Fattah talk urges more equality

U.S. Congressman Chakah Fattah and City Council President John Street addressed 40 students in the Law School Monday night about the role of minorities in education and politics. The Black Law Student Association and Penn Law Democrats sponsored the event in conjunction with Black History Month, BLSA first-year representative Robert Brown said. Fattah explained his reasons for appearing with Street, noting that the two politicians had a long standing association with the University. Both politicians have children at the University. Street's son, Wharton sophomore Sharif Street, is chairperson of the BLSA and a PLD executive committee member, while Fattah's daughter, Frances, is a College senior. BLSA Speakers Committee Co-Chairperson Vivienne LaBorde, who worked for Fattah this summer in Washington, D.C., introduced the congressman as a "tireless advocate" of education. Fattah -- who will present his Equal Protection for School Finance Act this week -- spoke about ending the disparity between city and suburban schools. He explained that the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision ruled that it was the states' responsibility to provide "free, equitable education to each child, [but] in the U.S. Constitution there's no recognition of state governments." And because both local and state taxes are levied by the state, the "financing schemes are designed to give cover" to the differences in education, Fattah said. Street added that "no group of children ought to be so disadvantaged." The politicians also discussed minorities' political role. Fattah explained that although the Voting Rights Act was secured to end racial gerrymandering, the Supreme Court -- relying on evidence of minority candidate success in "majority districts" -- is looking to allow district lines to be redrawn to break up minority influence. "I am amused at the Supreme Court's logic -- or lack of logic," Fattah said. "The issue is not the color of the representative, [but] the ability of the voters to affect the process." He added that he hopes President Clinton will have the opportunity to appoint new justices to the Supreme Court. And while Fattah stressed the government's importance in bringing about equality, Street emphasized that people must take action. "Minorities first have to vote," Street said, adding that although many Philadelphians are quick to complain about the government, 186,000 of the city's blacks did not vote in last fall's primary elections. He stressed the importance of politicians remaining loyal to their constituents. "There was a time when Senator Dole was a true friend of the African American community, but times change," he said. "I understand that he was going to have to dance to the music of the people who brought him to where he was." And he added that if African Americans supported their own businesses like other ethnic groups do, their economic power could make a significant political impact. "$14 million dollars a day is put into the local economy by African Americans," Street said. The two also answered questions on topics such as ebonics and curricula formation.