Vote!
vote! vote!
During the Civil Rights Movement the people were
aware of the primary strategies to achieve the objectives of African
Americans. These strategies included sit-ins, demonstrations and
boycotts. Not everyone agreed that these were the best approaches
to gaining black equality. Militant groups advocated more revolutionary
tactics. However, most people followed the non-violent path.
Now that the civil rights era has passed, there seems to be little
understanding of what strategies will take African Americans to
the next level. One reason for this is that the goals are necessarily
more abstract. Blacks were tired of being forced to ride in the
back of the bus, or being refused service in a restaurant, or being
denied access to a public swimming pool although they were taxpayers.
But those problems have fortunately been corrected. Many blacks
now wonder, “Where do we go from here?”
The connection between the development of power and the voting booth
is not always clear. One reason for this is that there is not a
connection between voting and an immediate personal benefit to the
voter. The end of racial apartheid brought an immediate boon. Blacks
no longer had to suffer the indignity of riding in the back of the
bus. Fathers no longer had to be humiliated in front of their children.
But the benefits of voting are not quite so obvious.
Another problem is that the voter must decide from among a number
of candidates which one will benefit him or her the most. Confusion
on this issue often induces the citizen to stay home on Election
Day. That strategy is a major mistake.
The primary objective on Election Day is to demonstrate that the
African American community has political power which all politicians
must recognize. It is not necessary for a voter who is unimpressed
with the candidates to vote for anyone. What is required is that
he show up on Election Day and have his presence recorded.
Imagine if 90 percent of the black voters went to the polls and
blanked all of the candidates. This would attract the attention
of the news media across the country. The most important point is
that there would be a high turnout. A massive dissatisfaction with
candidates would also be noted because that is the primary cause
for a low voter turnout.
There is also another reason for blacks to vote in every election.
Polls indicate a substantial difference of opinion between blacks
and whites on a number of issues. It is certainly advantageous to
have public officials who are sensitive to the black outlook on
public policy.
For example, a national survey by The Pew Charitable Trusts of public
opinion following Hurricane Katrina indicates that blacks and whites
have substantially different opinions on its racial implications.
According to 71 percent of the blacks polled, the disaster indicates
that racial inequality remains a major American problem. Only 44
percent of whites agreed with this.
African Americans must understand more clearly the importance and
advantage of acquiring power. This is a privilege that has heretofore
been denied to blacks. Every citizen must register and vote in every
election. This is a crucial element of attaining power, the ability
to impress African American ideas and concepts on major issues.
|
Melvin B. Miller
Editor & Publisher
Bay State Banner |
