AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS MEET.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

Magic Johnson and Danny Glover may be used to being upstaged by a teammate or a co-star.

But by a congresswoman?

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, brought the house down Saturday at a preconvention symposium of prominent African-American leaders held at the University of Southern California.

The standing-room-only crowd roared its approval when Waters exhorted them to help her close the digital divide.

``We've got to stop buying the $250 tennis shoes and buy a computer instead,'' she said, as the 5,000 audience members jumped to their feet.

While Glover and Johnson certainly got their fair share of attention at Saturday's event, which centered on the problems facing African-Americans in the 21st Century, the day clearly belonged to the intellectuals and politicians.

Waters' fellow panelists included Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Illinois, and Harvard professors Cornel West and Lani Guinier.

``Magic and Danny Glover could have stayed home for all I care,'' said Sheryl Hudson, 30, of Diamond Bar, who brought her 1-month-old son to the symposium. ``I came to hear (the panelists) talk about the issues.''

Organizers said the event was designed to let the Democratic Party know it can't take African-American voters for granted on the eve of the party's presidential nominating convention.

Glover said he attended the symposium in the hope that his celebrity would attract the attention of news media and African-Americans who don't usually follow politics.

``I have a responsibility,'' Glover said as he was mobbed by reporters after the panel.

``Actors should be eclipsed by politicians,'' he said, shouting to be heard. ``We don't do anything that really matters.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Author Julianne Malveaux watches as fellow panelist Magic Johnson speaks.

(2) Actor Danny Glover responds to a question after the Advocacy in the Next Millennium panel discussion held Saturday at USC.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer