Ted Williams III, the Political Science Department Chairman and Political Science faculty member at Kennedy King College, surprised everyone at The News School recently. During his visit, he discussed his experience with being involved in the political process. He also talked about the huge impact media plays in the process and offered in-depth facts about Chicago. This was a truly enlightening experience that ought to be shared.
Ted Williams the Third’s Intro to the Political Process
He started off his presentation with a famous quote by Dr. Martin Luther King: “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” Williams summarizes this quote for the class.
He stated, “Dr. King says that life isn’t just about us and he says that we only begin to live when begin to be concerned with other people.” He later declared, “It is never too early or never too late for you to be great.”
Later he encouraged the interns to look into the ways we can engage to initiate change in our society that addresses evident problems. He includes that you can make a difference wherever you are to impact your community.
Williams began this topic by mentioning the “Three M’s” of politics that come up, which are “money, media, and mobilization.” He added that to change the world, you have to know how the system foundationally works.
He explained how these “Three Ms” dominate the political process.
How Do These 3 M’s Dominate the Process?
Williams continued by explaining his experience in the political process. Back in 2004, he got involved in the political campaign of Barrack Obama. During this time Obama was running for the US Senate. They used the strategy of going door to door to get the information out. Williams further explained how the majority of political strategists understand that if they can get the media focused on the smallest group of people, they can control the masses.
With this being said, he encouraged the interns to understand the conditions of schools and neighborhoods are reflected in whether or not they are participating in the political process.
Williams furthers the conversation to discuss money in this process. He provides an instance where a certain amount of money is spent on elections to buy the influence and the power of the people.
The fact brought up was politicians are not always the sole ones who spend these excess funds of money on elections. A Supreme Court decision, back in 2010, titled Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission produced the ramifications of companies having the ability to fund whole campaigns. He provided the example where corporations that fund campaigns are businesses like oil companies that affect things like climate change.
The second of the “Three M’s” is media. It plays a huge part because it’s what politicians typically buy to grab the attention of constituents. Media is one of the most powerful things in getting people to pay attention. Williams states how the candidate who spends the most money typically wins.
Williams Provides Percentage Data
An example was given regarding the House where those candidates win about 90% of the time, while 80% of the Senate members win. Williams noted his experience when he was told he had to raise $100,000 for his campaign for posters, etc. This costs thousands of dollars to send out. His campaign manager even suggested that he start calling people he went to college and high school with to raise money. Williams did not raise enough money and stated that in turn, he lost his race.
Fundraisers play a crucial role as well. For example, there’s a current Senate race in Georgia where an excess of money is being spent. Candidates Raphael Warnock and Hershel Walker’s race is predicted to be one of the most expensive Senate races in history. In this, Williams emphasized the importance of putting out more and more information being key.
The third of the “Three M’s,” mobilization, plays a role in getting people in the room. This includes getting out into the community as much as you can by talking and meeting with people the most you can. Williams mentioned how he would have coffee events to hear the people’s concerns and problems.
Ted Williams the Third Talks About Chicago
He included the fact that Chicago is the third largest city. However, in the next five years, the city of Houston is predicted to be larger than the city of Chicago. The question was asked, why is the city of Chicago losing members? Some of the reasons for this were answered in the class: poverty, gun violence, segregation, and gentrification.
He added that the issues faced in Chicago are not merely Chicago issues, rather they are American issues. In fact, he mentions that Chicago is not the most violent city in America. “Criminologists actually do criminology studying one crime or murder per 100,000 people, Chicago is not even in the top twenty,” Williams emphasizes this fact is rarely, if ever, included in the media.
The truth is, Chicago is not the most violent city in America. It ranks at about 22 to 24 percent per capita, while in reality, cities like St. Louis, Detroit, Newark, Oakland, Baltimore, and New Orleans are increasingly more violent than Chicago, according to Williams.
How Engaging in the Media Changes the Way We Think
So if Chicago is not the most violent city, but is said the be “one of the greatest cities in the world, the question is the greatest city for who?” Williams added that the root cause of the crime issues we see is based in poverty. He gave the example of Central America and South America where there are high levels of poverty. In this example, one would see cartels, drug use, etc., present, according to Williams.
Williams stated how he desires to reclaim the city. Adding how he ran for office in the 9th Ward of the city of Chicago in 2015. He gave in-depth information about how the aldermen in the wards control how much money comes into your neighborhood to fix certain things in the area.
He equated that if you want to fix the problems of crime, violence, and poverty; you have to fix them nationally. He then quoted Martin Luther King Jr., “You cannot have a first-class nation with second-class citizens.” Therefore, we need to get to the place where we understand that we are only as strong as our weakest link; where each one will reach one, and each one will teach one. This is the only way we can fix the problems we currently have, according to Williams.
Williams further explained that it is paramount to fight for social justice on not one, but many fronts, like through politics, art, media, writing, etcetera — voices are needed for us to advocate for positive change in the world.
He concluded with a Margaret Mead quote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Written by Ke’Lena Thomas
Sources:
The News School: Ted Williams III
Inset Image Courtesy of The News School
Featured Image Courtesy of Teresa Grau Ros’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
