How the GOP Can Reach More Urban Voters
Publisher Calls for Civic Vision
Recognizes Key Role of Education
“It is time to look forward,” declared Sam Logan, publisher of the Michigan Chronicle newspaper.
Logan spoke March 20 to the Eastside Republican Club Forum at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, Grosse Pointe Farms.
Thomas R. McCleary, Jr., ERC vice chairman, introduced Logan saying, “Sam is a key spokesman for the community of Detroit who contributes by serving on nine boards.”
Among the community organizations Logan serves are the Michigan Historical Commission, New Detroit, Detroit Historical Society, and the Detroit Chamber of Commerce.
Logan is a graduate of the University of Detroit, and a member of the CMU scholarship fund, lifetime member of the NAACP, and a member of the Detroit Urban League.
Logan's business interests include ownership in the parent company that produces Michigan FrontPage, Chicago Defender, New Pittsburgh Courier, Memphis Tri-State Defender, as well as Detroit's Michigan Chronicle.
With its headquarters in Detroit, the newspaper has been published since 1936 and today offers an online edition. >>See Michigan Chronicle.
Displaying his sense of humor in explaining his own background, Logan said, “I came to Detroit in the 1940's from `South' America--I'm talking about Louisiana!”
Logan's Prescription for Progress
With confidence in the city's future, Logan stated, “Detroit is a sleeping giant.”
Then pointing to what he sees necessary to accelerate Detroit's turnaround, Logan said, “One of our problems is a lack of vision. We spend too much time looking backwards. My perception is that it is time now to look forward.”
Logan promised the audience he would give them the opportunity to ask him questions, but wanted to first pose some of his own about the City of Detroit.
He began by asking, “Where are the leaders?”
As an example, he noted, “Before the Super Bowl, the City was working together, but after the Super Bowl, the talk turned negative again.” Logan added, “People went right back to the same thing: negative, negative, negative. But positive begets positive!”
To emphasize the positive, Logan was quick to remind his Forum audience, “There are more new houses and condos being built in the City of Detroit than at any time in the last 30 years.”
Calling for unselfish civic leadership, Logan said, “Somebody has to take the lead. There are too many in it for their own greed. Detroit is not going to move too far and fast until we make each citizen number one.”
Logan expressed his strong belief in education, including voter education.
Referring to the politics of Detroit public schools, he said, “They must get away from merely playing a game, and take action to improve the City of Detroit--education is the key.”
Instead of viewing the school system as the solution to the community's need for education, he lamented, “Too many see DPS as a cash cow.”
”It should be about the education, not about who gets the contracts,” he said.
Referring to DPS failures that have been the subject of Michigan Chronicle scrutiny, Logan urged greater accountability as a necessary remedy.
Historically Significant
Experiences of Black Americans
Courtesy of Joshua's Trail, here is just one of 25 historical points of interest to Black Americans.
During the rebirth of the Civil Rights movement of the 50’s and 60’s, the overwhelming number of governors who stood in their respective school doors to block Blacks from attending their schools were Democrats.
These included Alabama Democratic Governor George Wallace, who stood in the schoolhouse door, Georgia Democratic Governor Lester Maddox, who stood in his restaurant door with a pistol on his hip and men with ax handles standing behind him to block Blacks from coming into his business, Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett, who declared he would stand against federal laws regarding school integration, and Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, who sent his National Guard to prevent Black children from entering Arkansas schools.
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Logan predicted, “There are going to be some changes at the School Board.”
He noted that 55% of Southfield is African American. Logan quipped, “And they didn't come from Alabama,” implying most relocated there from Detroit.
Logan said that from his own experience, when mothers and fathers talk about where they want to live, they always ask one question, “How are the schools?”
In addition to improved education, he urged greater civic participation.
Although there are many civic-minded Detroiters, he observed there are still too many good people who will not stand up for their values. “They remain covert instead of overt,” he said.
In response to a question from the audience about today's Detroit leadership, Logan commented, “Mayor Kilpatrick is not the same person that he was when he was first elected.”
Logan complimented the Mayor saying, “He has learned a lot. He thinks differently. He's done a good job with what he has to do with, considering all the circumstances.”
Speaking about a more efficient municipal structure, Logan asked, “Do we need nine City Council members? That's the same number of members as when Detroit population was nearly two million.”
Today's Political Reality
Logan said that in the early days of the Republican Party, the Black community supported the Party of Lincoln. But, he explained, “We got brainwashed after the New Deal.”
As a result, he said today's Democrats expect to receive 90% of the votes coming from the Black community in any contested election. He asked rhetorically, “Where is the leverage when we give one party all the vote?”
Speaking as a newspaperman with decades of community experience, Logan observed, “The majority of Black people are conservative!” Logan then asked a second rhetorical question, “Is the Republican Party conservative?”
“It's not that complicated,” he exclaimed.
Logan said that continued GOP inroads are possible if perceptions can be changed.
Ticking off a list, Logan said, “The perception is that Republicans are all rich. The perception is they favor big business. The perception is they are not to be trusted. Sometimes perceptions are stranger than reality!”
Building Urban Support for the GOP
Then Logan outlined a possible action plan for Republicans.
He challenged the audience saying, “Send a message to my people.” Tell them, “When you have the power, you have to know how to use it. Understand the rules -- politics is about allies.”
The newspaper publisher said, “Republicans need to spend more time in the community. You can't solve any problem without communications.”
“More Republicans need to come to Detroit and mingle,” Logan suggested.
He noted that one Michigan official who has demonstrated she is not afraid to spend time in the City is Terry Lynn Land, the popular Republican, two-term Michigan Secretary of State.
Logan commended President Bush for demonstrating his confidence in the qualifications of African Americans such as Gen. Colin Powell and Dr. Condoleezza Rice. But Logan said Republicans at all levels must demonstrate even more inclusion.
But as a further recommendation, Logan said, “Put more African Americans in the races, and then support them.”
Looking back at the November 2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, Logan said, “I can tell you what cost DeVos the gubernatorial race.”
He said there were three deciding issues. “They were the Iraq War, the China syndrome, and the lack of more cohesive communications in Detroit,” he said.
According to Logan, the right candidate with the right message could attract today's Black voter.
For example, he said, “We voted for Milliken, and in New York Black voters turned out for Rockefeller.” He acknowledged that they were known as moderates, but asked, “What is a moderate?” He said, “It's all a matter of perception.”
The Eastside Republican Club Forum is normally held on the third Tuesday of the month from September through June. Admission is free and the public is always welcome.