MLK Day: Boston Activist Offers New Age Civil Rights
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: As the nation remembers Dr. King, there's an undercurrent of change as the civil rights movement eases into the new millennium. There's also a new vision of what black Americans face with George W. Bush and what the president-elect can do to expand his black constituency. CNN's Bill Delaney has the details.</s>BILL DELANEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): By the time twilight's wrapping itself around Boston's inner city, long-time activist Reverend Eugene Rivers is no where near wrapping up another 18-hour day. His ear's still to the wintry street.</s>REV. EUGENE RIVERS, COMMUNITY LEADER: Most of my opinions come from black guys that I meet in a working-class barber shop every other week. The average black American, while not thrilled by George Bush, can be convinced that, in addition to moral outrage, we've got to do business with the man because he is a fait accompli.</s>DELANEY (on camera): Why don't we hear that more often?</s>RIVERS: There is an industry, called the civil rights industry, which trades on the rhetoric of grievance.</s>DELANEY (voice-over): Rivers wants to cut the rhetoric, and instead cut deals with the president-elect he met for the first time, with a group of clergy in late December. Predictable protest, River says, won't get it done now.</s>RIVERS: President-elect Bush was smart, in that he listened.</s>DELANEY: What could win over many blacks fast, River says, includes new assistance to fight AIDS in Africa, a degree of expanded Medicaid, a degree of help for women and children, hit hardest by welfare reform. Dream on? Well, Rivers says, were Bush to win over even 10 percent more blacks, he could make himself politically invincible. And Rivers isn't the only one weary of by-the-book protest from leaders like Reverend Jesse Jackson.</s>ANDRE NORMAN, YOUTH OUTREACH WORKER: I ain't feeling Jesse. I never felt Jesse, from day one. Want to pull for Colin Powell, want to pull for sister Rice, that's -- that's a good move. That's telling me at least he's trying to make the step. That's -- if that's the olive branch, hey, I am not going to grab it yet, but I see it.</s>DELANEY: For George W. Bush, Reverend Eugene Rivers says, opportunity which knocks once. Bill Delaney, CNN, Boston.