Five Minutes With: Rep. Kendrick Meek

By Cassandra Roos, Emerson College and Tamia Booker, Campus Progress
Thursday February 23, 2006

In October, Representative Kendrick Meek, 39, of Florida, helped found the Democratic “30-Something Working Group.” According to the Washington Post, Meek and Rep. Timothy J. Ryan, 32, of Ohio “seized the House floor” and “recited a litany of GOP misdeeds—mismanaging Hurricane Katrina and neglecting education and health care, for example—and offered the Democrats’ alternatives.”

The Post went on to describe Meek as “part of a new generation of Democrats … Their fresh ideas, modern media skills and aggressive political tactics have inspired a party that has drifted for much of the past decade.”

First elected to public office at the ripe age of 27, Rep. Meek is currently in his second term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Homeland Security. He has been an advocate for children’s education rights and has served eight years in the Florida state House and Senate. He spoke to Campus Progress about the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), why young people should run for office sooner rather than later, and some ideas for democratic and economic improvements in Haiti.

As a graduate of Florida A&M University, a Historically Black University, how would you address the argument that HBCUs are no longer needed because blacks can attend the university of their choice?

Historically Black Colleges are very important to the fiber of our country. They are a part of our history. They are a part of our culture. I think it is important, not only that we continue to have black colleges, but that we also continue to have other peoples of other walks of life and nationalities learn more about the black experience in the United States. We are the only group of people that have been enslaved by this country while at the same time fighting for it. We are one of the most patriotic groups of Americans that are here in our country now. I think that any attempt to dissolve these universities through a lack of funding or a lack of grant opportunities from the federal government would be very detrimental to the forward progress of people of color. Some historically black colleges have just passed their centennial, others have been around for maybe 120 years. But that is still not long enough to be able to make up for the time when education was outlawed for so many years for people of color in this country.

Why have you chosen to take such an active interest in Haiti and in the country’s recent election? In 2004, you were the first member of Congress to visit the country since former President Aristide was ousted.

Well, I represent more Haitians than any other member of Congress. The Haitian cause is very, very important right now. It’s heart-wrenching to see, as I’ve seen several times, 30 or 40 Haitians loading on boats that can only hold 10 individuals as they try to seek freedom. For Haiti to be less than a two and a half hour plane ride from South Florida and for it to be a democracy as shaky as it is, within the Americas. Right now it is struggling to hold on to a way of life and democracy and freedom and justice for Haitians that are still there. So I’m very passionate about working on issues like fair elections and on promoting aid to Haiti and creating business opportunities. Most Haitians want to stay in Haiti, they just don’t want to suffer political persecution or have a situation where their children are unsafe.

Do you think that debt relief could be a solution to solving problems in a country, such as Haiti, that is troubled by poverty and also by crime and corruption?

Yeah, debt relief is going to be vital to the forward progress of Haiti. As you know right now, a lot of the debt relief that has been given to nations that have natural resources like oil or gas. But I think Haiti is aligned well in the international community and I’m very positive about the potential for forward progress there. Hopefully, we can get through the election cycle we are in now and elect, not select, a president and seat a Parliament that will allow for a real democracy where we can hear the voices of all Haitians.

You were first elected to public office at 27. What advice would you give to young people interested in running for office?

I really get excited about young people getting involved. I had an event a little earlier today on innovation and George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars was there and he brought his whole technical crew that has been working with him for the last twenty years. It was an example of how they started out as young people with a vision. I tell folks, when you have a vision, when you want to accomplish something, when you want to help your community, public service is a great way to carry out your vision, and also the vision of your constituents. Just like you, I got involved at a very young age, knocking on doors at the age of 26, elected at 27. At one time, I used to think, well, I’ll wait till I’m 40 or 50 or something and then run for public office, but I’m so glad that I got involved at the age that I did because now I’ve had the opportunity to really be a part of some good things and I’ve had the opportunity to give voice against bad initiatives here in the Congress and in other legislative bodies. So, I encourage you to get involved in your community while being bold but respectful to those individuals that are serving now.

They may be a little older but there’s plenty of room for leadership in this country. As a matter of fact, we need more of it. I hope that we can recruit more people to run for public office, no matter what their age may be, so that we can have the kind of diversity we need and deserve at all levels of government.