Recently a friend of mine asked me why New Jersey Senator, Cory Booker does not receive more recognition in the Black community as a leader? Although I do not speak for all black people I will attempt to give my friend an answer from my perspective.
Although I do feel Cory Booker should be admired and considered a role model for black children, I do not think that Cory Booker is an ideal candidate to lead “Black America”.
I fully understand why some black people would not look at Booker as a leader for the black community.
Cory Booker grew up in small suburb of Newark called Harrington, New Jersey. His parents were among the first black executives at IBM. He played football at Stanford University. He went on to Yale Law, before going into city government. I admire him for using his education to serve the public rather than become a big time lawyer.
Cory Booker has demonstrated his concern and passion to shed light on poverty and inner city violence. One question that I have for Senator Booker is how many black men were locked up as a result of his war on “open air drug dealing and associated violence” in Newark?
During his first term as mayor, he reduced his salary twice, enforced pay cuts for managers and directors earning more than $100,000 a year. He also raised city workers wages.
He is the first African American U.S. Senator from the state of New Jersey, and the first black senator to be elected since President Barrack Obama in 2004.
Booker comes from the upper middle class, he works for the same U.S. government that oppresses and neglects the black community.
We should encourage our kids to embrace education in the same way Senator Booker has, but a large majority of black people can not relate to his upbringing, nor his political views.
Based on his deeds I do believe that Cory Booker is a “good” politician but he represents a demographic of black people that do not understand the “have nots”. He comes from the class of black people who despise and fear the “have nots”.
Cory Booker represents America, not black America and his political positions reflect that. He represents the black people satisfied with their individual place at the table, not the black people who built the table.