Representative Donald Payne, the first-ever African-American congressman
from New Jersey, died Tuesday at the age of 77 from complications of
colon cancer. The former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus was
in his 12th term in the House. In 1988, Payne explained his desire to
break the color line in Congress, saying, "I want to be a congressman to
serve as a role model for the young people I talk to on the Newark
street corners… I want them to see there are no barriers to achievement.
I want to give them a reason to try." That year, Payne handily defeated
his Republican opponent, Michael Webb, and achieved his dream. In a
statement shortly after Payne’s death, President Obama said Payne had
"made it his mission to fight for working families." We discuss Payne’s
legacy with his brother, William Payne, and Larry Hamm, the New Jersey
chairman of the People’s Organization for Progress.Video
Source: Democracy Now!
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