Title: Boston Globe Across The Divide for February 02, 2008

" and that is zone. They're -- and welcome to another episode of across the divide it podcast we focus on people of color around doing it. In this episode."

" Senators Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton locked in -- two -- race for the democratic presidential nomination. If either wins their party's nomination in league history has been the first African American -- to receive in nomination from a major party in the United States. At the making of this episode the South Carolina primary had just finished and globe columnist there T Jackson had just returned from covering the election. Jackson covet the democratic race in 1988. When reverend Jesse Jackson went head to head with former Massachusetts governor Michael the caucus. The Texas at this time the race was different. Across the divide spoke with Jackson about his observations."

" Well what's fascinating about. This moment in American history is that. What Iowa. New Hampshire. And Nevada. Now South Carolina. Something that I probably wasn't -- C in my lifetime which is. White Americans. Considering an African American candidate. -- more on the issues then the person scholar. African Americans. Considering. Candidate. Regardless of color. Women. Considering. Hillary Clinton. Regardless of gender. Sure of some of those factors are you and who do we have been in play in this election so far but. To the degree that -- not is quite amazing. South Carolina. I think is noteworthy because. There were because of -- when I would feel was a little. Too much Bill Clinton interjected himself and playing. Subtle race cards during the run up to the election. Which had holes. Late breaking polls showing Obama lose support from white women plummeted plummeting to as low as 8%. When the election was held. Obama got 22% of the white women's vote according ex couple's. And 24%. Overall. Which was over three times. What Jesse Jackson got throughout the self in 1988. So. Is it was kind of like a I'm football fan so is calico. Situation where. Brett Favre threw for 300 yards. And needs a little bit -- running game to have some balance. And that's kind of what happens in South Carolina which is. Yes Barack Obama got an overwhelming African American which by the way is just as. Important. In the sense that. Polls throughout and surveys throughout the fall. We're showing that Hillary Clinton. -- split the black female vote. At the end of the day. That didn't happen. Several people told me that. They were. Repelled by Bill Clinton's. Injection of himself and his thoughts. It in that we com so I kind of ironically. You have. Something that got flipped upside down there have been a lot of speculation throughout. These months of wherever Barack Obama as an African American could put together quote it multi cultural multi generational coalition. And at least for the moment. That question now is actually more appropriate for Hillary Clinton. Beyond her base. Somewhat older. Women. An old line Democrats. So it's really. Quite. Amazing to see. Obama. Get double Clinton's vote. 55% to 27%. In a state that is still arguing over the confederate flag."

" That you mentioned Bill Clinton in projecting himself into the race. Nash when we solve this as in it was portrayed as -- ritualized polarizing election here but on the ground was in this racially polarized -- did you see that."

" Actually know who is that that is why I am I am. Maybe I'm a -- nigh eve here. But that's why I think this is really a very special moment. In our history sure things could go sour self. I guess that's the pun intended. You know as think as the candidates get more. Desperate or with four votes but. And delegates but. I gotta tell you. Russell that. Iowa stoops was really the starter is really something when I interviewed. Why. Americans' way if women in particular. Com who could -- I'm really struggling over. And -- will vote for Hillary as a woman but aegis. I really feel something from Obama. I had an interview to African American women. Two nights before the South Carolina election. That were arguing for fun in front of me. One was for Hillary Clinton and one was for Barack Obama and he was just like in -- in a fun way they were just just. Verbally jostling about. Obama's experience and Hillary Clinton's alleged experiences Obama -- alleged freshness and and then there was a white woman next. Down. Who. Was voting for. Obama so it was just. Something has happened right."

" I don't we don't know. If this will be a uniform kind of thing but I really didn't think. It's driven a lot buying. Younger voters under the age of fifty. Who really. You can -- you can name the reasons -- of the bush years. Don't necessarily want to see. Bush Clinton bush Clinton. Four. Are realized we've got -- our our -- our world image com. Economic kind of funds seeking this you know this is the the younger generation is the first generation. That cannot necessarily expect a awkward be upward mobility that my generation. All virtually expected you know based on the the factory work of our parents my parents. So there's a lot of stuff out there that. All in comes together. Where. Americans. -- feel there's enough urgency in politics. That the color or gender or someone doesn't matter. I was talking few months ago with the university you masters is Boston. Demographer. And he was one we were wondering. You know how -- in Massachusetts go for Deval Patrick at this time you know this moment. And why is America seriously considering Barack Obama at this time in this moment. And it was kind of a joke but perhaps there's agreement truth in this in that. When the country is really uncertain streets -- kind of point of uncertainty and and discontent. With the war vets. The majority of Americans now believe was a mistake. Bombs seeing a lot of our. Both physical. Blood and treasure. Being. Used in the way that people -- happy with. That. Perhaps someone who comes from a group of people who've known a lot of pain. And a lot of problems. Perhaps. A person from -- group and by the way don't know it don't necessarily mean just an African American can also mean Hillary Clinton has a woman. And if someone from. Eric a group of folks who know various kinds of discrimination in pain and have dealt with problems for a long time. Maybe there for a person to leave the country."

" Now you've he said you've covered a number of races. You've been you've covered the 88 race to -- well. And you've been in journalism for an of the years did you ever think he would see this -- who we would have. A woman. And someone who's African American. Fine for one of the major party's nomination hearing using this in electronic."

" Not this fast. And that's why I think it's -- I'm. Through you know it's really is. A moment to embrace and and not. Just purely on emotion. It's a moment to embrace because. We may be very well win this thing -- generational. Demand. Such as that Durham. Elevated. John F Kennedy. To the wired house. The kind of shift. Of thinking where. Americans. Collectively. Want to reuse that."

" more. Honorable place in the world. In an honorable more honorable discourse. Within. Globe columnist -- Jackson talking about the democratic South Carolina primary. Coming up in newly registered voter from Cambodia talks about voting in your first federal primary. This is across the divide. Eat -- voting her first federal election during the commonwealth February 5 primary. The 53 you'll Cambodian refugee became a US citizen for months ago in just registered to vote to close at Dallas out to talk about becoming an American citizens. And what voting means there. -- daughter Sophia helped translate for us."

" My head -- it comes -- I problem come again in the did you come to lol are winds connects to do and I says. 1980. Law and what did you come to the US but anus I don't know -- Our settlers are buying their phones and Sacramento that if the determine who converted some of she she needed to. Britain faintly in its intention of the -- states."

" What prompted you to become citizens and states."

" There can get the -- related to our north American in this have been thinking I don't you think the problem. What do when those have been here -- and get -- phenomenon. Then. PTA. It's citizenship because it species such. Even. If an eighth inning Cambodia ethnic -- I can always become and citizens there. But here clipping hair and it just makes sense to be incidents."

" What does it feel like to vote here. It's great if -- complain what is it."

" Well liked him pertinent seasonal. Different this year because. He hasn't -- very."

" I electable. -- You know it's a cold. And yes it."

" You can take it --"

" Okay."

" Is this is little place he think he could stay forever. For a long time you."

" And there. How is it I mean he's speaking the -- that was it hard to learn English when you're living."

" Yeah. Getting her to me."

" I don't expect that mean that you can understand me."

" Not my -- here unions that -- Yeah."

" Do you have a candidate yet --"

" The Boston Globe. This is -- trainers and little."

" And."

" That was -- resident he foul topic about voting in her first primary. Coming up -- might be -- visits line it's a city that is subject is poetry. This is across the divide it."

" I was uncle -- whose movies and home. And it's I only hope you."

" And it does it work this is much the news about. One of the nation's top poet speaking to a group of students at northern -- community college. The special read it significantly since the school has a large Latino student body and a spot as one of the few nationally known poets. To write about Latino life in Massachusetts."

" Quote every useful for this. -- or twenty. In the heart of Europe. We'll let you positive things done. -- because there's. Muscles."

" For about an hour spot on this prize it's -- some of his best known pieces in English and Spanish. Originally trained as an attorney at Northeastern University. The Brooklyn born spot began writing after working parents cases in the area like it Lynn English high school. "

" When they have to win -- English is -- over there decided to abandon Spanish island. And so we go there to Honolulu conversation with the principal. Through. He's. Because it costs. And they had a change -- policy that is one of the great advantage would be no point is the opportunity for revenge. As part of this little hole. -- that case. And policy in this is true. Vote or China has managed in the bathroom. Principal reasons probably yes pol. The word he recognizes. As his own name. And there has been. So in his -- and Benz vision problems. Now again."

" He's -- is coming back to Lawrence allows him to return to his literary roots. It also reminds him why he became a writer."

" Outside of New England they're very. Few people are aware. Just how. Being in and vibrant the Latino community of Massachusetts happens to be. And and growing all the time. And so yes. I have written poems about Latinos and Chelsea's appeals to Americans Latinos in -- I see the the -- role. Going beyond. Pure poetry that. Poet and depending on the need in this circumstance can be. A journalist can be historians can be an activist can be -- preacher can be a teacher. And be an organizer. And all those things or or necessary. In the present day. We have to make a record of our own presence we have to document their own existence. Because we don't do it is going to do it."

" Now fifty years old and the author of eight books of poetry. It -- says until he began writing about the Latino community in Massachusetts. He now feels he can write about anything. His latest collection of poetry the republic of poetry talks about how poetry can push for political change."

" I think there are various ways in which the -- change first of all I feel. This point in my life. That I can write about anything. That's not something I felt they could do when I was 24 -- my experience was much more limited. My knowledge of the world is much more limited. I wrote what I knew but I also wrote what I thought people wanted to read. Especially in these Latino community. Now I read I write whatever -- much stubborn. Much more independent minded. And so if I go to Ireland I wrote about Ireland for -- going to -- corridor me cool fight goats who. -- to back from Norway are probably in their writing some polls in Norway."

" But -- points in the -- and the city spa says he can meet certain points that he believes in resonates with the community. Especially since they take place arts."

" I couldn't come here without being too old. Learning all of you know do we -- Many years ago and he's. I -- a painter here from the Dominican. His thing was Wilson's. And is important partner. Anywhere. No and being -- Lawrence. Or maybe I'm a painter. From congress to war."

" Paulus who has spent years training. And you are pretty well you know the public. And he was. He's okay -- you Lawrence. We he has not lived long enough. Alert at all forms of hiring immigration officers. He. He's. The world's great in this part. All -- compete or. We will -- Probably. News like fireworks. Polishing. It. You'll probably making his way into government agents -- Gordon are you hopeful we're -- Let them. --"

" Yeah yeah. A off today. Other Boston Globe podcast please visit Boston. If activities with another episode of -- process devised for the Boston Globe. Just took pictures of things."