The League of Minority Voters (LMV) is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with the annual Liberty and Hope gala, to be held on June 28.
Promise King, founder and executive director, sat down with Colors of Influence to look back to successes of LMV and its continued focus on advancing equity and civil rights.
Read archive of CoI's feature on the Oregon League of Minority Voters
In this two-part series, King shares his optimism for the work of civic and political advocacy in these challenging times.
CoI: More than 10 years into leading the League of Minority Voters, what successes are you most proud of?
PK: We have been very successful around issues of equity and inclusion, especially in 2009 when we launched our “Poverty Campaign.” We found a way to focus on representation within our government systems. We understand that inequities seem to hamstring or handcuff some of our leaders, our folks who are potential candidates for elected office.
Equity is more than a buzzword. It is required that we have an equitable system to open up opportunities and we did that very well. Today, we have offices of equity in the cities of Portland, Beaverton, and Gresham. There are also similar positions in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. That is directly out of our strategic tactical advocacy to ensure that we don't just speak about equity. We have tangible actions that we can apply to structures to get equity into the process.
We also have thriving debate teams in about 14 high schools across the nation. We had 100% success rate college attendance among first-generation immigrant kids from Parkrose to Jefferson high schools.
CoI: What are the most important lessons you've learned from leading minority voters? PK: One of the lessons I’ve learned is that our coalition as minorities is very important. Our vision should be bigger than our own individual communities because if we don’t dream big we are relegated to second-class citizens. The bigger our dreams, the better our vision and our success as a community.
Our leaders are being involved and engaged regardless of their accomplishments. You don't have to be rich or have everything because I believe we are stronger together when we actually trust each other to focus and leave behind all our petty issues that seem to divide us.
This is the biggest lesson that African American, Latino, Asian and Native American communities that we bond together because we are founded by the same tragedy of racism and bigotry that persist in our communities. If we can confront it together, we can be successful.
CoI: Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
PK: I should have mixed up the board with ordinary folk who don't have the position of power. People with the grassroots support, have the foundation in their community and a passion for organizing. I thing that is what I would do differently, instead of only going for the mayor or people who have connections and clout.
Doing it all over again, I would make sure that the initial board development would have included everyone, especially those with issues we are trying to represent. The homeless, the single moms, the immigrant who just came. Their voices need to be heard, they need also to be at the table. We needed to work hard to get them engaged and involved in the decision-making process.
CoI: What advice do you give to young people of color and white allies to advance the movement for civil rights?
PK: Young people should dream! They should not be burdened by voices telling them "You can't do this or that."
I came from Africa. I'm an immigrant with an accent. Yet, here I am: a leader of an organization that's part of a movement taking over the country.
I tell young minority leaders that they should stand and be focused on education. Don't be afraid or shy about confronting their situation. So long as they are working toward justice, truth and honesty, no power -- no matter how mighty -- can undermine your vision.
You will not fail if your dreams are tailored and attached to justice, equality and civil rights. The journey may not be fun and it may be hard. But in the end, like those who came before us, if we do our best, someone else can pick up the rest.
Watch this blog for the next installation of our interview with Promise King.