On Wed, 5 Jul 2000, Doug Henwood wrote:
> Nathan Newman wrote:
>
> >But it definately shows why the failure of outreach into communities of
> >color by the Seattle-DC organizing model is such a problem.
>
> Is that really what it is? Njoki Njoroge Njehu of 50 Years Is Enough
> described extensive "outreach" for the A16 mobilization. Maybe it was
> the wrong kind of outreach - or maybe "communities of color" just
> don't care about the issue very passionately. Maybe they're more
> concerned about not getting shot by cops or paying the bills.
Doug, reread the AP story. This was a case where black and latino unionists cared passionately enough about the environment to commission a $40,000 study and build a political coalition around it- just not hte environmental coalition most environmentalists would want. And as unionists, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and A. Phillip Randolph Institute care passionately about global trade issues.
Here's my question. Did the A16 folks contact these groups, as opposed to just calling the AFL-CIO leadership? Outreach is not just about hiring organizers of color - although that's a good thing - but about smart analysis of leadership to build coalitions with.
That LCLAA and A. Phillip Randolph feel more comfortable making coalitions with the Black and Hispanic Chambers of Commerce than with the Seattle protest networks should be disturbing to most progressives, but I have a suspicion that one reason is that they were not asked to join - a first step often overlooked.
It is worth placing this in the context of recent defections by members of the Black and Hispanic caucus toward the pro-business position on NAFTA for Africa, PNTR for China and on inheritance tax abolition. In all the triumphalism over "Teamsters and Turtles" together, there is a disturbing unravelling of traditional progressive ties to the black and latino-based organizational networks.
Of course different groups may have different priorities, but this article deals with union leaders lining up with industry folks on opposing Kyoto, not on police brutality as you indicate.
This is a political cleavage that may not be the end of the discussion, but I would not downplay it either. The failure to create a multiracial coalition around the trade issues is looking to me like a much greater problem that a lot of people think, not a problem of "outreach" but of fundamental political alliances.
-- Nathan Newman