Title: Black Leaders Wonder If Community Has Lost Its Clout

" This is the WBUR news podcast. The podcast as a free service of WBUR Boston. To make a contribution to support the news go to our website WBUR dot award. I'm -- books coming up today according to the most recent census estimates almost one in four Bostonians is black. And in the mayoral race the incumbent Boston mayor Thomas Menino and his challengers city councilor Michael Flaherty are both actively courting black voters. But as WBUR's. Bianca baskets -- reports some wonder if black Boston wields the political power today it once did."

" NAACP. Was once the pre -- civil rights group in America. Boston had the first chapter. In in the 19. People -- organization. The national association for the advancement of colored people led the fight against school segregation in housing discrimination in Boston. But now the group is a lot less outspoken according to -- and shot I don't know what the NAACP. Doesn't have more avoids. Or more present. Years ago it did -- as one of 400 members of Boston's NAACP. Back in the seventies and eighties she says there were dozens of groups in Roxbury alone dedicated to political organizing. But some of the best organizers with the black clergy the ministers -- front and center I mean they were united in front and center. All the way it's -- 1880s black ministers used to protest outside city hall and educate parishioners in the pews. About issues and candidates. Pastor Bruce -- led some of those protests but now he says."

" The minister is also dependent upon the got. Or eight base grants for property -- little things that the government is giving them. Diminished is up depended on the government. And they are not independent speak to him."

" Without activists pastors -- worries that Boston's blacks are losing their political potency. Something they already have. No we don't have smallest trying to organize black people to demand better public schools. He has Boston's blacks missed an opportunity with this mayoral race."

" None of us had enough sense to say okay none of these -- become mayor. Unless we just because we're of the song writers you don't know because man with the black community votes."

" What is the black community in Boston the most recent census shows the overall black population is shrinking in Boston. While African Americans have been leaving the city they are being replaced by Haitians Dominican and so Molly's. But not the same pace. Small says no one has figured out how to integrate immigrant interests -- unified black agenda. But there is common ground."

" We know because we're talking to them on public education issues that housing is an issue them just like it's an issue with us. Unemployment is an issue with them to -- is an issue with us health care is an issue with them just like -- initiative."

" Finding this common ground could help blacks in Boston have more political clout according to Simone miles. She helped start a group called think politics. To educate voters and encourage black candidates to run for office. The problem she says is complacency."

" People have gotten a little enough insight into racism is not overtly in my face when these things are completely Catholics that you know it's it's not that it it's okay but it's not in the it's worsening. When he kidnapping and he didn't expect it to be an adult who held accountable for things medium aren't Catholic its worst -- But again because it absolutely you know where some people have gotten on."

" Don't -- the wrong idea blacks in Boston are voting black neighborhoods had an average turnout in the preliminary mayor's race -- miles says that's not good enough. Candidates are talking about issues important to blacks. Mayor Menino has high approval ratings among blacks because he's helped bring development black neighborhoods. And Michael Flaherty has talked about improving failing schools. But activist Horace small says black people in Boston still have to pressure these candidates to meet the black agenda."

" Mike clarity is a personal friend I like I don't know which Mike is running for office. I don't of these guys to -- Louise day hicks to left and gone. I remember when he would rule on issues -- when he was the president council stop any kind of debate that actually affects things that impact upon people object. When people -- Yeah you grow you."

" You don't and the same thing and you know 1400 kids have been killed in time to do that man like you know."

" If little empowered we got a right to ask that question. We got it right. We got right to expect an --"

" But figuring out."

" Who do he is in that sentence and getting them to speak with one voice is now the challenge for blacks in Boston. For WBUR. And -- about this --"

" This podcast is a free service of WBUR Boston. To make a contribution to support the news go to our website wbur.org."