It seems rare to find a group of nine people anywhere in Iowa a week before the caucuses who hasn't seen any presidential candidates at all, even in passing, even by accident as they gladhand through a Starbucks or a Hy-Vee supermarket.
But all nine young people settled around a table munching pizza and talking politics at Urban Dreams, a social service organization serving Des Moines' inner city, don't care that they missed out on photo ops. The gathered group makes the point as Ryan Ford, executive editor of The Source and son of Urban Dreams' founder puts it, "Iowa isn't all white people." Too many politicians he notes, "breeze through town, shake hands and then they leave this community with the same problems."
What kind of problems? Iowa's black population, which hovers around 2%, accounts for approximately 24% of the prison population meaning Iowa has the highest rate of incarceration of African-Americans in the country. According to the 2000 census, black households in Iowa have median incomes 36.8% less than the overall median income. And, says Ford, Iowa has the highest rate for expulsions and suspensions of African-American students in the nation.
Only one of the nine young people present was planning on caucusing (three were not of voting age) and only two said they had heard the term before. Kaley Burriola Rivera, an 18 year-old Mexican student and the lone caucuser, said she supports John Edwards because of his stance on immigration reform. The others had a hard time picking out an individual issue that they cared about or a candidate whose stance they could describe, though several mentioned access to post-high school educational opportunities. As shoulders shrugged around the room, some said, "I just don't pay attention."
McKenna Snowden, 16, said her disinterest stemmed from her belief that the candidates were just as disinterested in her. "Obama, Clinton or whoever, they're not worried about us in the hood. They just care about boojy white and black people and I know nothing is going to change for us." She went on, "Maybe I'd vote for someone if they came from the streets, like they had been to jail and had a hard time getting a job. Someone who can look at me and see me and care about whether I make it. Maybe then I'd vote."
When asked where they would take the presidential candidates if given the opportunity, the group quickly settle on Oakridge, a public housing project that several of them live in or near. Discussing whether or not to bring the candidates to a big house party in Oakridge, Darrius Armstrong, 16, points out "the candidates probably wouldn't want to be there even if we're all acting polite and talking proper. They might hear some stuff they just don't want to hear. Oh, and they probably wouldn't even get recognized." McKenna describes Oakridge as a "fake project.," almost apologizing that it wasn't nearly as crime ridden as other housing projects but, the group assures me, we would see "strippers and drugs." "Our hood ain't like a hood in Chicago, but it's the ghetto of Iowa."
Some of the group seem genuinely frustrated and repelled by the political process and acknowledge their lack of basic understanding on key issues and the tools that they need to participate in the process. They started to ask questions: "Can felons run for president?" "What is a blog?" Terrence Bess, 17, wondered "why would we go into Iraq and destroy all of it just so that we have to rebuild it again?" Another asked, "Why do we feed kids all over the world? Let's feed kids in America first." Cynical about civic engagement and the gains that could be achieved through playing by the rules, all expressed a sense that they were living on the edge - some already had children, struggled with food stamps, faced housing crises and worked multiple jobs.
As Ford pointed out "these kids just don't think they have the power to get what they want." When asked if there was any possibility for change in their community, either within or outside of the conventional political system, all agreed it was possible but none could come up with any concrete examples or ideas for how change could come to pass.
When asked where they saw themselves in fifteen years a string of aspirations were listed: a pro-football running back, a pro-football quarterback, nurse, photography business owner, nurse, lawyer, zoologist. Some were already actively pursuing their career paths.
With the pizza almost polished off, McKenna hesitated before saying, "You know, I really didn't wanna come here today to talk to you guys but you got me hyped up. Maybe you can prove to me that I'm wrong about this stuff. I mean, I've always liked animals a lot so I thought zoology but maybe I should do politics. I have some strong beliefs. I guess I gotta go to college."
The Urban Dreams meeting was made possible by the Black and Brown Forum.