Let’s talk about effective politics.
Effective politics means thinking in advance, looking forward into the future and preparing, not being reactive and playing someone else’s game. African Americans had better wake up and smell the greens, otherwise we won’t have a pot to cook them in.
There is so much coming up in 2008, but we are already pigeonholing ourselves for fights around individual offices (such as the state’s 5th Senatorial District), when we should be preparing ourselves for the real war – redistricting.
That’s right. Redistricting is back, and so is the census. It seems like yesterday that Sharon Tyus lost her ward and the city lost a black alderman.
Well, folks, it’s time to go back to the drawing board again. And guess who’s coming to dinner? Reportedly more than 6,000 people have moved to Downtown St. Louis into lofts averaging over $100,000 a pop. The new urban dwellers are not African Americans. What does this mean for alderpeople like April Ford Griffin, whose district is becoming more white?
And lets’ not forget about South St. Louis, where more minorities are migrating south of Broadway, from Soulard and beyond. It now looks like a real melting pot, and you had better believe that will affect the political calculations of the next redistricting.
This city is no longer just black and white, so blacks had better start planning if they want to keep their fair share of the pie. The pie may soon be gone.
One way blacks can be effective is to start looking for African Americans to serve on the redistricting committee. They should be having this discussion with whoever is running for governor in 2008. This should be promised and committed to in advance, so that African Americans can maintain politician power and enhance growth.
Last time, Republican attorney Jerry Hunter served on the committee, as did attorney and former Police Commissioner Mary Nelson. Behind the scenes was former state representative and attorney Elbert Walton. His wisdom in switching the numbers caused some controversy with respect to the Senate seats in St. Louis County and led to the delay of state Sen. Tim Green getting into the Senate. His effort did pave the way for state Sen. Rita Days to get in early and created the possibility for more black state representatives in St. Louis County. However, black politicians and community leaders have not been able to come together to support a consensus candidate in predominantly black areas and have been losing elections, as was demonstrated this past primary in Walton’s own home district – an issue over which Walton, state Rep. Juanita Head Walton and Ingrid Owens have duked it out in this paper’s Letters column.
The EYE asked Elbert Walton to break down the 5th District by numbers. Come back for that next week.