Blacks Stand By Clinton
African Americans know a thing or two about persecution. And when it comes to politicians, especially white politicians, they can tell who cares about them and who’s faking.
To many African Americans, Bill Clinton is the real thing. Someone who is comfortable in their community. Someone who supports them. A rare friend.
That’s why many African Americans across the country have maintained strong support for Clinton throughout the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal.
Many take the Republican attacks personally. They draw parallels to the persecution Martin Luther King Jr. faced from the FBI in the 1960s. By trying to bring down Clinton, the Republicans in Congress - long seen as unsympathetic to African Americans - are trying to hurt the African American community and the gains they’ve made during Clinton’s terms, many say.
“They have more at stake in this presidency than many of your average white Americans,” said Elijah Anderson, sociology professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a nationally known expert on urban race issues. “The average white American might have misgivings about the way Republicans are treating Clinton. But I think many blacks are ready to march for Clinton.”
“This kind of leader comes along once in a while, whereas a person who speaks for the interest of whites can come along again and again,” Anderson said. “If that kind of person gets in the White House, a lot of blacks feel their chances of equality of life would be on shaky ground. So Clinton is certainly somebody they want to keep.”
Some local and national African American leaders are already talking about a march to support Clinton.
The Rev. James Allen of Vine Memorial Baptist Church in West Philadelphia planned to attend a meeting Tuesday in Washington with other black clergy from around the country to discuss strategies to help the embattled president.
“We believe that the improper sexual relationship that the president had was wrong, but we also believe in forgiveness and we know something about injustice,” Allen said Monday. “What they are doing to the president now is downright immoral and unjust.”
“Most of us believe that he is in trouble because he had stood up for the African American community,” Allen said. “He’s always been a person who was sensitive to the voiceless. He’s a people’s man.”
Pennsylvania state Rep. Harold James, who heads the Legislative Black Caucus, is planning a rally tentatively set for Monday on the steps of the state Capitol in Harrisburg to support Clinton.
James, who represents parts of South Philadelphia, said all of the constituents who’ve walked into his office over the last few days have supported the president.
He is working with other lawmakers nationwide to collect signatures on a petition called “Americans to Save the Presidency.”
More than 600 signatures have been collected so far. The letter, which will be sent to Congress and the president, urges federal lawmakers to protect the institution of the presidency.
National polls have consistently shown that African Americans support Clinton more than whites. A CBS/New York Times poll taken last week showed that 86 percent of blacks approve of Clinton’s handling of the presidency, compared with 58 percent of whites. More than half of blacks blamed the scandal on Clinton’s political enemies, while 59 percent of whites blame the president, the poll said.
African American support for Clinton is rooted in their history of Democratic voting, Clinton’s track record on affirmative action, Cabinet appointees, and other issues important to African Americans.
The support is also based on culture and history. Many blacks can relate to Clinton because he was born and raised in the South and because he is Southern Baptist. He is comfortable in black churches. His best friend, Vernon Jordan, is black. Many of his close aides, such as secretary Betty Currie, are black.
Historically, African Americans have been exceedingly loyal to presidents, said Charles Blockson, curator of one of the country’s largest collections of artifacts related to black history and traditions now at Temple University.
“Now, in his time of need, (Clinton) has received more loyalty than most presidents,” Blockson said.