WDET News
- Palestinian-American Vyes For State House Seat In Southwest Detroit
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Aug 5, 2008Metro Desk - Link to Audio
12th State House District Democratic Candidate Rashida TlaibState House District 12 in Detroit is predominantly Latino and Black but the district borders the largest concentrated Middle Eastern community in the United States. Rashida Tlaib is of Palestinian descent and grew up on the Latino side of the district. Tlaib is in a competitive race that has 9 candidates vying for the seat.
As part of our occasional series, Feet In Two Worlds, WDET's Martina Guzman reports on how a Middle Eastern candidate contends politically in Southwest Detroit.
SOQ
Rashida Talib looks a little tired. Her worn out shoes and un-kept hair reveal a long day of walking the district. She writes a note for those who aren't home and talks with those who are. For the last 4 months she's been walking the neighborhoods 7 days a week, knocking on doors and introducing herself to members of the Southwest Detroit community.
"DON'T FORGET YOU CAN PUT A SIGN HERE… I WILL, I'LL PUT A SIGN AS SOON AS WE GET THEM IN… OK BY...
HI, I'M LOOKING FOR IVORING, JAMES. MR. KNOT, MY NAME IS RASHIDA TLAIB. YOU MAY HAVE GOTTEN MY NOTE THAT LAST TIME I CAME AROUND BUT, YOU KNOW I'M RUNNING FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, I GREW UP IN SOUTHWEST, DETROIT. I'M ACTUALLY A GRADUATE OF SOUTHWESTERN HIGH SCHOOL, I'M THE ELDEST OF 14 IN MY FAMILY, IT KIND OF GIVES YOU A SENSE OF MY PERSONALITY…"
Tlaib is running a grass-roots campaign and say's it's the only way to win an election. Her approach has motivated young people from an economically distressed part of the city to volunteer on her campaign. Young Arabic women wearing hijabs work on mailings and volunteer as drivers. College age Latinas such as 21-year old Olga Gonzalez makes phone calls on Tlaib's behalf.
"HI, CAN I PLEASE SPEAK MR. WALKER, MY NAME OLGA GONZALEZ AND I'M CALLING FROM THE RASHIDA TLAIB CAMPAIGN OFFICE..."
When asked why she is supporting Tlaib and not one of the Latino candidates in the primary election, Gonzalez explains that as an immigrant, she feels Rashida understands her better.
"RASHIDA HAS BEEN IN THE FIELD AND TAKEN STEPS TO PROVE HERSELF AS AN IMMIGRATION ADVOCATE."
Although Tlaib has inspired a faithful following, not everyone in the Latino community feels she should represent them in Lansing. Local resident community activist and Director of the Centro Obrero, Elena Herrada says the district is predominantly Mexican and a Latina, like Belda Garza, should hold that seat. Garza was the first Latina elected to the Michigan legislature in 1998 and served two terms before loosing current State Representative Steve Tobocman.
"NONE OF US APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE LATINO REPRESENTATION. IF WE DON'T DEVELOP OUR OWN LEADERSHIP WE'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE IT."
But Tlaib say's her biggest concern isn't running against a Latino, black or white candidate it's about anti-Muslim attitudes, she feels could derail her campaign.
Tlaib's fears seem warranted. In 2006 Conservative political commentator
Debbie Schlussel stirred anti-Muslim sentiment by falsely accusing Ishmael Ahmed, executive director of the Largest Arab-human service agency in the country of being anti American and supporting extremist organizations.
At the time Ahmed was being considered for a cabinet post in the Granholm administration.
"I WAS THRILLED BUT KNEW IT WOULD BE AN UP-HILL BATTLE TO GET CONFIRMED AND I WAS CORRECT.
In the end, Ahmed was unanimously confirmed as the Director of the Michigan Department of the Human Services.
"BUT THAT'S NOT USUALLY THE STORY FOR ARAB AMERICANS. NO MATTER HOW GOOD, HOW HONEST HOW DESCENT AND HOW HARD THEY'VE WORKED."
Tlaib, like Ahmed, has been the recipient of racist attacks by bloggers.
"PEOPLE WHO HEAR THINGS SUSPECT, WELL, WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE IS FIRE ANDBACK AWAY FROM REALLY GOOD PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WELL BE THE BEST CANDIDATE. THESE ATTACKS HAVE AN AFFECT AND PEOPLE BACK AWAY FROM THEM. I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN SOUTHWEST DETROIT."
But in this hotly contested election, the division seems to be as much about religion as it is about ethnicity. Herrada say's she's concerned with the fact that the Mexican community has long established itself in Detroit but still has no political representation. There are currently 3 Latino candidates campaigning for state representative in district 12.
"WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE THE 20'S AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ON DETROIT CITY COUNCIL, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ON THE WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF GOVERNORS, NOBODY ON THE WAYNE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY, ANYWHERE ELECTED AND WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST 90 YEARS. IT'S OUR TURN, WE'VE BEEN CUT OUT. WE NEVER GET A CHANCE, THE PARTIES TELL US NOT YET."
Although Tlaib understands that political action to advance the interests of a certain group is important, she feels it's more important to help people with every day issues that affect their quality of life.
"WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE NOT TO HAVE A LATINO REPRESENT THE DISTRICT AND MY RESPONSE IS THAT IS, IT'S MORE OF A SLAP IN THE FACE WHEN YOU DO HAVE A LATINO THAT DOESN'T MAKE AN IMPACT IN PEOPLE'S LIVES."
Tlaib ignores the racist comment made by bloggers, opponents and other candidates. She says she will continue to walk the district through toelection-day.
Currently, there are no Muslim women serving in the state legislature.
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“Feet in Two Worlds” (feetin2worlds.org) is a project of the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School.