OP EDITORIAL
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
The Other Good News from the 2020 Election By Ben Jealous (TriceEdneyWire.com) - While
In Florida, Nancy Metayer was
politicians who try to delegitimize
President Donald Trump continues
elected to the Coral Springs City
and disenfranchise Black voters.
to hog media attention with his dis-
Commission. An environmental
Our future belongs to Americans
honest “stolen election” claims, we
scientist and public health advocate,
who embrace our destiny as a di-
should devote some attention to the
Metayer is the first Black woman
verse,
good news that a diverse group of
and only the second Black person
democracy.
young progressive leaders were
to serve on the commission in the
elected to office all across the coun-
city’s history.
We all know that everyone doesn’t share that vision. Some are
In North Carolina, Ricky Hur-
fighting it tooth and nail. One of the
tado became the first Latino Demo-
most harmful legacies of the Trump
Next Up Victory Fund supports
crat to be elected to the state legisla-
era is the way that he energized
young progressive candidates who
ture and Nida Allam was elected to
extremists and created a climate in
demonstrate leadership ability and
ed the city’s youngest mayor since
the Durham County Commission,
which people could feel comfort-
a commitment to making positive
1904. He was first elected to the city
making her the first Muslim woman
able expressing their bigotry.
change. Since 2017 we have helped
council in 2011 when he was just
elected to any office in the state.
more than 300 promising and ac-
27 years old—and he had already
Rebecca Mitchell was part of
so important that we invest in young
complished young progressives get
built a record of community service
the success story in Georgia this
people who have a clear sense of
elected to state and local office.
work. Next Up endorsed Scott in the
year. She was elected to House Dis-
where we are, where we need to
Those are all reasons why it is
This year, some of our endorsed
primary election based on his record
trict 106, unseating the powerful
go, and what it will take to get us
candidates were running for of-
of fighting for better schools, work-
Republican House Ways and Means
there. We can’t wait to see the great
fice for the first time. Some were
ing to end gun violence, and im-
Committee chairman.
things these young winners will ac-
running for reelection. Some were
proving opportunities and wages
stepping up to a position of great-
for working families.
In addition to the importance
Ben Jealous serves as president
Christian Menefee became the
ed people in office, the excitement
of People For the American Way
women and more than two-thirds
first Black person and the young-
generated by these candidates can
and People For the American Way
were Black, Indigenous, or people
est person ever elected as District
have “upballot” effects—boosting
Foundation. Jealous has decades
of color. Eighty-five of them will be
Attorney in Harris County, Texas.
congressional and presidential can-
of experience as a leader, coalition
serving their communities in public
Harris County’s population is great-
didates by increasing turnout. Ac-
builder, campaigner for social jus-
office next year, and some of them
er than the population of more than
cording to TIME, part of the story
tice and seasoned nonprofit execu-
will be helping to lead our nation in
half the states. Next Up endorsed
in Georgia this year, where Next Up
tive. In 2008, he was chosen as the
the years ahead.
Menefee as part of a slate of candi-
endorsed 17 candidates was “un-
youngest-ever president and CEO
Here are a few of the 2020 suc-
dates committed to stopping unjust
precedented youth voter turnout.”
of the NAACP. He is a graduate of
cess stories that can give us all hope
police killings of civilians and pro-
The success of so many young
Columbia University and Oxford,
tecting Black and Brown communi-
progressive leaders is a hopeful af-
where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and
ties through greater accountability
firmation that America’s future does
he has taught at Princeton and the
for law enforcement.
not belong to white supremacists or
University of Pennsylvania.
Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott was elect-
Vol. 25, No 52 December 24, 2020
complish in the years ahead.
of putting a diverse group of talent-
er responsibility. A majority were
for a brighter future.
Harlem Community Newspapers | December 24. 2020
multicultural
People For the American Way’s
try this year.
6
multiracial,
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