He also dismisses Williams' activist credentials. All of which Williams cites as personal accomplishments. Caraway stepped onto the political scene as an adviser to former Mayor Steve Bartlett, a white former GOP congressman who once voted against the creation of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. It seemed an unlikely alliance, but Bartlett cottoned to the three because of their belief in black economic independence as a means of solving social ills. These days, Caraway is anathema to that crowd.
Caraway also advises several council members.
He's proud of his entrepreneurial drive, even though his advertising business recently hit the skids. North Dallas billboard bans and a nationwide tobacco settlement that nixed cigarette billboards snuffed out much of Caraway's business. Caraway in late 1999 sought bankruptcy protection but then withdrew his filing. He now says he's worked out payment plans for most of his debt. Having sold his billboards, he now hopes to revive his cash flow with kiosk advertising inside restaurants and other public places.