African Americans must explore alternatives to the current two-party system if they hope to gain more political clout, Climenko Professor of Law Charles J. Ogletree said last night. In a speech at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum titled “African Americans & 21st Century Politics: Time for Reconstruction?”, Ogletree made a case for the formation of a third party to rival the existing Republican and Democratic parties because, he said, both groups have neglected issues affecting African Americans. Ogletree, who called himself an “eternal optimist,” began his talk by revealing that, when he agreed to speak at the Forum several months ago, he had hoped to give an “upbeat, encouraging analysis of the John Kerry presidency.” But instead of attacking President George W. Bush, Ogletree suggested that the best way to move forward is to analyze how blacks have achieved political success in the past. “I think it’s time to...use the Reconstruction model to think about a third effort,” he said. According to Ogletree, the period after the Civil War known as Reconstruction is best known for the struggle for suffrage and other political rights for blacks. “It also is well known for its failure to fulfill the promise of equality made to African Americans,” he said. Ogletree praised Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill.—a graduate of Harvard Law School and Ogletree’s former student—for his leadership in the Democratic party. [more]