Yvette Clarke stays true to her roots

Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

Don't be fooled by that captivating smile - behind it lies an astute political mind and a caring, people-centred personality, but that smile is what immediately pulls you into the dynamic United States (US) Congresswoman Yvette Clarke upon first meeting. She was the guest speaker at the St Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation's golden awards banquet, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Friday, November 26.

Clarke was born in Brooklyn and is one half of the first mother-daughter succession in the history of the New York City Council. She was elected to the US Congress in November 2006 and represents the 11th Congressional District. Prior to her election to the US House of Representatives, Congresswoman Clarke served on the New York City Council representing the 40th District in Brooklyn.

But the course to Capitol Hill was not deliberately charted. A science major, Clarke said she had first wanted to become a paediatrician but chose public service having been raised in what she describes as an activist household.

"My brother and I grew up seeing our mother (former New York City Councilwoman Una Clarke), at the centre of planning, mobilising, advocating for and helping others. I got the early exposure as the only child in the middle of grown-up meetings," Clarke said.

So the stage was set in her formative years and, later, as a college student she was at the forefront of the campus anti-apartheid movement. Her mother arrived in the US at the height of the activism of black power and civil rights movements, social consciousness turned into political empowerment, and the transition to representational politics was natural.

Una Clarke, who sat in briefly with her daughter for the interview, told Outlook that she had a purpose when she migrated.

"As a parent and a part of the educational system, I understood it, but I'd learnt from my father very early how important it was to participate in civic life."

She did not encourage her daughter to follow in her footsteps, but Yvette learned from her example.

She added that as an educator, she knew that children lived what they learned and in a city like New York, if the home did not take responsibility, the streets would. So she made sure her son and daughter received the proper guidance and education.

Congresswoman Clarke's father, Leslie L. Clarke Sr, an architect, however, elected to remain the solid and supportive rock and the wind beneath their wings, allowing his two powerful women to shine. Now retired, he continues to support his daughter.

in the spotlight

Being in the spotlight, she tries not to ape her mom, but to be 'uniquely Yvette' cognisant of the fact that "my mom was larger than life and a living icon in New York; I saw her in action," she said.

Now retired, Una Clarke is president of the Progressive Democrats Political Association of Central Brooklyn. She stomps for her daughter, helps behind the scenes and advises her to be discriminatory in spending.

The young politician sees herself in it for the long haul and is immensely satisfied to be serving the community of her birth.

"When you are serving your own community, it makes such a difference; not many get to do that. I still live there and my parents are now my landlords," said Clarke, who commutes between New York and Washington, DC, for work. She stays focused on the task at hand by taking the concerns of her constituents personally. "They sacrificed for me and helped to raise me."

Congresswoman Clarke's typical day moves at a hectic pace, with several committee hearings, special-interest lobbies, voting on legislation and attending social functions. She finds it all challenging but rewarding. She currently chairs the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, as well as Cyber Security and Science and Technology for the 111th congress. Of relevance to Jamaica and the Caribbean is her work with trade and immigration - specifically when it leads to family fragmentation after some people are deported.

"Advocacy is key New York has the largest population of immigrants, including people from the Caribbean," she said, noting that the current immigration policy is outdated.

Noting that the nation was built by immigrants, Clarke said, "The policy must become more progressive to eliminate scapegoating in hard times, a tendency now more evident in the heartland rather than the coastal sections of America," she said.

Each challenge is different. Most outstanding among them is having the patience to "tolerate a lot of the stonewalling of issues, particularly those affecting the marginalised, and that is also indicative of how the leadership representing the marginalised is treated.

"Sometimes you have to 'act crazy' to be heard when policies do not take into account the nuances that make them work," she said. Still, some significant bills have been passed.

Mosque at Ground Zero

Asked to comment on the recent controversy surrounding the proposed building of a mosque close to Ground Zero, site of the horrific 9/11 terrorist attack, Clarke opined that fear drove people to do strange things and many of the protesters were not even from New York.

"I grew up in a multi-ethnic/ religious/cultural environment where all coexist. All this objection is appalling and anti-American," she said.

So, how much of the wave of racial and other sociopolitical tensions does she attribute to the colour of the current president's skin, Outlook asked?

"The same conditions that exist in the United States now existed under the previous administration that created a climate that caused the economy to collapse. It was not created by President Obama, he is also a victim of the situation but he was brave to offer himself to serve. But, as a party, we (Democrats) didn't take the Tea Party movement seriously enough, nor did we anticipate that the average America would give credence to them, so from now on, anything valid that they say has to be addressed, but any sentiment with racial overtones must be rejected," she said.

A lot of the post-midterm election talk holds negative portent for the next session of Congress and tough days ahead of the 2012 elections for the Democrats from the majority Republicans. But Clarke is confident that the GOP will have to show evidence and prove themselves, and she's not confident they can do it. "Rhetoric is one thing, the ability to legislate is another," she said.

She is confident that President Obama will survive this crisis because he still enjoys unwavering support.

"The president is extremely accomplished, and in spite of other agendas, he will make it through a second term," she said.

Of women on the American political landscape, Congresswoman Clarke thinks there are too few, and that is regrettable as women bring an important voice to the dialogue. But women like her are sometimes at a disadvantage.

"Our opinions, negotiating skills and approaches are different," she noted, but voters can be reached with other messages instantly through television ads and those have to be counteracted quickly and funds have to be raised to do that. But she remains undaunted and finds ways to reach her constituents.

Her biggest surprise so far is seeing that someone like her is where she is today. "When I think about where my parents come from and see my nameplate at my door and my office on the Hill; when I contemplate my awesome responsibility, I know I was put here for a reason because I am not wealthy or well known. When I compare that to my grandma's porch in Williamsfield, Siloah, St Elizabeth, it gives me a sense of humility," she said.

barbara.ellington @gleanerjm.com