Last time I checked the calendar, we were in the 21st century and the year was 2010. However, after the New York State Democratic Committee selected an all-white

leadership ticket at the 2010 State Convention in Rye, N.Y., one would've thought that they turned back the hands of time. It seems as if we have stepped back into the Jim Crow era in the state of Mississippi.

How can we sit back and let New York State Democrats select an all-white leadership ticket that looks identical to the state leadership of Mississippi in the 1950s? Adding insult to injury, they had the nerve to brand themselves "The New Democratic Party."

Seems like the same old "structural racism" that has plagued this country for centuries. You mean to tell me that gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Andrew Cuomo couldn't find a single Black, Latino or Asian candidate that was qualified to be selected as his running mate for lieutenant governor? What a slap in the face and an insult to our community. What about Leecia Eve, daughter of former Assemblyman Arthur Eve? She was a candidate for lieutenant governor when Spitzer was running. We remember the rotten deal she got.

What about Mayor Byron Brown of Buffalo, N.Y.? What about Carl McCall, the Black man that Cuomo sabotaged when he was running for governor in 2002? What about State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins – she is more than qualified.

Instead, Cuomo arrogantly selects conservative Mayor Robert J. Duffy of Rochester. Duffy, who was mayor for only one year, is a former Republican; wants mayoral control over schools; is anti-union; a former police chief; and was unknown by most. How could Black leadership sit back and not sharply and strongly criticize Cuomo for this selection? Worst yet, they even got Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn District 57) to help introduce him. What a sad commentary. He doesn't even know Duffy.

It was important for Cuomo to select a Black lieutenant governor because the rest of the ticket is white. The two New York State U.S. senators, Gillibrand and Schumer, are white. The state comptroller, DiNapoli, is white. The five attorney general candidates are white and, of course, Andrew Cuomo and now Robert Duffy, the governor and lieutenant governor hopefuls, are white.

This is absurd! When are we going to get it? Black leaders in this state must stand up and fight for power. I want to say, "Hats off" to State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. and Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, who spoke out against an all-white state slate.

We are living in critical times, with massive layoffs and severe cuts in daycare, senior centers, fire stations, education, youth employment and so many other issues are devastating our communities. This is the time for conscious, committed and courageous leadership to stand up for our people. Remember, we blew the opportunity to retire Bloomberg in his mayoral race against Billy Thompson, who only lost by 4.6 percentage points.

The City Council, which is made up of a majority of people of color, gave the power of speaker back to Christine Quinn instead of empowering one of their own. If this goes as expected, the governor, lieutenant governor, two U.S. senators, the state comptroller, the state attorney general, the mayor of New York City, the speaker of the City Council, and the New York City public advocate will all be white.

"My, my, my, as things change, oh how they remain the same."

Some will say this is a post-racial era and I am being divisive. Some may say color doesn't matter. For those misguided few, I say just watch during this budget season and see which communities get most of the funding and most of the contracts. Rise up, Black people! Let no one take your vote for granted. Send a message to Cuomo and his Black supporters – they must do better than this to get our vote!