Brazile Urges Students to Get Involved

ABC News On Campus reporter Zach Ferriola-Bruckenstein blogs:   Political commentator Donna Brazile  told University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill students that they must continue to work for change and reform in the politics. “It is important for students to raise their voices and not just sit back and see what happens,” Brazile said in a speech last week. Students, she said, must continue to organize at the grass-roots level to ensure that change actually occurs in Washington D.C. Furthermore, Brazile said, this newest generation of voters needs to oppose those who are attempting to block change and who want President Obama to fail. “My friends,” she asked, “why vote for change if we are afraid of implementing it?” Brazile, who was campaign manager for Al Gore in 2000,   noted that students helped convert North Carolina from a red state to a blue state during the most recent election. She also commented on the historic nature of the election of an African-American president.  “I never thought I would see this day, as a child growing up in the segregated Deep South,” Brazile said. But  just because a black man has been elected president, she said, does not mean that everything has changed.  “The state of black leadership in the 21st century is still, in my opinion, very weak,” Brazile said. She believes that it is a lack of preparation combined with a lack of understanding about the political process. Young African-Americans, as well as all young people, must learn how to navigate party politics Brazile said. In addition, she said, they must learn how to influence the political process and understand when it is the right time to run for public office. She cautioned young people that if they attempt to run against an incumbent, they must be prepared for a fight against someone with a very strong power base. Brazile said that a new generation of black leaders is needed because the older generation has run out of ideas. While the older generation still has the energy to lead, she said, the new generation is necessary to continue to bring about change. “The old guard has held on to power and is not willing to let you in until they are sure you’re willing to spend a lifetime of service,” Brazile said.