Democratic Convention Preview: Can Blacks, Latinos, Women and Gays Expect to Play a Role?
By C. Stone Brown
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© 2004 DiversityInc.com
July 20, 2004
The Democratic National Convention (DNC), which will be held in Boston next week, will feature many diversity "firsts" for a political convention.
Approximately 40 percent of the 4,341 delegates at the convention will be people of color, the most for a political convention in U.S. history, according to the Democratic National Committee.
"We are very proud that we were able to put together one of the most diverse conventions," said Devona Dolliole, director of specialty media for the John Kerry campaign.
Although the scheduled speaker list is evolving, the DNC already has named high-profile African-American, Latino and women speakers, including Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), popular Latino Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, and former presidential candidate the Rev. Al Sharpton. There are others who are less well known, but are rising stars in the Democratic Party, such as Rep. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Illinois State Sen. Barack Obama, who is expected to win his bid for the U.S. Senate seat in November, and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-Ohio), the first African-American woman to sit on the Ways and Means Committee.
"She [Tubbs-Jones] is Sen. Kerry's co-chair to the DNC, so she has held that role now for sometime but has been very influential in planning strategy and advocating for John Kerry," said Dolliole.
"Barack Obama is an accomplished public servant and a leader in the Democratic Party," said Alice Huffman, Democratic National Convention Committee chairperson, and the first African-American woman to fill that role. "He is addressing the most diverse convention in Democratic Party history. The breadth and diversity of the delegates to this year's national convention demonstrates the broad appeal of the Kerry-Edwards ticket."
Hawaiian-born Obama, 42, is the product of an African (Kenyan) father and American-born mother. He has an impressive set of credentials that's expected to carry him far in Washington, D.C.
"Obama shares the same values and concerns as John Kerry and that is why he was asked by Kerry to speak," said Dolliole.
Also planned, are two special tributes at this year's convention, one saluting the nine Democratic women Senators.
Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski will speak on behalf of the group, which will include Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Clinton, Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who are expected to share the stage.
The other tribute honoring a forgotten civil-rights heroine will expose some of the Democratic Party's own racist past, but also show how the party has transformed itself in the course of 40 years to embrace diversity. "We are going to do a tribute to Fannie Lou Hamer, to mark the 40th anniversary of her heroic efforts to integrate the Mississippi delegation. So that should be a fascinating event that will feature Dr. Maya Angelou, the Freedom Singers, members of the original Mississippi Freedom Party and a video documentary of Ms. Hamer's life," said Dolliole.
The largest delegation of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIA), will be attending the convention as well, according to a written statement by the DNC. "This year's APIA delegation represents 3.9 percent of total delegates, up from 3.0 percent at the 2000 convention, and is part of the 40 percent of minority delegates attending this year's convention."
As of this date, Dolliole said, Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), is the only openly gay scheduled speaker at the convention, and she is slated for Tuesday.
The DNC also announced that the largest ever delegation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people will be attending the convention.
Kerry's running mate, Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., is expected to address the convention on Wednesday evening, followed by Kerry on Thursday night, when he is expected to accept the Democratic nomination for president.
