By Judge Greg Mathis

The race for the White House is a crowded one - both the Democrats and Republicans have several candidates, all of whom are jockying for a shot at their party’s nomination. In such a packed field, it is hard to discern what the issues are. We’ve heard candidates on both sides discuss immigration reform, school improvement, urban poverty and more. All are important issues that should be addressed.

One hot topic, however, has not been top of mind with the candidates: global poverty. With technology connecting the world in ways most of us couldn’t imagine just a generation ago, more and more people are realizing the hardships that many of the world’s citizens face on a daily basis. And many of us are realizing that, on a planet full of riches, such poverty is unacceptable. The U.S. has a responsibility to take the lead on addressing global poverty. What better way to shed a spotlight on the issue than to use the highly visible presidential elections as a platform?

U2 singer and activist Bono and former Senate leaders Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) and Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota) see the campaign as a perfect forum for addressing world poverty. And so should you. Daschle and Frist have joined Bono's ONE campaign to fight global poverty. Frist and Daschle will travel the country to talk with voters and urge them to focus the 2008 candidates on a plan that will combat extreme poverty and disease in the world’s poorest countries.

Individuals will be asked to contact the presidential candidates and question them on their plans for fighting global poverty and disease. This grassroots campaign hopes to broaden the presidential debates, going beyond the urban and domestic issues to include global challenges and possible solutions. While many African-American readers may not be familiar with Bono’s music, his interest and passion for ending world poverty has reached almost legendary status.

Through ONE and other initiatives, Bono has used music and his celebrity to discuss AIDS, malaria prevention, clean water systems and more in African nations. We, as African-Americans can take a page from Bono’s book and show more interest in and concern for our ancestral continent. We should be ashamed that Bono and other white celebrities have more passion for and knowledge of the birthplace of our ancestors than many of us do. While most blacks don’t have the wealth to travel to the ‘motherland’, it doesn’t stop us from educating ourselves about the struggles of our brothers and sisters abroad.

Once we’re educated about those challenges, we can begin to make a difference. As candidates pass through your state, raising funds and awareness, organize rally’s or letter writing campaigns to the media that will raise the issue and put the candidate on the hot seat to take a firm stance. Let them know you will only vote for a candidate with a comprehensive plan to end urban poverty as well as extreme global poverty. These elections are being watched world-wide; let’s make them mean something.

Editor’s note: Judge Greg Mathis is national vice president of Rainbow PUSH and a national board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

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