Election '88:
A Black Perspective
July 1988

State and national black leaders are calling for democrats to adopt the agenda espoused by Jesse Jackson at the Democratic national convention in Atlanta next week.

Their concerns were raised during a July 8 taping of "Election '88: A Black Perspective," the fourth in a series of Black Issues Forums.

Key issues on Jackson's agenda concern increasing voter registration and the agenda, the panelists feel that Jackson could be a viable vice presidential running mate. Towns claims, "it is a myth that Jackson could harm the Democratic party as a vice presidential candidate."

"They've (the Democrats) elected only one president in the last 20 years. In the last election, the Democrats took only one state and the District of Columbia. We could do no worse," Towns remarked.

While Hayes sees Jackson's role as steering the people and the political parties in the direction of education and jobs, he feels the voters have become more enlightened. "We have to force change," Hayes says. "I live to build a better life for our youth."

Coleman urges that the Republican party also be held accountable to the black community. She suggests a congressional report card to measure how a politician's promises stack up against performance.

All of the panelists advocate education as a way out of the poverty cycle. But to do this, more financial support is needed at the federal level, most insist. Instead of support, Towns complains, "there is a Secretary of Education who set out to eliminate the Department of Education."

Paterson points out that there are 42 percent more black graduates from high school today (than 10 years ago), but they can't afford to go to college.

Towns and Paterson point out that Jackson is the only candidate who proposes a means to get money for education. His solution is to take control of defense spending, Paterson says.

He added, "There is something wrong when the government spends $300 billion a year on defense and can't tell the difference between a transport plane and a military fighter."

The wide-ranging discussion touches on many other issues from the leadership role of the black church in the black Community to new means of encouraging voter registration and participation.

PANELISTS:

Edolphus Towns, U.S. Congressman (New York's 11th District).

Charles Hayes, U.S. Congressman, 1st District, Ill.

Dan Blue, North Carolina State Representative (Wake County), 21st District.

Carolyn Coleman, NAACP Southern Voter Education Coordinator.

Basil Paterson, New York Attorney and former Vice Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

The panel discussion was moderated by Valeria L. Lee, Chair of the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television and Program Development Officer for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. The Executive Producer is Dr. Paul Vandergrift.