MIAMI – Hours after it was clear that President George W. Bush had reclaimed the White House, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek said he was disappointed but determined to keep the black electorate engaged.
"I know there are a lot of hurt feelings out there," Meek, D-Fla., said in an interview Wednesday with BlackAmericaWeb.com. "But I think this will bring us together as a community even more."
Meek said the historic 2004 presidential election must be "a real gut-check for black America," which he hopes will produce many "leaders who will rise to the top."
"There are people who made sacrifices during this election and now have personal testimonials to share with their children," Meek said. "Perhaps some of these children will be our future leaders."
The congressman said he was proud to see so many first-time voters and the record turnout by blacks at the polls. However, Meek said, Bush probably "will not invest" in a black community that worked so hard to remove him from office. Meek also said future social-service programs must be funded locally because Bush "really don't care about ya'll now."
"Churches now have a greater responsibility," said Meek, who served as the Florida campaign chairman for Sen. John F. Kerry. "It's family time. Have block parties, watch out for each other, help each other. We can't rely on the government."
Black voters woke up Wednesday to the discouraging news that despite their best efforts and record turnout at the polls, that Bush had defeated Kerry in an election that further polarized the nation. Blacks called into black radio programs saying they were upset and drained from their efforts.
And they are bracing for the worst.
"We all need to come together because we're going to catch hell," said Jacques Despinosse, vice mayor of the city of North Miami and president of the Haitian American Democratic Club. "I'm so disappointed. My mother said she'll never vote again and she's wondering what the impact will be on our community."
That "impact," according to some, will be felt by rising unemployment and health-care costs, continued poverty in some neighborhoods and more blacks dying in Iraq. They blame Bush for not funneling enough economic resources into black communities, which include Liberty City, Overtown and the city of Opa-locka.
Despinosse, a Haitian-American who often works as a community arbitrator between black and Caribbean Americans, said he will seek to establish a broad coalition of blacks in South Florida to pool resources, help find jobs and push for better public school education for black students.
Miami's multicultural black community has remained segregated over the years, and black Americans and Caribbean Americans rarely agree on politics. Today, however, there is more talk about a unified effort among blacks to offset Bush's policies, which many say are hostile to their communities.
"We need to be our brother's keepers," Despinosse said Wednesday. "We have common issues like poverty and unemployment. My pain and suffering is your pain and suffering and we must reach out to each other."
Bishop Victor T. Curry, senior pastor of the New Birth Baptist Church, The Cathedral of Faith, said he agrees with the concept of an alliance, but in the meantime, he's telling his predominantly black congregation to save their money, do not spend recklessly, invest wisely – and pray.
"We have to trust in God, and churches will have to step up and help. We have to go old-school," Curry said. "We can't rely on Bush. We have to get through this. We have no choice."
Curry added: "We voted nationwide, we did our part, and we can't feel like we failed."
Meek said with four more years in office, Bush has a tremendous opportunity to reach out to black communities and to the Congressional Black Caucus, which has not met with Bush since he took office four years ago. Bush, congressional members say, has refused their requests for meetings.
"The question is whether he is leader enough to do it," Meek said.
Meek, who planned to speak with Kerry sometime after Kerry delivered his concession speech, said Democrats have work to do.
"We had plenty of first-time voters and the Democratic Party has to find a way to keep that momentum going," said Meek, before shaking hands with well-wishers on Miami Beach.
"I'm thanking folks for all their hard work, but I'm telling them we have to do some soul-searching and keep fighting," he said. "And we have to move on."
