In our second interview of our Florida Senate race series, Newsone writer Farayi Chideya interviews the only African-American in the race, Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek.
Congressman Kendrick Meek met us straight after getting off of a plane from New York, where he’d been fund-raising for his Senate race with President Bill Clinton, a longtime supporter. His Congressional and campaign offices are inside the same nondescript building in Miami Gardens, a working-income, heavily African-American area where there are a significant number of foreclosures.
Congressman Meek is third in a three-man race, according to polls. But as he points out, it’s not time to count him out yet.
Congressman Meek is also the child of a politician — the groundbreaking Rep. Carrie Meek, who went (like Congresswoman and eventual Presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm) from teaching to Congress. Carrie Meek is now in the private sector, and her son holds her seat. Congressman Kendrick Meek took us on a drive through Miami Gardens and talked about what it was like to be the child of a political figure and neighborhood leader.
Pop and Politics with Farai Chideya is a series of three radio specials about the 2010 midterm elections. These specials will be heard on public radio stations around the country in late October and early November. Check your local public radio station or go to www.popandpolitics.com for more information.
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