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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
December 9-15, 2009 Page A-3
Prime Politics
All The Politics That Matter to You
‘Obama brings in new reality,’ Lowery says
By Bankole Thompson
that the fight had not ended and that labor is
still an important part of the fabric of the work-
CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
ing class. He called for an end to the infighting
among labor leaders that often distract them
Noted as the dean of the Civil Rights Move-
from fighting the real causes of social justice.
ment for his legendary work with Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr, Rev. Joseph Lowery told a gath-
“There was a time in this country when labor
ering of civic and community leaders in Detroit
shared the economic pie,” Bonior said. “We
Sunday evening that President Obama ushered
know people want to join the labor union.”
in a new reality for the nation and the world.
Lowery, who gave the benediction at Obama’s
“You have the challenge to
historic inauguration as the first Black presi-
dent of the United States, was speaking Dec. 6
make the next 200 years more
at Fellowship Chapel for the Peace and Justice
Banquet hosted by Central United Methodist
powerful, Each of us has a call-
Church.
Lowery said America has had three fa-
ing as particular members of the
thers before the dawn of Obama, citing George
Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Dr. King.
community of faith and members
He further went on to say that “I would argue
that Obama is the fourth father of the nation. I
of the coalition of the conscious.
believe that God in His infinite wisdom seeks
time and time again to help us and give us a
I challenge you to not let this call
new beginning.”
pass...I supported Barack early
Central United Methodist Church, which
held the banquet that is now in its fifth year
not because I was so smart but
to honor individuals who are fighting for social
justice causes, also used the occasion to begin
because God was giving us a
the church’s 200-year anniversary.
“You have the challenge to make the next
new beginning, When we fought
200 years more powerful,” Lowery said. “Each
of us has a calling as particular members of the
for voting rights in the 1960s,
community of faith and members of the coali-
tion of the conscious. I challenge you to not let
none of us ever dreamed we
this call pass.”
would live to see this day.” —
Lowery, who was one of the first leaders of
the Civil Rights Movement to come out early in
Joseph Lowery
the campaign to support the candidacy of Pres-
ident Obama, certainly does not his choice. Bonior, who is now chair of the American
“I supported Barack early not because I was
Rights at Work Board of Directors, was the
so smart but because God was giving us a new Joseph Lowery
second ranking Democrat in House of Repre-
John Conyers
David Bonior India Geronimo Marilyn Kelly
eration” for his tireless efforts in battling Jim objector during World War 1 and World War II.
beginning,” Lowery said. “When we fought for Crow and other forms of racism. Keith’s senior law clerk, India Geronimo re-
sentatives for a decade before he retired.
voting rights in the 1960s, none of us ever
Rev. Edwin Rowe, senior pastor of Central
ceived the award on his behalf as Congressman
Rowe reminded the audience that the legacy
dreamed we would live to see this day.”
United Methodist Church, called Lowery, a
John Conyers read the judge’s citation.
of the church (Central United Methodist) is
Lowery cited examples of how he would fellow Methodist preacher, “the pastor of the Marilyn Kelly, chief justice of the Michigan
also their legacy recalling the causes that the
visit college campuses in 2007 talking to stu- Civil Rights Movement,” while introducing him Supreme Court, received the Maryann Mahaffey
church has been taking on.
dents and faculty members about Obama and to receive the pastor’s award as well as keynote Award, named after the late firebrand Detroit “If we don’t work together, we will never
his promise of a new America. the dinner. City Council president. After receiving the create the world that God intended. The prob-
This year Lowery was among an array of in- “We need pastors to lead with some courage,
honor, Kelly pledged to work further to uphold
lem is that we have to speak together,” Rowe
ternational icons at the White House including not just with their request for money,” Rowe
the nobel ideals of justice that Mahaffey es-
said. “We have to create a legacy for our youth.
former South African Archbishop and anti- said. “We need pastors to be a little crazy for
poused.
The legacy is an awesome responsibility.”
apartheid activist Desmond Tutu to receive the justice, anti-racism.” Former Michigan congressman and labor Rowe also noted that it is important for ac-
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s
Other honorees that evening including U.S.
leader David Bonior received the Labor Award
tivists and others who are about the business
highest civilian honor.
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Damon
for being a strong fighter in Congress for the
of causes for the underprivileged to be remind-
In bestowing the award to Lowery, President Keith who received the Henry Hitt Crane Award.
labor movement.
ed that “those who have no desire for peace and
Obama called him the “giant of the Moses gen- Rowe explained that Crane was a conscientious Bonior indicated in his acceptance message
justice will make sure we are not successful.”
Michigan still divided along
‘Obama told me to stop
racial lines, survey finds
‘demeaning’ him,
Rep. Conyers says
President Obama’s election necessary to obtain a statis- less change over time, with 50
has not substantially changed tically reliable sample. Most percent expressing pessimism
By Molly K. Hooper
his speech on Afghanistan, The White House did not
the views of racial discrimina- of the questions were identi- by saying racial quality would the 23-term lawmaker said he respond to requests for com-
tion in Michigan, according to cal to a 2008 survey Mitchell happen within 100 years or
THE HILL
wasn’t in the mood to “chat.” ment for this article.
a new survey completed by the conducted for the Roundtable. never, compared to 47 percent
President Barack Obama
Obama’s move to send in The liberal Conyers has
Michigan Roundtable for Di- More data is available at www. last year. Forty-six percent
recently called Rep. John
30,000 troops to Afghanistan been an outspoken proponent
versity and Inclusion, and in miroundtable.org. Whites surveyed this year had
Conyers Jr. to express his
fact, an increasingly substan-
frustrations with the Judiciary
by the summer of 2010 has of a single-payer healthcare
tial number of Michigan resi-
Both surveys asked, “When
the more optimistic view that
Committee chairman’s criti-
clearly disappointed Conyers. system and a critic of U.S. in-
dents, Black and White, seem
do you think we will achieve
“we have racial equality now”
cism.
He said he intends to press
volvement in the wars in Af-
to be questioning whether
racial equality?” and offered
or will “in my lifetime,” up
his case in writing soon.
ghanistan and Iraq.
racial equality is possible
respondents the answers, “We
from 44 percent in 2008. In an interview with The
within 100 years – or ever.
have it now,” “In my lifetime,” “The incessant and some-
Hill, Conyers said his opin-
“I want something so seri-
He has also been at odds with
“In 100 years” and “Never.” times racially tinged attacks
ions of Obama’s policies on
ous that he has to respond in
White House policy on extending
The survey also showed The 2009 survey showed 56 on President Obama, often in
healthcare reform and the war
writing, like I am responding
expiring provisions of the Patriot
continued significant divides percent of Michigan residents the context of political games-
in Afghanistan have not sat
in writing to him,” he said.
Act, crafting legislation that is to
the left of the Senate’s version.
between White and African- interviewed said we will have manship, may be discouraging
well with the president.
“Calling in generals and
American populations regard- racial equality “in 100 years” many African-Americans and According to the lawmak-
admirals to discuss troop
Obama and Conyers have a
ing the prevalence of racism or “never,” up from 48 percent some Whites regarding the op- er, the president picked up
strength is like me taking my
complicated and nuanced re-
and equal opportunity in in 2008. Only 16 percent of portunity to continue making the phone several weeks ago
youngest to McDonald’s to ask
lationship.
education and employment, those surveyed said we have progress on race relations in to find out why Conyers was
if he likes French fries,” Cony- Conyers was the first
with Whites tending to be- racial equality today, and 24 America,” said Tom Costello, “demeaning” him.
ers said. member of the Congressio-
lieve people of color have the percent said equality would president and CEO of Michi-
same opportunities while Af- come “in my lifetime.” gan Roundtable. “I hope we
Obama’s decision to chal-
Many on the left have
nal Black Caucus to endorse
rican-Americans saying there
lenge Conyers highlights a
argued that military leaders
Obama over then-Sen. Hillary
is much work to do to bring
The discouragement
have not lost an opportunity to
sensitivity to criticism the
routinely respond to crises by
Clinton (D-N.Y.) for the 2008
about equality in Michigan.
seemed to have been most
bring this country together.”
president has taken on the left.
calling for more troops.
Democratic nomination for
profound in the African- “It is clear that our state Conyers’s critical remarks,
president.
Michigan Roundtable com- American community, where is deeply divided by race,” many of which have been re-
“I’ve been saying I don’t agree
Conyers earlier this year
missioned Mitchell Research 68 percent said it would “100 Costello said of the poll re- ported on the liberal-leaning
with him on Afghanistan, I think he
noted that he spent most
& Communications to conduct years” or “never,” up from 63 sults. “That should not be a Huffington Post, appear to
screwed up on healthcare reform,
weekends in 2007 and 2008
a phone survey of voters state- percent in 2008. Within the surprise, given that govern- have irritated the president,
on Guantánamo and kicking Greg
on the campaign trail trying to
wide in late September and African-American community ment and its institutions have known for his calm demeanor.
off,” Conyers said, referring to the
early October, examining atti- in the 2009 survey, 40 percent and continue to play an im-
departure of former White House
get Obama elected.
tudes about racial, gender and saying we would never achieve portant role in dividing where
Conyers, the second-lon-
counsel Greg Craig. “I did whatever was neces-
sexual preference discrimina- racial equality, up from 29 per- people live and, increasingly,
gest-serving member of the
tion. The 2009 survey of 650 cent in 2008. work. We are the most ra-
House, said, “[Obama] called
Craig was a leading propo-
sary to be done to win. I met with
persons included an over-sam-
me and told me that he heard
nent in the White House of
ministers, I met with unions, I met
pling of African-Americans,
Among Whites there was
cially segregated state in the
nation.”
that I was demeaning him and
closing the terrorist detention
with lawyers, I met with commu-
I had to explain to him that it
center at Guantánamo Bay and
nity activists, I met with healthcare
Elected officials and political candidates can
wasn’t anything personal, it
releasing photos of detainees
people,” Conyers explained in
was an honest difference on
undergoing torture. Closing
early April.
the issues. And he said, ‘Well,
the military prison has proven The 80-year-old lawmaker,
send information regarding issues to
let’s talk about it.’”
to be politically difficult, and who participated in the Civil
Obama reversed field on the Rights Movement alongside
Sitting in the Judiciary
photos, opting not to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
bthompson@michronicle.com
Committee’s conference room
them publicly available. does not shy away from saying
two days after Obama delivered
what is on his mind.
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