Local leaders square off about race, politics at ECC

More than 300 students and community members packed an Elgin Community College auditorium Wednesday to hear local leaders square off on race and politics.

The roundtable discussion, sponsored by the college's multicultural and global initiatives committee, featured State Rep. Ruth Munson, Kane County Circuit Court Judge Keith Brown, professor and political analyst Steven Caliendo, Barack Obama campaign staff member Gabe Doyle and Elgin Area School District U-46 Superintendent Jose Torres.

In contrast to Tuesday's presidential debate in Nashville, laughter and wit were pervasive over terseness during the discussion at ECC.

Responding to a question about the importance of voting, Brown joked that he was on the ballot in November, before becoming more serious, advising students of the value of voting in both national and local elections.

"The civil rights movement, wars have been fought over your right to vote," he said. "It would be discourteous, an insult to take it so lightly."

Torres, when asked whether race and gender have made a difference in his own life, said the answer was both "yes" and "no". "If you inhabit the skin you inhabit, people are going to respond to that in different ways."

Torres said he has walked into elevators and seen women clutch their purses, and walked down hallways and seen people move aside.

"Race makes a difference," he said. "People look at race. (Otherwise) we would not have a panel."

In terms of the role of race in contemporary American politics, Caliendo said "we are not in a post-racial society as most of us would like to wish we believe we are in."

The "race card," he said, is played differently than it has been in the past.

"That's to tap into latent predispositions about people of color in a way that doesn't alert the voter that the message is racist," Caliendo said.

The accusation that Barack Obama seeks what he does not deserve, Caliendo said, "plays into the disposition that black folks want handouts. They don't want to work hard for stuff."

Shifting to a question on gender, and whether women with small children should consider running for office, "I don't think you can attack Sarah Palin," Doyle said. "If you look at Barack Obama he's in the same situation with two very young children."

Munson agreed, saying in many households women are making decisions about health care and education.

"To have someone in office who understands those decisions, is a plus," she said.

Kay Sayarath, 23, of Elgin, said as an Asian-American, "racism hasn't affected me too much. But I wanted to come to see what they wanted to talk about. It's interesting to see all the different points of view."

For Steven Kyle, 20, of Elgin, the debate offered a refreshing change of pace.

"I was watching the debate last night," he said.

"Everything seems so distant. This kind of thing is good for my age group. To reach out, you know."