[media-credit name=’DEREK MONTGOMERY/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]State politicians spoke to a small group of University of Wisconsin students Wednesday night to encourage students to become involved in minority rights.
State Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, and former State Budget Director David Riemer spoke to students at the MSC satellite on campus at an event titled “People of Color in Politics.”
Taylor used her minority background as a female African-American to relate the limitations with which minorities are confronted to political issues relevant to UW students.
“I am not only a role model, but an educator, not only for my constituents, but also for my peers,” she said.
The minority community and their supporters must get others to challenge the status quo of racism and sexism, according to both Taylor and Riemer.
Students must work within their social circle to gain minority rights, Taylor said, because the effect people have on their social circle will effect changes in society.
The speakers agreed that while Democrats may understand issues affecting the minority community, they do not have enough power alone to promote change. Riemer said groups need to accept their differences and notice their common interests.
“Milwaukee is like a sleeping giant,” Taylor said. The ethnic minority in the city is the majority, but they are not involved in the political process. To get people involved, she explained, Democrats and minorities must develop a common message that reestablishes hope in a group of people who have faced much rejection.
The speakers explained that successful “messaging” by Republicans resulted in the loss of Democratic power in the Wisconsin Legislature.
Riemer said the government has three functions: maintaining safety, health and public order; providing social insurance; and creating markets. Two-thirds of the entire state budget goes toward social insurance, like health care and education, he explained.
“The social-insurance system is deeply flawed, especially in respects to persons of color,” Riemer said.
Taylor and Riemer agreed that education will promote change. The senator said the first step is to motivate people to do more for themselves by becoming educated. The speakers provided statistics on minority issues, promoted discussion on marriage equity and related the students’ experiences to encourage participation in challenging the status quo.
The second step is to use the knowledge to challenge others’ thinking, Taylor said.
Students should do this in the minority community, she said. As an example, Taylor said she knocks on the windows of cars with fancy rims and asks them if they own a house. If not, she tells them to sell their car.
“You are the vehicle to share knowledge,” Taylor said.