James Baldwin once said “The price one pays for pursuing any profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.” In politics, perhaps more so than any other profession this statement holds true. Houston city councilman Michael Berry, has shown his African-Americans supporters the “ugly side” of the political landscape in Houston.

Berry won his at-large city council seat largely on the backs of African-American voters. In fact, he gained the endorsement of the well-respected State Representative Sylvester Turner. However, since the election Berry has done very little substantively to retain the support of African-American voters. Of course he continues to eat where we eat, he also makes it a point to be seen where we are seen, he visits three or four Black churches on most Sundays and he even has an African- American on his staff. Unfortunately, Berry has failed to demonstrate the more important qualities of supporting the issues we support and being loyal to those who were loyal to him last November.

As you may recall, AAN&I was the first to question Councilman Berry’s loyalties when we asked, “Did Michael Berry Pimp Black voters?” The gist of that article detailed Berry’s pension to vote against many of the issues in which African Americans supported. The most noted of those being the Pleasant Hill Community Development Corporation’s affordable housing proposal. Berry has also participated with the overt hard line conservatives on city council in orchestrating an unrelenting campaign to discredit Houston’s first African American mayor, Lee P. Brown.
At that time, AAN&I warned Berry that he had two strikes against him. Berry’s third strike came at a time many African Americans were anticipating the impending announcement of Sylvester Turner’s candidacy for mayor. On July 8, 2002, Michael Berry after six months on city council announced that he would be running for mayor. The irony is that in the last election, Turner validated Berry’s presence in the African American community. In fact, Turner campaigned and assisted in raising contributions on his behalf. Now Turner has publicly denounced his support of Berry in meetings with African American clergy and community leaders.

Moreover, Berry’s method of operation is now obvious, shake hands and court the African American community, while casting his votes on city council to appease the likes of Paul Bettencourt, Bert Keller and other fervent conservatives. This method reminds me of how the slave master would “love” the young vibrant female slave out in the slave quarters, but up in the Big House, he would be working to sell her to the highest bidder.

Berry must now realize that this is a new day and a new breed of African-Americans. No longer will we sit idly and let politicians come into our communities and gain our support and later dishonor that support at the times we need it most. Although it is obvious by Berry’s actions that he no longer feels he needs to ride the backs of African-Americans to further his political endeavors, we must hold him accountable for the free ride he has already taken. Berry should take note that the African-American community is awaiting his return. However, this time instead of offering support for Berry, we shall demonstrate our dissatisfaction in a resounding vote against him.