Caucus Crises: A Break in Reciprocity and Trust with Michael Lawson

03/25/24 • 61 min

In this episode our Hosts Dr. Rita and Diane Little welcome our guest, Michael posits that the Democratic Party is always in crises, by its inclusive nature, because it tends to fold within it, the crises of the communities it attempts to represent. We review the variety and intent of Caucuses: their history, purpose and relevance: the Black caucus, African American Caucus, Women's Caucus, Young Dem's Caucus, Rural Caucus, County caucuses, and district caucuses, etc.
We identify a breakdown in the intent and the trust in the relationship between caucuses and the Democratic party. Caucuses were born to inform the party of the issues among voters in exchange for the party's commitment to addressing these issues. Bringing issues to the party would strengthen the party because the solutions would strengthen the communities. Instead, today, it seems that identity politics has proliferated the diversity of caucuses who pull the party in multiple directions--weakening it, not strengthening it. What's missing is a building of collective will beyond the individual agendas--so the party can move beyond priority-setting to building collective will.

Today's guest is Michael Lawson. Michael is Originally from Brooklyn New York. He moved to Queens some years later. For the last 33 years Michael has lived in Charlotte NC. And has been a true leader and innovator in Charlotte Democratic politics. He has served as: The President of the Democratic Party's African American Caucus for Mecklenburg county. The 8th district Dem chairperson, a former State Executive Committee member for 10 years, and currently serves in his favorite role as the Democratic Chairman for Precinct 4 in Charlotte NC.
Michael has taught media literacy at the North West school of the
Arts for nine years and at Johnson C Smith University in Charlotte, NC. For the last 13 years, Michael has Hosted a blog Talk Radio Show called "The Last Word" (pre-dating the show on MSNBC) a weekly Political Talk Radio Show on Fridays, 3-6 pm on www.blogtalkradio.com. The show covers more than Political Talk it covers the gambit, from Politics, Education, Health Care, Sports, Music and the Movies, most any and everything.
Michael is married to Penny a wonderful lady. for 44 yrs. He has 2 daughters who have given him 3 grandsons. Michael Lawson is considered a Fierce advocate for democracy.
Resources:
Black Caucus website
African American Caucus, North Carolina Democratic Party website
Michael Lawson's podcast
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Episode Originally recorded on March 19, 2024.

Support the show

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To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon

Episode Originally recorded on March 19, 2024.

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To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
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Previous Episode

The heart to serve: with Marshville, NC Town Manager, Franklin Deese

In this episode, current town manager and former Mayor of Marshville, NC of 14 years Franklin Deese discusses with our co-hosts Dr. Rita and Diane Little tells the riveting experience from incarceration to become his town's mayor. He talks passionately about the importance of public service and how truth and trust led his journey. Even if things don't turn out quite as we expect them to, public service, Franklin says, is always worth it!
Franklin D. Deese is presently serving his fifth year as city manager, after serving fourteen years as Mayor to the town of Marshville, NC. He is the first and only African American elected to serve any Union County Municipality in that capacity Mayor or Manager in the County’s 150+ years history. He was first elected to the office of Mayor in 2005. By applying the powerful lessons of faith, focus and perseverance that he outlines in his best-selling book “From Inmate To Mayor,” Franklin Deese has proven that there is no mountain too high to overcome. Today he is the only African American in the Nation to serve over 10 years in the prison system and then be elected mayor in the same city. Mayor Deese is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Governor’s Award. He received the Union County Minority Entrepreneur of the Year and was nomination for the WSOC Nine Who Care Award. He was chosen as the 2012 citizen of the year in Union County and is the recipient of the History Maker Award. Former Mayor Deese speaks all over the nation, sharing his message of achievement and helping people overcome their own personal prisons.
Resources:
Franklin Deese's website
Franklin's Memoire: From Inmate to Mayor
City Manager Position description in Marshville, NC.
Franklin's Twitter Account
Franklin Deese's Linkedin Account
Support the show

To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon

Support the show

To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon

Next Episode

In public service draw strength from the ancestors and tend to the land. A conversation with PA House Rep. Chris Rabb

In this episode, my co-Host Diane Little and I interview PA State House Representative Chris Rabb (called Rep Rabb). This episode is a provides profound insight into the ethic of public service--for Rep Rabb insists on not being called a politician--because it's service, not a profession. His service spans, Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Commerce, Finance, Veterans affairs, and the Judiciary. Join us as we take a walk in his world of advocacy through, agrivoltaics, sustainability, electoral reform, innovation, and some political successes. Through it all Rep Rabb tells us he draws strength from his ancestors for his successes: renaming landmarks, prohibition from police officers assaulting people in custody, and a state interdepartmental interstate database that makes it harder for suspended police in one district to serve in another (among others).

PA House Representative Christopher Rabb (known as Rep Rabb) is the most senior progressive state legislator in Pennsylvania, State Rep. Chris Rabb, the four-term incumbent for northwest Philadelphia’s 200th legislative district, has dedicated his tenure to public service.

His legislative priorities include taxing the excessively wealthy, repealing the death penalty, full and fair funding of public education, climate action, safer communities and raising the minimum wage to a true living wage.

He has authored over 100 bills and resolutions, centering the most-impacted populations in his legislative work. Some of his boldest bills include his Fair Share Tax Plan, and a bill to transition Pennsylvania to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

RepRabb is a co-founder of the Progressive Legislators Working Group, the antecedent to the PA Progressive Caucus on whose founding board he serves.
Resources
Rep Rabb's website
Rep Rabb's track record accomplishments
Rep Rabb's instagram
Rep Rabb's twitter
More on Agrivoltaics
Support the show

To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon

Support the show

To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon