The Glover Report (TGR): Camelot: Home of Wayne’s World; Over 3,000 in attendance
Does the Prince George’s-Montgomery-Baltimore trilogy equal checkmate in Maryland’s 2010 statewide election? Time will tell!
By Doni Glover, www.bmorenews.com
(UPPER MARLBORO – January 22, 2010) – The ancestors, elders, and Washington, DC Mayor-for-Life Marion Barry must be so proud, for if Camelot can be defined as “an idealized place or time,” then last night was such for black Maryland. With most every major black Democrat in the house, thousands wished Prince George’s County’s first black county executive, Wayne Curry, the happiest of birthdays.
Well, that’s what it was described as. However, peeling back the onion a layer or two and one might conclude that Curry has done more than tested the waters. Alas, Maryland could very well be in store for its first black governor.
And running second: former Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan. At least, that was the gut feeling one got by such a gathering: Truly remarkable! Now, maybe I’m reading too much into this. However, at bare minimum, it was the finest display of “unprecedented” black political unity Maryland has ever seen.
Attorney Hassan Murphy, Esquire and former Prince George's County Executive Attorney Wayne Curry, Esquire; and Delegate Jill P. Carter, Esquire (l to r).
With former Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan as Lt. Governor, can Curry become Maryland's 1st black governor?
It was truly a fascinating sight as the mostly black audience had nothing but adoration for the man responsible for so many good things in the richest black jurisdiction in the country, including the famed National Harbor.
Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson appeared on board – as did former Congressman Al Wynn and the woman who replaced him, Congresswoman Donna Edwards. And there was former Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke and Baltimore City Councilwoman Helen Holton and even a cameo by Delegate Jill P. Carter.
And one could not overlook Rashurn Baker and County Councilman Sam Dean; both men have interest in running the county, in light of Johnson’s term limitation. And additionally, the emcee for the evening was a man with dual citizenship: Prince George’s County State Senator C. Anthony Muse, also a pastor, raised in Baltimore’s Park Heights community.
To say the least, it was a virtual who’s who list of black Maryland politicos with some pretty heavy white folks in the room as well, including former Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens, Dick Hug, and Chip DePaula.
So, with a heap of the state’s black voting bloc on point in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County ceremoniously represented by Duncan’s presence and Baltimore’s first black elected mayor introducing the man of the hour, and add a sprinkling of Republican might – one can pretty much surmise that a war party is in effect.
After all, “It’s Wayne’s world,” said Schmoke.
Honestly, I left the event at Camelot feeling like things will never be the same again in Maryland ... at least not for black folks, the most loyal Democratic bloc in the state.
Further, I think I may have finally gotten the answer to a question I’ve had since February 11th of 2008: Where is our Obama? Who’d of thought? He’s right here in Gorgeous Prince George’s County, and the people are really feeling him – whatever he should choose to do.
When candidate Obama visited Baltimore’s Mariner Arena, I recall an excitement never before seen in this state. I saw 13,000 or so people flock to downtown Baltimore to see a black man. And then, on Election Day 2008, I saw lines out the door at 7 am in Sandtown, home of some of the most sluggish voting in Maryland.
Given the state’s historical treatment of African Americans, it appears as though the time may have finally come for blacks to get the deserved attention that’s been so long overdue. Last night, there was a certain attitude in the air that it is no longer business as usual. For instance, Curry alluded to the two poorest school districts in the state as being Prince George’s County and Baltimore, despite the state’s #1 ranking nationally. He alluded to the high percentage of young black males who go to prison in Maryland. And he questioned how black businesses were faring.
Quoting Frederick Douglass’ famous “power concedes nothing without demand” line, there is no doubt that something is about to happen … for the better, finally. And what better place for it to occur than Prince George’s County?
Remember, first, they gave us Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, the first black statewide elected official in Maryland – who is a Republican. Then came the Democratic response with Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown.
I guess the folks responsible for last night’s event figure Wayne Curry as governor would simply be the next logical step in black political progress in Maryland – beginning now.
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Excellent article, Doni! Thank you so much for being the man on the scene--again!
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