Editor:
Since the election of Denver City Councilwoman Carla Madison to replace Elbra Wedgeworth in the "historically safe African-American" seat in District 8, the thought has been that the glory days of safe seats for African-Americans were over.

At the statehouse this week, a Democratic vacancy committee's selection of Mike Johnston to replace Peter Groff as state senator for District 33 has further exacerbated the perception that African-Americans are losing ground politically in Colorado.

Though I supported another candidate for the seat, I believe Johnston will represent all citizens of District 33 well. He is capable and committed. I agree that paradigm shift is occurring, but I do not necessarily agree it is a negative for the African-American community.

As Generation X comes of age, we have ushered in a new way of managing the political landscape, not counting seats based on geography but counting opportunities based on preparedness. African-American candidates who speak to the bread- and-butter issues of the American people can compete for any office, anywhere. The outlook for African-American candidates has never been brighter. President Barack Obama's election is the most obvious example of the possibilities.

African-American members of the baby-boom generation and their predecessors fought successfully for basic civil rights, including the right to vote and to live wherever their financial capacity could get them. Generation X is reaping the benefits of those battles for upward mobility. While there is still much work to be done, this generation is enjoying income levels their parents only dreamed of, greater access to higher education, and protected access to the ballot box.

This has resulted in an increased number of African-American elected officials all over the country and, yes, increased mobility to outlying communities. In Denver, there is no geographic community that is predominantly African-American. In fact, Aurora has experienced the greatest growth in African-American population in the state, while Denver saw the greatest flight. That shift should not be seen as a negative but as an opportunity borne from the efforts of our ancestors.

Madison's election and Johnston's selection are not indications of a problem. Rather, they are indications that it's time for the African-American community to broaden its reach and political vision.

The opportunity to compete for any office in the country has been earned, and now we must take full advantage of it. The Colorado electorate has proven that when electing officeholders, it is more concerned about a candidate's qualifications than his race. To focus on so-called "traditionally safe" seats misses the point of what so many people have fought for.

President Obama has said "our time has come." Nothing could be truer for African-Americans in Colorado who desire to serve the public.

 
Editor:
Above is the guest commentary by Councilman Michael Hancock about Sen. Peter Groff's senate seat going to Mike Johnston, stating: "Though I supported another candidate for the seat, I believe Johnston will represent all citizens of District 33 well. He is capable and committed. I agree that paradigm shift is occurring, but I do not necessarily agree it is a negative for the African-American community."

However, what is not addressed in the commentary, and what seems to be getting lost in this mythology of a post-racial America since the election of President Obama, is that the Colorado legislature is losing people of color representation rapidly at levels we haven't seen since the gains made in the 1970's. We are, in fact, losing political ground, and we must mobilize to reverse this trend.

According to a study by Elizabeth Esterchild: “People of color comprise about one-third of the voting age population in the United States; white women another third¸ and white men make up the other third. In the state legislatures, however, white men hold more than two thirds of the total state legislative seats, while white women and people of color each hold far fewer seats in these houses of power. Clearly, white men are overrepresented in state legislatures compared to their share of the total population, while other groups are underrepresented." Further, "...sociologists frequently note that the larger the minority population in a given area, the greater the discrimination against them."

Over the past several months, a fired-up and growing multi-racial group of grassroots and influential progressives have been coming together to work toward equitable representation of people of color in various political races.

If you are interested, please contact me at lisacalderon123@comcast.net.

 
Time For Slavery Reparations?

Editor:
Re: FIELDS OF FEAR for a group of farm laborers working in the U.S. illegally, it wasn't jail or deportation that scared them - it was their contractor. Denver Post, 5/16

President Obama, "no slavery reparations." I was born and raised behind The Cotton Curtain (SC/NC, respectively). I heard no tales of anyone named Obama ever being stripped of their native religions, customs, languages, nor any woman with this surname, ever being raped and bred like cattle.

Furthermore, I know of no one with the Obama name that was ever tossed into a river (my step-brother was) by the KKK, hung from a tree, subjected to syphilis testing, or culled in the Vietnam War. Fifty five percent of the soldier-draftees killed in Vietnam were Black, while we only comprised 12 percent of the nation's entire population. I served in three deployments to Vietnam and my younger brother (USMC machine gunner) served there too. We own a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and four Combat Action Ribbons. Our step-brother was drafted too (Germany-army).

It simply blows my mind, criminal and illegal Mexicans, are being awarded $7.8 million for breaking our laws. My fore-fathers (3/5s of a citizen) must be rolling over in their graves.  These illegal aliens (Mexicans, Africans and Europeans) are financially and emotionally raping Black folks (nullifying votes, stealing jobs, etc.). Clinton stripped Blacks from this nation's welfare rolls; however, he knowingly left illegal aliens and Mormons (FLDS-LDS) on this cash-cow. My younger brother recently asked me, why didn't Mormons serve in Vietnam? I had no answer except for their herd of wives and kids. Mitt, Beck, and Reid should be held to account.

Reagan (WWII draft-avoider) gave Japanese-Americans $20K each, for them being incarcerated during WWII.  Prior to his death, Johnnie L. Cochrane, Jr., formed a coalition of Black lawyers who intended to fight for slavery reparations (free-labor). Obama wasn't on this Soul-Train team. In the aggregate, Black lawyers should ban together and file a class-action lawsuit on the behalf of all Blacks nationally.  Denver would be a great place to file this lawsuit, because Denver Federal Court Chief Judge Wiley Y. Daniels is Black.

 
Denver Media Commended For Swine Flu Coverage

Editor:
When we look back at the coverage by all media in Denver of the H1N1 Flu over the last week, what stands out is the exemplary role you have played in educating the public, which is a significant accomplishment. 

Not only have you helped people in this community better understand this particular flu, you’ve also helped them understand a core essential of preventing disease: covering coughs and washing hands and when ill, not putting others at risk.

From the first announcement until the present moment, you have demonstrated what media in a community can do to inform and motivate community members. You have fulfilled your mission of timely, accurate reporting about a matter that is critical to the community’s health and well-being.

We want to commend all Denver media for this contribution to our residents’ health and well-being. We believe that when the full story of H1N1 is complete it will be clear that the Denver Metro media played a central role in helping controlling the spread of this disease.

From one group of professionals who care about this community’s health to another, we thank you.