Senate Sketches # 1079
NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders has written a weekly column for papers in his legislative district for the past twenty years. These rural, weekly papers lack a web presence, and links to the columns are not typically otherwise available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.
Senate Sketches # 1079
By
Senator Hank Sanders
It was one heck of a week. As a result, I struggled to decide which issues to write about. Each would be a good Sketches prologue in and of itself: my trip to Birmingham for Barack Obama’s event; the press conference on the death penalty; the desperation related to the Black Farmers case; the James Fields victory in Cullman, AL; developments in the education budget; the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; giving 700 black heritage books and more than 300 National Geographic magazines to poor schools; and more. I could write this entire Sketches prologue on any one item but I decided to touch on several.
Sketch # 1 - On two days notice, Senator Barack Obama drew crowds that overflowed the 10,000 seat Bartow Arena at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). That was a feat in and of itself.
I started not to go. I went in spite of considerable challenges. Congressman Davis interceded, and my wife, Faya and son, Kindaka, traveled to the event. Kindaka is a “died in the wool” Obama man. Faya likes both Obama and Clinton but is a Clinton supporter. I am supporting Barack Obama. We discussed this presidential race in general and the event in particular.
The place was packed. The energy was exploding. The crowd was diverse - Black, White, Brown, Red, and Yellow. I was among the last to enter the seating area in the arena because a few of us had been rerouted several times to shake hands, take a photo and have a few words with Obama. The entire trip was a powerful experience from the minute we left Selma until the moment we got back.
Sketch # 2 - Dr. Carol Prejean Zippert called me about an encounter with a desperate woman concerning the Black Farmers Lawsuit. I have had my own encounters with the same desperation around the Black Farmers issue.
Just for a little background. A lawsuit was filed in 1998 based on discrimination against Black Farmers. It was settled and nearly 23,000 Black farmers each received $50,000 plus other benefits. A very few received more. That’s nearly $1 billion paid to Black farmers by the U. S. Government. Still, many farmers were left out. The U. S. Congress is considering a bill to provide some the opportunity for some of the farmers left to have their day in court. This possibility has brought this powerful desperation to a peak. The potential to get $50,000 makes some people do crazy things.
The previous week I went to a Black Farmers meeting in Selma. There were so many people present I could not get in except by special arrangement. When I was leaving, people grabbed me and held on. They would not let go. They wanted their $50,000. Few things fuel desperation like the prospect of big money.
Sketch # 3 -We held a press conference on the Alabama State House steps. We had good media attendance. There was an excellent delegation which included the following: Judy Cumbee of Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC); Ester Brown of Project Hope; Forest Kimbell of Alabama ARISE; Rev. Allen Forte of the NAACP; and others.
We committed to really push the Death Penalty Moratorium and related bills this legislative session. The winds of change are really blowing as evidenced by the Alabama newspapers which endorsed the Moratorium Bill or called for outright abolishment of Alabama’s death penalty.
Last year, Alabama put more people to death than any state except Texas. In fact, it put more people to death than the surrounding states of Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee all together.
Sketch # 4 - James Fields was elected to the Alabama House of Representative from Cullman County with nearly 60 percent of the vote. James Fields is Black. The district is 97 percent White.
When we were growing up, we were told that Cullman had a sign that read, “Read [the N Word] and run. If you can’t read, run anyway.” While that may not be true, it was a symbol of how Cullman was perceived by a lot of people.
The winds of hope and change are blowing in Alabama and America. I told Senator Zeb Little, who is our Senate Majority Leader, that if a Black man can win in Cullman, Alabama, Obama can become President.
Sketch # 5 - Kay Doherty and Sharing, Inc. of Braintree, MA, helped Faya Rose and me to give over 700 Black heritage books and over 300 National Geographic magazines to schools in this Senate district. It is the fifth or sixth gift of such books. It is always a special experience to give books to our children.
All the books have Black characters. I remember when I was growing up how important it was for me to read books that included Black people. Thank you Kay and Sharing, Inc. for gifts that keep on giving.
Now on to the Daily Diary.
Saturday - I worked on various matters before making a six hour round trip to Washington County for the funeral of Vera Roberts Dean. I made remarks and read a resolution. I talked to various persons including Youlanda Curtis, niece of the deceased. I worked into the night.
Sunday - I did Radio Sunday School, Radio Education, and Sunday Review. I talked to Congressman Artur Davis and Trista Allen of the Obama Campaign. I traveled to Birmingham to the Obama event and returned to Selma. I talked to many persons including the following: Barack Obama briefly; Representative Chris England; Representative Yusuf Salaam; Representative Laura Hall; Representative Barbara Boyd; Senator Roger Bedford; and Faya Rose and Kindaka.
Monday - I talked to the following: former Judge Dennis Stevenson of Tuscaloosa; Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little of Cullman; Beulah Toney of Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC) and Louise Petty of Huntsville about the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Dan Tompkins of Selma; Lowndes County Commissioners Charlie King, Dixon Farrior, and Robert Harris; Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice John England; Representative Richard Lindsey; Dr. Paul Hubbert of the Alabama Education Association (AEA); and White Hall Mayor John Jackson. I traveled to Lowndes County and returned to Selma.
Tuesday - I talked with the following: Dr. Roberta Watts of ANSC; Greene County School Board member Lester Brown; Judy Cumbee of ANSC; J. L. Chestnut, Jr. of Selma; Gloria Jacobs of Marengo County; Richard Grimsley of Birmingham; and Lieutenant Dwight Woods of Wilcox County. I traveled to Montgomery for a press conference on the death penalty and had a series of meetings including one with Governor Bob Riley. I shared dinner with Bill Blount, Stephen Martin, and Sharon Wheeler before returning to Selma.
Wednesday - I had a breakfast meeting with Dr. James Mitchell, Rita Lett, and Khadijah Ishaq concerning the Bridge Crossing Jubilee and talked with the following: Frank Kummel of Lowndes County; Josephine Curtis of Selma; Raymond Brown of Monroe County; Lobbyist Martin Christie; Lester Brown; Sharon Calhoun and Maria Alexander of the Alabama State Senate staff; Alabama State University President Dr. Joe Lee; Ralph Paige and Jackie Ward of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives in Atlanta; Senator Vivian Davis Figures; State School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Morton; Senator Lowell Barron; and Representative Richard Lindsey. I did Law Lessons with Rev. Franklin Fortier, Jr., visited J. L. Chestnut, Jr. in the hospital and worked into the night.
Thursday - I talked with the following: Barbara Pitts of Auburn; Auburn City School Superintendent Dr. Terry Jenkins; Representative John Knight; Lorraine Capers of Selma; Dr. Carol P. Zippert of Eutaw; Angela Brown of the National Voting Rights Museum (NVRM); Ginger Avery Buckner of the Alabama Association of Justice; Sally Howell of the Alabama Association of School Boards; Bill Newton of the Executive Budget Office; Congressman Artur Davis; Dr. Paul Hubbert; and Joyce Bigbee and Norris Green of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO). I traveled to Montgomery for a series of meetings including one with Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom, Jr. and others and another with Representative Richard Lindsey. I returned to Selma to handle many matters, visit J. L. Chestnut, Jr., and watch some of the Obama-Clinton Debate. My trip to Greene County was cancelled so I worked into the night.
Friday - I talked with the following: J. F. Shields High School Principal Marion McIntosh; Phil Rawls of the Associated Press; Lobbyist Don Gilbert; ANSC President Robert Avery; Senator Quinton Ross; Representative Richard Lindsey; and Joyce Bigbee. I also talked to Governor Bob Riley by phone. I traveled to Lowndes County and returned to Selma for the gift of books to poor schools
EPILOGUE - I hear people say they are bored. Well, I’m never bored. In fact, my great wish is to have just one boring day. Every minute of my life is full. However, my spirits are good and that makes all the difference. May your days be filled and your spirits be good.
Index of Sanders' Senate Sketches
