Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
African-American leaders and others predict an increased number of blacks will flock to the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3 to hammer home the message that they want change.
“I think that there is a renewed optimism among blacks, generated in large part by the viability of Barack Obama’s presidential run, his message of “change that we can believe in” and the fact that the previous administration has polarized this country . . .” said Abraham Funchess, division administrator for the Iowa Department of African-American Affairs.
Campaign messages — particularly Obama’s message of hope – have resonated with black Iowans at a time when many of them have expressed disgust with the state’s high black incarceration rate and the disproportionate number of black children being suspended and expelled from public schools, among other things.
The increased attention to politics has occurred as Funchess orchestrated a statewide push to mobilize blacks to improve their communities. Grass-roots organizations have trained blacks — some who admitted they were uneasy in the political realm — on how to caucus. Obama’s staff has for months attended black community meetings and participated in discussions about the issues affecting blacks and advised them on how to change things through politics, which has helped connect some would-be caucus-goers to his campaign.
The repeated calls for blacks to mobilize, organize and caucus appear to have hit home and the apathy many blacks may have felt for politics appears to be dissipating just in time for Jan. 3.
Lindsay Cannaday, 17, a senior at Des Moines’ Roosevelt High School, said young blacks are also concerned about the disproportionate number of blacks in prison and they are concerned about the low number of blacks attending college. Their teachers have been stressing that caucusing and voting are ways to bring change, she said. Youth must be 18 by Nov. 4, 2008 to caucus.
“This is my first time I will be able to vote so it’s important to me that I vote for the person who will really represent America and has the same beliefs as me,” she said.
Iowa’s population is 2.3 percent black. It’s difficult to determine how many blacks have participated in past Iowa caucuses because the question is not asked of caucus-goers. Despite being a small percentage of the state’s population, blacks around the state appear poised to make their voices heard.
A Waterloo Courier story on Sunday pointed to “exceptionally high interest in the caucuses” by blacks.
Funchess said conference calls with Obama and clergy around the state has given them a greater sense of ownership in the political process and more access to the candidate.
“There was much more frequent contact with political organizers from the outset of the campaign which contributed to its momentum,” he said.
Youth advocate Gretchen Woods said she is undecided, but she plans on helping Cannaday and other NAACP youth council students, who will be 18 next year, get training and participate in the caucuses.
“I do think there’s going to be a positive turnout among African-American voters this year,” she said. “I think it’s to ensure that when everything is said and the ink is all dry that the Democrats take the White House again.”
Woods said it’s obvious to her and many blacks that Republicans don’t appear to care about blacks because they have shunned opportunities to speak and meet with them.
T.K. Anderson is president of the NAACP in Davenport and deputy political director for New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, a presidential candidate. Anderson agreed that more blacks have engaged in the political process this year because concerns, particularly those that affect black children, have motivated leaders and organizations.
“It has awarded us the opportunity to draft more people into the political process,” he said. “Given the slate of candidates, everyone has someone that can attract the given attention. This has added to the level of need to engage, and that’s a good thing.”
Funchess agreed. He said the increased awareness and political engagement is good for the community and helps people believe that they can actually make a difference.
“If nothing more, our constituency will opt less for political apathy and engage the democratic process and allow our voices to be heard, both on national and state level politics and organizing,” he said.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter