Public Affairs Director

Let's talk a little bit about your activities with Reverend [Jesse] Jackson's [U.S.] Presidential campaign.$$Um-hmm. I did the '88 [1988] campaign. And I was kind of--in 1984, I was kind of on the sidelines a little bit. Just doing some youth stuff, youth activities. But I was really very involved in the '88 [1988] campaign.$$In '84 [1984] were you thinking--were you kind of like taking mental notes that when this happened again, you know, you'd be in the mix?$$Well I didn't think of it that way. Interestingly enough, it kind of went full circle from what Mrs. McPherson [at Chicago Vocational High School, later Chicago Vocational Career Academy, Chicago, Illinois] had taught us about who we were as a people and what this meant. So historically, I actually understood the significance of what was going on. I didn't see it in the terms of my life, you know. I just saw it in terms of our life. And I was very proud. Even as a youngster, I was incredibly proud to see this happening and you know couldn't wait to you know--I'd say to myself, "Oh, can't catch that vote." I was casting the vote thing at that time, so--and then I actually didn't get involved until I went to [Operation] PUSH [People United to Serve Humanity] and worked, you know. And that's when I got involved in the campaign itself.$$So you moved to Washington [D.C.] around--$$'89 [1989].$$1989?$$Um-hmm.$$After the '88 [1988] campaign?$$Right.$$So can you tell us a little bit about your involvement in the 1988 campaign?$$I was Deputy Field Director.$$And what did your responsibilities include as a Deputy Field Director?$$Mainly organizing the states that he was running in, you know. Going to the various states, making sure that the field operation was in place, that you were actually you know alerting people to his you know, arrival. Kind of helping with the ground activities and making sure that people had enough information about who he was and what he stood for and--um hum.$$And you traveled all over the country?$$Um-hmm. Went to Texas, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania.$And what was the political climate like in Washington, D.C. in the late '80s [1980s]? What was the political climate like?$$It was invigorating, it was good. I mean you know, we felt like you know, the things that had happened with both [Jesse] Jackson's 1988 campaign--1984 and 1988 campaign had opened the door to a whole new revolution of politicians, you know, elected officials. People were, you know, bold and they were out there running for office and--so it brought in--it ushered in a whole new generation of congressional members. So I mean I think our politics were alive and well and you know--we were feeling empowered and like, "You know hey, this is our country too." So that's kind of where it was, um-hmm.$$But with the Republican [political party] White House, was the climate any different at all?$$This is who you know we're used to having in the White House. You know, when you're from the Movement, you know, it's never about the house, the White House or you know who's empowered. It's about what you are standing for and what you continue to stand for regardless of parties. And our missions were always more morally-centered. They were not politically-centered. And so I think that gave us you know the upper hand to not have to figure out whether it's a Democrat [political party] or Republican, even though it's become a little bit more clearly defined now, but back then you were on a moral mission and you--whether it was [Ronald] Reagan, [George] Bush or whoever was in office, your message was always the same, you know. Our African Americans and people of color need to have better wages, better jobs, you know. Women need to be--have equal work for equal pay.