africa Magazine (<a href="http://www.usafricaonline.com">www.usafricaonline.com</a>). </span></i></div>A Heavenly Thoughthttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/a-heavenly-thought2010-09-16T04:15:15.000Z2010-09-16T04:15:15.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri"><b>September 16, 2010</b></font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"></span></b></font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">Raynard Jackson</font></font></font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">Everybody wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die. I have been told that the only way to go to heaven without dying is by visiting the beautiful island of the Seychelles (pronounced—say-chells).</font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">It is an island country consisting of 115 smaller (mostly uninhabited) islands. It is located off the east coast of Africa (northeast of Madagascar) in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It has a small population, just over 87,000 people; but is big on hospitality.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">President James Michel has made a serious investment in his country’s most valued asset—it’s people. They speak Creole, French and English. With tourism being their largest source of revenue, he has impressed upon his people the importance of being great hosts to all visitors.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">President Michel has also put in place a solid infrastructure to ensure the long term economic and political viability of his country for years to come. </font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">Now that President Michel has gotten his “internal” house in order, he is looking outward. </font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">The Seychelles is launching a series of Investment Forums in different countries. The first one will be next Tuesday in New York City in the U.S. I was asked by a friend, Mr. Peter Sinon, to help organize this event. The Honorable Peter Sinon is the Minister of Investments & Natural Resources. He last served his country as Executive Director of the African Development Bank.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">Over the past year, I have become more aware of the possibilities of the Seychelles expanding it’s presence as a destination spot for American tourists. With them having a very stable government and economy, they are also a fertile country for possible investments.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">America presents a great, untapped market for the Seychelles in terms of additional tourists, but also as new sources of investment.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">Most Americans have never heard of the Seychelles and most have never visited. I strongly encourage the country to develop an awareness campaign to educate Americans to the opportunities present within the Seychelles. </font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">Americans have millions of high net worth individuals, celebrities, athletes, and businessmen who can well afford to take their vacations (holidays) in this beautiful country. But, thusfar, there has been no effort by the Seychelles to reach out to this population of Americans.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">I think their upcoming Investment Forum is a great first step. It will be in Tribeca, in lower Manhattan, New York. They have a high powered delegation coming to the U.S. It is being led by their Vice President, Mr. Danny Faure, the President of the African Development Bank, Mr. Donald Kaberuka, and Mr. Peter Sinon, to name a few. </font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">Because of air travel, the world is constantly shrinking and we are becoming a more global society. Americans, because of our wealth, have a plethora of choices when it comes to discretionary dollars for vacations (holidays).</font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">It is incumbent upon the Seychelles to increase it’s visibility to targeted demographic groups within the U.S. This can best be accomplished with a well thought out marketing campaign that touts the virtues of making the Seychelles a <b>must see</b> destination! </font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">Just imagine having the best of both worlds: going to heaven without dying. Can you say Seychelles? I can! </font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#0000FF;font-size:10pt;"><font face="Calibri">Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (</font></span></i><a href="http://www.excellstyle.com/"><i><span style="font-size:10pt;"><font face="Calibri">www.excellstyle.com</font></span></i></a><i><span style="color:#0000FF;font-size:10pt;"><font face="Calibri">) & U.S. Africa Magazine (<a href="http://www.usafricaonline.com">www.usafricaonline.com</a>). </font></span></i></p></div>