I like Regina Lankenau.
That is important to say before I start making fun of her.
Regina was born in Monterrey. She has lived in Vienna, Warsaw, Aix-en-Provence, Laredo, and Houston. She speaks several languages. She graduated from Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs, studied journalism, and wrote for The Daily Princetonian. (McGraw Commons)
That is a hell of an introduction.
Mine is easier.
Meme.
In certain corners of Houston, that is enough.
Regina went into Houston’s Third Ward this week and came back with a diagnosis:
“James Talarico’s got a Black people problem.”
That will certainly get you to click.
She attended a gathering of roughly 100 Black Houstonians organized by state Rep. Jolanda Jones. There were political strategists, party officials, activists, social-media influencers and people from the community. Carroll Robinson was there dispensing advice. James Talarico was not. (Houston Chronicle)
Regina listened.
People argued.
They interrupted each other.
Some complained that Democrats talk too much about immigration and LGBTQ issues.
Others pushed back and said those issues mattered to them.
People ate spaghetti, jalapeño rice, shrimp empanadas, and red beans and rice.
The room got loud.
And then something wonderful happened.
Regina discovered that Black people arguing politics reminded her of her Mexican family reunions. (Houston Chronicle)
That is when I smiled.
Vienna.
Warsaw.
France.
Princeton.
Third Ward.
And eventually we arrive at the universal political truth:
Everybody’s family talks over everybody else while they eat.
I could have saved the Chronicle the expense report.
But there is a more interesting problem with Regina’s “Black people problem.”
Her own article tells us that a majority of likely Black voters already say they intend to vote for Talarico over Ken Paxton. (Houston Chronicle)
So apparently Talarico has a Black people problem with Black people who are mostly planning to vote for him.
Only at the Chronicle can the patient test positive and negative at the same time.
Now, Talarico really does have a problem.
He got slaughtered among Black voters in the Democratic primary. In Houston and Dallas, Jasmine Crockett won about eight out of every ten Black votes. Talarico knows it; that is why he is promising $25 million for Black voter outreach. (Houston Chronicle)
The question is whether those voters who preferred Crockett will show up for Talarico in November.
That is politics.
But Regina walked into something else too.
She walked into Houston politics.
Jolanda Jones didn’t gather 100 people in a room because everybody suddenly felt like discussing democracy.
Political people were there.
Strategists were there.
Influencers were there.
Party officials were there.
And somewhere out there is $25 million looking for people who know how to perform “Black voter outreach.”
Regina saw a listening session.
Meme saw a business opportunity.
That doesn’t mean anybody is doing anything wrong. Campaigns hire people. Organizations organize. Consultants consult. Influencers influence.
That is why God created invoices.
And Carroll Robinson, whom Regina introduces as “The Seer,” offered Talarico advice about finding Black voters outside the traditional churches—in stores, at brunch, at social gatherings and wherever people actually live their lives. (Houston Chronicle)
I know Carroll.
I have been around Houston politics since 1970.
Let us simply say that Houston has produced quite a few seers over the years.
Most become considerably more prophetic when there is a campaign budget.
But Regina’s larger point is right.
Talarico cannot show up in November and say, “Paxton is terrible, therefore you owe me your vote.”
He has to earn it.
Black voters are not a monolith. Regina actually demonstrates that beautifully even while giving us a headline suggesting they are one giant political problem. The people in her room disagreed about immigration, gay rights, generational priorities, Talarico, and even whether staying home might teach Democrats a lesson. (Houston Chronicle)
That is not a “Black people problem.”
That is called people.
Maybe Regina and I aren’t that different.
She needed Monterrey, Vienna, Warsaw, Laredo, Houston, France, and Princeton to eventually reach that conclusion.
I started in Molina.
And all I ever needed was:
Meme.