From Black Power to Black Postmodernism

1. From Black Power to Black Postmodernism 1972-2008

2. 1972 – Gary Convention in Indiana 1983 – Harold Washington Chicago Mayor 1988 – Rev. Jesse Jackson/Dr. Lenora Fulani 1992 – Ross Perot/Bill Clinton 1995 – Black Reformers Network 2005 – Bloomberg in New York City 2008 – Black and Independent Alliance Elects Obama President

3. 1972 – Gary Convention in Indiana Meeting of black leaders and rank-and-file activists in Gary for the National Black Political Convention (Mayor Richard Hatcher, Amiri Baraka and Congressman Diggs) Three choices presented Democratic Party All-Black Party Multiracial Independent Party The de facto strategy was to elect more African Americans via the Democratic Party.

4. 1983 – Harold Washington elected independent mayor Chicago Building a black base of support through massive voter registration on the South Side of the city Galvanized the black community (as well as Latinos) to support him as an insurgent Democrat. Creates a model for independent power building to be soon tested nationally

5. 1988 – Rev. Jesse Jackson and Dr. Lenora Fulani Jackson runs in 1984 and then again in 1988 as an insurgent Democratic candidate for President Fulani advocates “Two Roads are Better than One”; support Jackson in primary and if he doesn’t get nomination, go independent with her. Fulani becomes the first woman and first African American to get on the ballot in all fifty states.

6. 1992 – Ross Perot and Bill Clinton Perot attorneys seek counsel from Fulani’s attorneys on how to get on the ballot across the country. Perot receives 20 million votes as an independent; the largest vote in U.S. history (helps get Clinton elected) Over half a million African Americans vote for Perot; Fulani advocated supporting her or him. Strategy is to defeat the bipartisan monopoly. A Populist revolt is underway that is less ideologically-driven (Left or Right)

7. 1995 – Black Reformers Network Independent black leaders and activists from around the nation come together to create organizations (some partisan, others not) Same year the Nation of Islam’s Million Man March is organized; Minister Louis Farrakhan advocates for a “Third Force” A Postmodern Black Leadership is emerging which is organizing around political process issues (brings together African Americans from across the political spectrum) David Cherry (IL), Dr. Jessie Fields (NY), Wayne Griffin (SC)

8. 2005 – Bloomberg in New York City Michael Bloomberg (a media mogul) runs for mayor with the support of the Independence Party of New York (Fulani a key leader in this) and receives over 47% of the black vote (African American and Caribbean American in the city) A “Black and Independent Alliance” elects the city’s first independent mayor. Parallels to Black Populism in the New South of African Americans using fusion with white independents.

9. 2008 – Black and Independent Alliance elects Barack Obama Obama builds a base of support in Chicago, much like Harold Washington, and reaches out to all communities. In “open primary states” Obama’s margin of victory against presumed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton comes from African American and white independent voters. New York Magazine calls Obama “America’s First Independent President” (in addition to being the nation’s first African American President)