POL, old guard vs. young turks

James T. Smith is running to be the Democratic nominee for State Senator against Senator Kimberly Lightford.

Smith told me a story of Aderman Ed Smith (no relation) calling Smith for a meeting late one night. Aderman Smith tried to persuade Smith that the way he should get ahead was to ally himself with a current Black elected official and wait his turn.

What do you think of the advice? Is there truth to it? Or is it completely self-serving? Does it matter what you're trying to accomplish in politics?