Working in a multiracial group of any sort is a new experience for most of the Campaign's members. Still, Co-Chair Judy Victor, an African American, regrets the lack of deeper social connections between members. Language and cultural differences remain significant barriers to solidarity. If one of us says we should go and have a talk here, or a meeting there, we have the same expectations for what we are going to get. If there was more of that in our Cooperative, then we'd be more of one accord, and no external forces would be able to stop us then.
Members say the answer lies in their ability to continue to build a unified multiracial membership.
For example, the Cooperative will soon need to reach out to Asian women, some of whom provide free daycare for their communities because they do not know that a state subsidy system exists. The group's success will also depend on how well they challenge the increasing privatization of public services for the poor, and on the huge potential for workfare to give rise to hundreds of unlicensed providers. We're working harder to improve the licensing system and get them all licensed so they can join the Cooperative and fight with us. Rinku Sen is co-director of the Center for Third World Organizing and a member of the ColorLines editorial board. We reserve the right to edit letters that we publish.