The upcoming general election will feature a host of African-American political candidates. Among them are Rep. André Carson, D-Indiana, a seasoned heir to a congressional throne; Indianapolis Public School Board candidates Dr. David Hampton, a clergyman who serves as the senior pastor of one of Indianapolis’ oldest and largest Black congregations, and James Turner, a former Broad Ripple High School student-athlete and Fall Creek Academy employee.
Amid the seemingly constant negative wave of injustice and criminalization surrounding young Black men in this country, these candidates present a cresting tide of hope.
“I think it’s always important to see people who look like you, share your value systems, and who can articulate the needs of your community,” said Carson. “I think it does a lot for the psyche and one’s confidence. It can break down other societal inputs that you may be getting overtly or subtly.”
Turner, a candidate for the District 3 IPS school board seat and a graduate of Broad Ripple High School, said his passion for the district he grew up in and where two of his children are schooled led him to his current political aspirations. “I knew I was taking a job at Fall Creek Academy and I still wanted to be 100 percent invested in IPS. I knew the only way to still be involved was through the school board,” he said. “The whole reason I got involved in education in general was to show young Black men and young men in general that even though the odds are stacked against you, you can make it.”
Hampton, who is competing for an at-large seat on the board, said he is asked often what his reason is for running. “I think it’s important for Black men to be involved in politics,” said Hampton.
Quoting Bill Crawford he further explained his passionate stance, “Either we are at the table or we’re on the menu. (Black) men have been the delicacy of many special interest groups who benefit from our demise specifically in the area of education.”
National statistics on the school-to-prison pipeline show 68 percent of all males incarcerated in state and federal facilities do not have a high school diploma and 61 percent of the entire prison population is Black or Latino. In 2012 the Corrections Corporation of America, which is the largest owner and operator of for-profit correctional facilities made over $1.7 billion in revenue.
Hampton who is a former member of the IPS Advisory Board said although he doesn’t consider himself a politician in the traditional sense, running for office was a step he was more than willing to take. “When we talk about IPS we are talking about a minority majority school district,” he said. “I just want to make sure the board in particular reflects that and right now it doesn’t.”
