Kevin Powell Visits the Black Youth Vote! Conference in DC

William Kellibrew: Let’s get right down to business. Young people are dealing with the question, “We voted, now what?” What do you suggest might be next steps to voting in this especially historic election?

Kevin Powell: Wow! I think that young people have to really make voting and civic participation as natural as breathing and brushing their teeth. You know, someone said that the local elections are really crucial between the presidential election every four years. That means that we have to become educated about who our local elected officials are, what they do or don’t do and when they are up for re-election and if there are other viable candidates for that particular position. I also think that young people have to be a member of at least one community based organization outside their religious institution, join something.

William Kellibrew: So, getting involved is important. I definitely agree with that. What does an African-American president mean to this country?

Kevin Powell: it means that there is a thing called possibility in America. It means that a progressive multicultural coalition in America can come together to affect change. I also think that it says this is the beginning of some real work.
That is the continuation of what we fought for in the civil rights movement. But we need to be clear that we are not a post racial or past racism society just because Barak is president. We still have systemic racism in our country. You see it in public school education funding in inner-city areas. You see it in the images in the mass media culture other than Barak and Michelle and you see it in the discrepancies around housing, healthcare and the record number of young people of colour in the prison pipeline. So Obama’s victory is a start, not the end.

William Kellibrew: You know you said some very important things that young people can take a hold of and propel themselves to organize. What are your next steps? I know you ran for Congress and that must be an honor to work so hard to serve the people. What’s next for you?

Kevin Powell: Running for Congress again (with an honest smile and chuckle). We haven’t stopped, the website is up. We are going to fundraise on Monday (chuckling). We are running for Congress in 2010. I say, “We” because we are a team. On top of that I just published my ninth book, The Black Male Handbook. We have to promote that with a national tour and a national college tour in 2009 and whole bunch of multi-media stuff with Apple. We will make a CD project around the book and really just carry the message around the country of the need to redefine black manhood. There is something called the employment project in Brooklyn. When I was running for Congress young people asked can they have a job. For young people civic engagement is tied to how well they are doing. We would go around the room and survey all the young people. Where are they now? Vocation, Trade School, college – a needs assessment in the projects is important. Number two, are you willing to take a basic entry level job to start a living or for a regular salary. A lot of people don’t have regular job experience. They have been out of the job market for a while. Number three, how to dress, how to sit and how to act.

William Kellibrew: It is always a pleasure to see you and an honor to speak with you. Black Youth Vote! wishes you much success. I wish you success personally and it was great seeing you in Tougaloo at the Nissan Student Government Executive Leadership Program where you really affected young leaders and glad to have you here at our Black Youth Vote! Civic Leadership Training Conference.

Kevin Powell: I love and appreciate you all and I want to continue this intergenerational work because we are leaders together.
William Kellibrew: Thanks Kevin.