The Need to Stand Up and Be Heard

The following is from Iowa State Representative Ako Abdul-Samad especially for BrownIowa.com.

We all have heard the quote "If not now when?" That itself should be one of our motivational rally points. We as Iowans must not be distracted from putting Senator Barack Obama on the road to the White House.

Iowa will make history on several fronts on January 3. The caucusgoes will set record numbers in turn out on January 3 at the Iowa caucus. Senator Barack Obama winning Iowa will send a message around the world that Americans are ready for a change. It will also send the message the we are tried of doing business as usual. Having Senator Obama as our President of the United States will send hope to the world that we are serious about the United in States. That his job will be to bring about Peace and Justice not only to the people in America but to the World.

He will accept the task at hand and from day one just with his election will change the outlook of other counties of America. You must look deep inside your souls and intellect and not be distract by falsehoods to act on what is best for this country.

The time is now, join me in my support of Senator Barack Obama.

God Bless & Keep the Vision.....
Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad

How the Caucuses Work

How the Iowa Caucuses Work

For those who this will be their 1st caucus…this is how it works

Tomorrow night both Democrats and Republicans will gather to conduct precinct caucuses. The caucuses include selection of delegates to represent the precinct at County conventions, discussion of the issues, and most importantly a decision on the Presidential Candidate Preference. The Democrats and Republicans conduct their caucuses differently.

Democrats:

Everyone can participate in the caucuses. Those that are not registered to vote can register that night at the caucus. Those that are 17 now but will be 18 by the Presidential Election can also participate in the caucuses. Once registered, those caucusing can do so at their precinct. One can find out which precinct is theirs by contacting the County election office. At 6:00 the doors open and at 6:30 the caucus is called to order, at 7 pm the preference groups are formed. The process generally lasts about an hour; caucuses are generally held at high schools or some other public building.

"Preference groups," are where participants' preferences for a candidate become public. All the supporters of Hillary Clinton will go to one corner, all the supporters of Barack Obama to another, etc. If a candidate doesn't have 15 percent of the total, his or her supporters must realign with another group. Once everyone is in a group with at least 15 percent, delegates to the county convention are apportioned based on the size of the preference group.

So, for example, if the precinct sends 10 delegates to the county convention, those 10 delegates are allocated based on the percentage of people in a preference group. So if Senator Obama has 60 percent and Senator Clinton has 40 percent, Senator Obama would get six delegates and Clinton would get four.




For more info visit www.iowafirstcaucus.org

Obama reaches out to Black Iowans

Read this article in the New York Times about Obama's efforts to reach out to the small, but influential group of Black Iowans.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/us/politics/02race.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1199286487-793o8LxFqtotBgFUSs9b8Q

Waterloo African Americans on Presidential Race

The world is watching. Here's a story from the UK paper "The Guardian" on African-American caucus-goers in Waterloo.

Caucusing is NOT just for Caucasians!

A friend of color admitted to me that she didn’t know much about a caucus, and was under the impression that caucusing was only for Caucasians. She was mistaken.

Merriam Webster defines a caucus as:

a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usually to select candidates or to decide on policy; also: a group of people united to promote an agreed-upon cause

The Iowa Caucus is for all Iowans.

Barack: an old friend with a new vision for America

Hi Black & Brown Iowa:

Well, 2008 is finally here! I just wanted to send a shout out to you all as your prepare for your historic caucuses. MAKE HISTORY THIS WEEK!

FYI: I went to law school with Barack “back in the day.” From the first day I met him I was impressed … no I should say dazzled by his intellect, his sincerity, his acute sense of politics, his ability to connect with folks, and his commitment to issues impacting Black folks. As a former president of the Black Law Students Association at Harvard Law School, it has pained me to hear the fodder of some of our so-called leaders questioning Barack’s authenticity regarding race. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could be further from the truth. The truth is that Barack is an amazing man, who also happens to be an amazing Black man, who can and should be the democratic nominee for President, and of course ultimately, the President of the United States!

Most recently, my work has revolved around children. As a mother, the author of 2 children’s books, a co-founder of a support group for African-American moms, and a senior officer of an action-oriented think tank focusing families, communities and democracy, I spend my days focusing on children. When I read, hear, or see something, it is always through this “motherhood” lens. This election is no exception. My support for Barack goes beyond old allegiances from friendships long ago. My support is also based on his stance on issues impacting American children and families, which are issues about which I care deeply, and upon which I believe our democracy rests.

Toward that end, I call your attention to an innovative and multi-faceted proposal put forth by Senator Obama which focuses on "Changing the Odds for Urban America." A dear friend of mine called this proposal “a creative and informed approach to the many issues arising from poverty that limit choices and suppress hope in so many urban areas in the United States.” Take a minute and review this proposal by simply clicking here: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/poverty/.

Also, please read and comment on my blog, which is highlighted right now on the Covenant with Black America’s website about Giving Thanks for Our Covenant Children. http://www.covenantwithblackamerica.com/

Happy New Year to you all,

Charisse Carney-Nunes
Author of Nappy and I Dream for You a World (the Children’s Companion to the Covenant with Black America)
www.CharisseCarneyNunes.com

Black Mobilization

Brown Iowa's Dana Boone's latest piece is Black Leaders Hope Mobilization Helps Make a Difference.


"The problems afflicting African-Americans in Iowa have received widespread attention this year, hastening into action black leaders and ordinary citizens.

"With the issues facing African-Americans, there is an urgency," said Gretchen Woods, youth adviser for the Des Moines Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "We really just don't have time to waste."

. . . The problems even inspired three high-profile black leaders in Des Moines -- two of whom are Iowa legislators -- to set aside their personal differences to work jointly for community betterment. . . .

Genie Bundy morphed from ordinary citizen into activist after learning about the disproportionate number of blacks in prison. Iowa tops the nation for imprisoning blacks at a rate 13.6 times that of whites, according to national study by The Sentencing Project. Bundy, a family support worker at Primary Health Care in Des Moines, organized three community forums this fall about the issue.

"I think that it has to take something like this to get the community truly riled up like dealing with the overrepresentation of blacks in the prison system," she said. "Our families are truly being destroyed by the black men being removed from the home."

. . . Funchess and others are urging blacks to participate in the caucuses, vote and make their concerns and wants known to state lawmakers in 2008."

Much more is in the Iowa Independent.