The Task Ahead

April-June 1992

Using Statewide Black People’s Political Convention As an Effective Strategy For the 21^st Century

Today, there are two current political realities impacting our community negatively. Number one, African Americans as a distinct racial and ethnic group within the United States are politically underrepresented according to our numerical numbers throughout this country. Secondly, many African American elected officials often times misrepresent the interest of our communities. Hence, it is imperative that we as a people develop a strategy that alleviates the above stated problem.

With the recently concluded Missouri’s Third Statewide Black People’s Political Convention held in St. Louis, Missouri on Saturday, March 7, 1992; it is the contention of the Universal African American Peoples Organization that this significant event, if duplicated throughout the nation can be an effective strategy to address our political needs at the national, state and local levels of this government.

At all times as we head into the 21^st century, we must call for and work toward political proportionate representation. This idea simply means that as taxpayers and as a district racial and ethnic group in America, whatever numerical number we represent percentage wise at the national, state and local level; correspondingly we should have that same amount of elected officials who are African Americans.

To illustrate this point, according to the 1990 census, African American were 13% of the total U.S. population. However, we are only 1.5% (7,335) of the 497,155 total elected officials, whereas with proportionate political representation we would have 13% or 64,630 of the total number. In the Unites State Senate, there are no African Americans among the 100 senators, with proportionate political representation we would have at least 13 African American U.S. Senators. There is only one African American governor among 50, with proportionate political representation that number would increase to seven.

The second political problem which deals with misrepresentation would be solved by promoting candidates who have an Afrocentric view of the world, while committing themselves to addressing issues relevant to the needs and aspirations of African Americans and other oppressed communities.

Thus, with the advent of Missouri’s Statewide Black People’s Political Conventions, we are attempting in a concrete way to solve the two stated problems and duplicate this model throughout the nation.

In addressing the lack of political representation at the national and state level, one of the objectives of the convention was to encourage delegates attending to file and campaign for a statewide elected position.

Indicative of hard and dedicated work that was necessary to make the convention a reality, was the end result. We now have two individuals campaigning for the United States Senate and Governor of Missouri!

With our platform in hand, our candidates now provide our people with a clear and unequivocal choice on the day of election, August 4, 1992. Their candidacies will also offer an opportunity to further raise the political consciousness of our communities and offer serious organizational development. With the use of Statewide Black People’s Political Conventions, we can also put forth the best of our communities by choosing who will be our political representatives through a democratic process, especially, if there are more than one person seeking the same office. This concept can also be applied at local levels of government, particularly mayoral contests. Of course, individuals elected will be held accountable for their political decisions and actions.

Finally, it is the hope of our organization that by the year 2000, a full blown political assault on the American electoral system by African Americans and other oppressed people is seriously underway. Therefore, by the turn of the century, every United States Senate, Governor and other statewide position that are up for election should be challenged by the progressive element of our community. This can be a reality through Statewide Black People’s Political Conventions.