RE: [Mpls] Black representation for Ward 8?
In response to the post by Mr. Lewis, I think it's great that we have such a wide open field of candidates in the 8th ward, 10 in total. These candidates represent a DIVERSE sampling of the people who live in the ward. What makes the 8th ward such a great place to live is it's diversity and that diversity doesn't just stop at the color of a persons skin. We also have the diversity of age, gender, and sexual orientation in our ward. I urge people to look at the candidates for who they are as people, rather than what group they represent. After all, our city council member should represent us all. Respectfully, Andy Ansell Ward 8, Precinct 2 From: "Shawn Lewis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: mpls@mnforum.org Subject: [Mpls] Black representation for Ward 8? Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 06:31:57 -0500 As the election season heats up, eyes are closely focused on the Minneapolis 8th Ward City Council race. Many still wonder if indeed, this would be the year for the 8th Ward, which is over 60 percent people of color to elect a Council Member who reflects their image. Whether a Black councilmember representing 8th Ward is on the horizon or not is the question for voters to answer in November. The Conversations with Al McFarlane Public Policy Forum convened a candidate screening at Sabathani Community Center at the end of last month as part of its effort to increase Black political engagement in Minnesota. Jim Cook, Sabathani Community Center executive director; Duane Reed, Minneapolis Chapter NAACP president; State Rep. Neva Walker DFL-61B; and William English and the Rev. Randolph Staten co-chairs of the Coalition of Black Churches/African American Leadership Summit, joined Al McFarlane as candidate screeners. The candidates were: Jeff Hayden, Terry Yzaguirre, Darryl Robinson, Donald Bellfield, Zack Metoyer, Elizabeth Glidden, Dennis Tifft and Marie Hauser. http://www.insightnews.com/articles.asp?mode=display&articleID=1898 Posted by Shawn Lewis, Minnetonka -- ___ Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Black representation for Ward 8?
On Wednesday, July 27, 2005, at 08:39 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have to disagree with Mr. Graham. American Indian people are not "people of color." The term or label negates our unique dual citizenship and political/sovereign status, a status that no other "people of color" enjoy. Many American Indian folks dispel this homogenizing label, recognizing that our cultural and political struggles are very different then many of our "relatives of color". Of course this is a complex subject, so I will end here. Beyond dispelling, the Minnesota Tribes have said emphatically, and voted on the question, that tribal members are not "people of color." Rather they are politically defined populations belonging to two nations. This declaration has been recognized and confirmed in Minnesota law in the Health Disparities Act which refers to populations of color and American Indians as the descriptive term for the populations experiencing health disparities. This is not meant to cast a negative reflection on any group that wishes to label itself as people of color. However, American Indians are not included when that term is used. Best wishes, Laura Laura Waterman Wittstock Candidate for Minneapolis Library Board of Trustees DFL and Labor endorsed Minneapolis, MN 612-387-4915 www.laurawatermanwittstock.com http://laurawatermanwittstock.blogspot.com/ Wittstock for Library Committee 913 19th Avenue SE, Mpls, 55414 REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Black representation for Ward 8?
I have to disagree with Mr. Graham. American Indian people are not "people of color." The term or label negates our unique dual citizenship and political/sovereign status, a status that no other "people of color" enjoy. Many American Indian folks dispel this homogenizing label, recognizing that our cultural and political struggles are very different then many of our "relatives of color". Of course this is a complex subject, so I will end here. Justin Kii Huenemann, Navajo Nation Bryant, Ward 8 REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Black representation for Ward 8?
Jim twists Lewis' words and reads something that is not expressed. Still having a problem dealing with the term and the reality of 'people of color', I think I'll repost our July 13 exchange: --- Eric Mitchell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Take it easy Jim. People of color is the term used for those racial minorites who's overt race puts them in a group that has a history (long and recent) of being discriminated against in a systematic way. Having someone from that group in a position of power or decision-making, can help break down some of those systematic barriers. Having someone who has the heritage, but not the experience (hence my statement of 'overt race') of how that particular group is treated may earn sympathy, but the reality is not the same, and much of the time niether is the commitment. It crosses class, trust me on that. There are African American judges and wealthy business owners who tell the same story as the teenager on the corner or city worker when dealing with cops, and other aspects society where race is an issue. For example: In 2004, I still had to have my white staffers hail a cab for me in Philly and New York. Having a council member experience that consistently will temper his/her view on taxi issues that come before them more so than someone who finds out they have African American heritage a couple of generations ago. Caring people are great, but they are not as committed to right some of the wrongs as those who are subjected to it. You need both. Eric Mitchell- fmr Mpls Civil Rights Commissioner Saint Paul --- gemgram <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I am sorry, but what color is people of color? > People throw around the term > as if it only means Black. Robert Lillegren does > have Indian heritage. Who > knows what other Council Member might be something > other than WHITE? Where > is the drive to get a Hispanic person on the > Council? An Asian? Hey, or > even a poor white person? (I consider poor white > people to have color > also). Hey, and what about us generic mutts that are > several colors rolled > into one. > > We need qualified caring people, what ever the color > of their skin, lets > drop this numbers game and concentrate on quality, > not color. > > Jim Graham, > Ventura Village __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Black representation for Ward 8?
Shawn Lewis asks, "Many still wonder if indeed, this would be the year for the 8th Ward, which is over 60 percent people of color to elect a Council Member who reflects their image. Whether a Black councilmember representing 8th Ward is on the horizon or not is the question for voters to answer in November." My question to Shawn Lewis is how long has it been since the Eighth Ward did not have a "Person of Color" representing it. The present Council Member representing that Ward 8 is a person of color. Robert Lillegrin IS a person of color, he is an enrolled member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. The last I heard American Indians were considered "People of Color". Perhaps Shawn should be more specific about what color he recognizes as "COLOR". Before Robert represented the Eighth Ward that ward was represented by Brian Herron. Brian was a friend, and his problem aside, my experience with him was that Brian represented ALL the people of the Eighth Ward. And I have stated that at the time he was the best representative we in the Phillips Community of the Sixth Ward had on the Council! I do not remember how many terms Brian served, but it was at least a couple. Before Brian the Eighth Ward was represented by a woman, who the last time I checked was Black. Also a "person of color". During Sharon's terms as Mayor the folks in the Eighth Ward were represented by not only a "Person of Color" in the City Council, but also a person of color in the Mayor's office. The Eighth Ward has been represented by a person of color for at least the last twenty years. I think Jeff Hayden is a person of color, but if elected Jeff will probably represent more than one "Color" in that ward. Heck, Jeff will probably also represent a few White folks who support him. This is said tongue in cheek because I am sure that Jeff does NOT see himself as representing just people of color. But I do wonder what outrage would have been created if someone had asked: To paraphrase Mr. Lewis, "Many still wonder if indeed, this would be the year for the 3rd Ward, which is over 60 percent White to elect a Council Member who reflects their image. Whether a "White" councilmember representing 3rd Ward is on the horizon or not is the question for voters to answer in November." This would be a ridiculous question if posed, because a Black man did represent even those white folks the last few years. For their first time, in memory, the Native people of the Sixth Ward will be represented by someone who is also American Indian, but this does not mean that he will not reflect the other "colors" in that ward. In fact, like Mr. Lewis, many people might even know that he is. I do not believe many even consider it as a factor in the election. It does bring up an interesting historic point however, because if Robert is elected then TWO wards of Minneapolis will have been represented by an American Indian. Double the number with one man. We all must remember that racism, even unwitting and unconscious racism, is color blind. For that reason we should really talk about the good character and wisdom of candidates. Not their color! There is a good chance that a "person of color" will represent the Eight Ward, just as it has been represented for at least the last twenty years, but do not forget that that person should reflect all the people he or she represents, what ever their color. Jim Graham, Ventura Village "What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us." REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Black representation for Ward 8?
As the election season heats up, eyes are closely focused on the Minneapolis 8th Ward City Council race. Many still wonder if indeed, this would be the year for the 8th Ward, which is over 60 percent people of color to elect a Council Member who reflects their image. Whether a Black councilmember representing 8th Ward is on the horizon or not is the question for voters to answer in November. The “Conversations with Al McFarlane Public Policy Forum” convened a candidate screening at Sabathani Community Center at the end of last month as part of its effort to increase Black political engagement in Minnesota. Jim Cook, Sabathani Community Center executive director; Duane Reed, Minneapolis Chapter NAACP president; State Rep. Neva Walker DFL-61B; and William English and the Rev. Randolph Staten co-chairs of the Coalition of Black Churches/African American Leadership Summit, joined Al McFarlane as candidate screeners. The candidates were: Jeff Hayden, Terry Yzaguirre, Darryl Robinson, Donald Bellfield, Zack Metoyer, Elizabeth Glidden, Dennis Tifft and Marie Hauser. http://www.insightnews.com/articles.asp?mode=display&articleID=1898 Posted by Shawn Lewis, Minnetonka -- ___ Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
