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The
celebration of Mother’s Day this past Sunday caused me to
reflect on the rising political presence, power and
influence of young women of color. Rather than complaining,
or sitting back and waiting for the baton to be passed to
them, these “sistas” have instead, seized the mantle of
leadership without asking permission, as we transition from
a post-Civil Rights to a post-Drug War era.
One such
young professional is Tamaya Dennard who currently serves as
the political director for youthful 2016 U.S. senatorial
candidate P.G. Sittenfeld. I was able to sit down with
Dennard, a 36-year-old Cincinnati native, to discuss
contemporary public policy perspectives for, and by, a new
generation
Perryman:
Tell me a little bit about Tamaya Dennard.
Dennard:
I’m from Cincinnati, born and raised. I graduated from the
University of Cincinnati with a degree in finance and
international business; raised by my mom, who was an amazing
single mom with three children. After I graduated from
college I went to work with Duke Energy, and worked in the
real estate department. Basically, I bought and sold real
estate on behalf of the company; did a lot of research, and
things like that for Duke, and found that it wasn’t really
fulfilling, so I started getting involved in the community.
The 2000
Bush versus Gore presidential election had been
disappointing for me, how that ended with the Florida and
the Supreme Court, and the race was kind of stolen, but it
fanned my love for politics. A lot of people were
discouraged then but, for me, it actually did the opposite
and showed me that more people, good people, honest people
and fair people needed to be involved in the process.
Growing
up, I was the beneficiary of a lot of programs, and
initiatives that were publicly-funded, and they worked for
me, and they worked for my mom, and I thought maybe going
into politics would be a way for me to let people know that
safety nets still work and help make sure that these
initiatives stayed around. And so, I volunteered for
President Obama’s first campaign and then I left a really
high-paying salary at Duke Energy to do something I loved,
which is politics and to work with PG Sittenfeld.
So, now
we’re here on our second term on City Council, and just
really wanted to impact the state a little bit more, and
like I said, talk about the issues that people aren’t
talking about. I think a lot of times, things are playing in
different cities, but the energy and fresh eyes that may be
in one place need to be carried state-wide to show people
that there are issues that need to be talked about, and not
just talked about, but there are conversations that need to
happen, and actions that need to take place. So, that’s a
little bit about me.
Perryman:
A generation ago, much of the black church’s role in the
community was defined and shaped by the Civil Rights
Movement. The church has also shaped the lives and
perspective of generations of activists, legislators, and
others. Has the black church had an influence on your
worldview and work?
Dennard:
Absolutely. I have belonged to New Jerusalem Baptist Church
in Cincinnati for about 20 years now, and the church has
shaped me a lot of different ways. When you’re a kid the
first time you give a speech is in church. You know what I
mean?
Perryman:
Absolutely.
Dennard:
The first time you understand community is in church.
Church is very important, and my faith is very important to
me, and Pastor Damon Lynch, Jr. and his wife have been
phenomenal in helping me shape my faith, and to see what my
mission is. And something that he once said to me; I had
asked, “What would you be doing if you weren’t a pastor?
And what’s your mission?” And he said, “Every day when I
leave my house, I always know who I’m going to out help -
the least, and the lost.” And that’s something that has
always stuck with me, and every day, as I do my job, as I’m
just doing things, and passing legislation, it’s a mission
for me, to just make sure, like I said, that it is about the
least of us, and also to serve people with dignity.
People
feel like the government should work for them, but
government hasn’t worked for them. When I say “people,” I
mean the people who feel like they’ve been forsaken. So, my
faith keeps me grounded, and when you’re working politics,
and when you’re successful, you always have to know not only
who you are, but whose you are, and that’s very important to
me.
Perryman:
So, you went on to work for Duke Energy earning big money,
mad cheddar?
Dennard:
Yes. It was a pretty substantial salary.
Perryman:
And your income didn’t affect your outlook towards the less
privileged?
Dennard:
When I graduated high school, I was voted ‘most likely to
change the world,’ and then I was like going back and forth,
traveling a little bit for work, and I realized that I
wasn’t really impacting the world. I was helping this
corporation, which there’s nothing wrong with the
corporation; business is great. I love business. I majored
in business, but I feel like there was something greater and
bigger for me to do, and when PG first said to me, “Will you
come to City Hall, and work with me?” I looked at the
salary that was before me, and what I was currently being
paid, and I was like, “There no way I’m going to leave this
job.” But then when you’re chosen, when you’re doing what
you’re supposed to do, when you’re doing what God needs you
to do, he’ll equip you. So, the money didn’t matter, and the
Lord provided, and that’s one thing that I knew.
Perryman:
There are obvious contrasts between PG, and his opponent Ted
Strickland. From your perspective as a young person, how can
the current generation of young people – many of whom have
been apathetic to the process - play a greater role in
politics, what would attract them, and what do you see as
maybe a reason for their lack of participation?
Dennard:
A good question. I’d say the easiest and the best example I
can give for why young people should be involved is the
things that are happening around our country, the unjust
killing of unarmed black men and women. But, just look at
what happened last week with Marilyn Mosby in Baltimore, a
35-year-old elected Baltimore City Prosecutor, and she
brought charges against the police officers that were
involved in the death of Freddie Gray.
Mosby
was elected; she wasn’t appointed. So, we must recognize
the importance of voting down ballot. I love President
Obama. He inspires me to this day. I think he will go down
as the greatest president of all time, and people like
really sit back and look at what he’s done, but people voted
for President Obama, and they didn’t vote down the ticket
which hurt us. And they don’t really understand that
politics are local, and that President Obama, as awesome as
he is, it was actually Marilyn Mosby who brought those
charges against those police officers, and not President
Obama. And Marilyn Mosby was elected.
So, a
lot of young people are in the streets, and they’re
protesting; they want to be heard, and one of the best ways
your vote can be heard is through your vote. One of my
favorite quotes, and this is why you talk about apathy, and
why people haven’t been eager to vote, because they haven’t
always felt like it has been effective. Government hasn’t
been working for them. A lot of young people are graduating
from college with ridiculous amounts of student loans.
They’re still having to live at home because they can’t
afford to pay their student loans, and they’re not getting a
job that they need to cover both. And so they need someone
who’s going to talk about those issues, and not just talk
about them, someone who has experienced them. They want
someone to present ideas and put forth legislation to
address issues like police brutality.
People
have to understand that they can be heard, but one of my
favorite quotes is for some people, they want to be heard so
bad, or they feel so cold, that they’ll burn down a village
just to feel its warmth. I’m not sure where that proverb
originates from, but people just want to be heard, and
people out there, they’re struggling. We have a
neighborhood in Cincinnati, called Avondale, which has
recently got an infusion of cash from the feds, but it’s a
majority African-American community, experiencing 40 percent
unemployment. So, the opportunities aren’t there.
To me
the biggest thing about young people getting involved is, we
talk about opportunity and what’s being presented to them,
and a lot of times the opportunities aren’t there. But, the
opportunities aren’t there, because they don’t have people
engaged in the process, so people just don’t care, not
realizing that they don’t have to look like you, but if they
understand where you’re coming from, and your generation,
then they’re more apt to speak for you.
For us,
with Governor Strickland, and our opponent, we try to be
clear that we are running against Rob Portman, but we have
to go through Governor Strickland in the primary. But, in
our effort to unseat Rob Portman, it’s not so much a
question of age for us, as it is experience, fresh energy,
and new eyes on existing ideas. Policy-wise, PG and
Governor Strickland have a lot in common, but there are
certain things that we’re going to differ on, but the main
thing is I’m not sure Governor Strickland will attack police
killings, and student loans with the same ferocity or
veracity - that we will, because we not only represent young
people who are told to wait their turn; we also represent
young people whose turn will never come. And people like me
that come from where I come from, they feel like their turn
will never come, so it’s my job; it’s my responsibility to
make sure that we continue to push the conversation, and get
more people involved. Sometimes, you have to see someone
who looks like you to want to be more involved. Sometimes
it works; sometimes it doesn’t, but if you speak their
language, and talk about things they want to talk to, and
relate to them, they’re more apt to get involved.
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, D.Min, at
drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org |
