Political strategist to speak for Black History Month
Nick Johnson
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: News
One of the biggest events Eastern has planned in celebration of Black History Month is a presentation on Monday, Feb. 8 by nationally known political strategist Donna Brazile.
The job title of political strategist, however, doesn't really do Brazile justice. Brazile's career began when she was just 9 years old and worked in support of a city council candidate who promised to build a new playground in Brazile's neighborhood. Now, she is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University in women's and gender studies, as well as a regular contributor for news programs such as CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos and NPR's News and Notes.
Brazile is also an author, syndicated columnist and a former chairperson of the Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute. She has served on the board of directors of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which was created to help the state rebuild in areas destroyed by hurricanes, and founded the political consulting firm Brazile & Associates.
What Brazile is may be most known for is being the first African-American woman to head up a major presidential campaign, when she served as the campaign manager for Vice President Al Gore's bid for the presidency in 2000.
"I remember during the 2000 campaign, it was impressive for a woman to be in charge of the campaign," said Salome Nnoromele, director of the African/African-American Studies program at Eastern. "How much trust people had in her ability…I admire her."
Nnoromele said she wanted to bring Brazile to campus because of that varied experience she has had in influencing national policy and politics.
"For me, her career experience is fascinating," Nnoromele said. "She is very knowledgeable about the issues, and she carries herself in a very professional but approachable manner."
The job Brazile has that might have the most effect on the Eastern community is her current position as the Democratic National Committee's vice chair of Voter Registration and Participation. In this position, Brazile seeks to encourage and involve young people in the political process.
"It's good to bring a nationally recognizable face in to talk to students on their level, so they can engage in the discussion of politics and global issues," Nnoromele said. "Bringing in speakers like this can help students find a way to become involved in politics. We don't always have to agree, but students need to participate in order to be heard."
Brazile is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. on Feb. 8 in Brock Auditorium.
The job title of political strategist, however, doesn't really do Brazile justice. Brazile's career began when she was just 9 years old and worked in support of a city council candidate who promised to build a new playground in Brazile's neighborhood. Now, she is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University in women's and gender studies, as well as a regular contributor for news programs such as CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos and NPR's News and Notes.
Brazile is also an author, syndicated columnist and a former chairperson of the Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute. She has served on the board of directors of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which was created to help the state rebuild in areas destroyed by hurricanes, and founded the political consulting firm Brazile & Associates.
What Brazile is may be most known for is being the first African-American woman to head up a major presidential campaign, when she served as the campaign manager for Vice President Al Gore's bid for the presidency in 2000.
"I remember during the 2000 campaign, it was impressive for a woman to be in charge of the campaign," said Salome Nnoromele, director of the African/African-American Studies program at Eastern. "How much trust people had in her ability…I admire her."
Nnoromele said she wanted to bring Brazile to campus because of that varied experience she has had in influencing national policy and politics.
"For me, her career experience is fascinating," Nnoromele said. "She is very knowledgeable about the issues, and she carries herself in a very professional but approachable manner."
The job Brazile has that might have the most effect on the Eastern community is her current position as the Democratic National Committee's vice chair of Voter Registration and Participation. In this position, Brazile seeks to encourage and involve young people in the political process.
"It's good to bring a nationally recognizable face in to talk to students on their level, so they can engage in the discussion of politics and global issues," Nnoromele said. "Bringing in speakers like this can help students find a way to become involved in politics. We don't always have to agree, but students need to participate in order to be heard."
Brazile is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. on Feb. 8 in Brock Auditorium.
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