The
year is 2020. And for many citizens,
this has been one of the most challenging years in recent history. Due in large part to a global pandemic,
millions are without jobs (and many without hope!). 2020 also happens to be a general election
year (150 years after the passage of the 15th Amendment). So, some citizens will be heading to polls to
vote for political candidates. But everyone who is eligible to vote will not be
doing so. There is a wide schism amongst
citizens regarding whether participating in the democratic system makes sense. Some believe casting a vote is an exercise in futility. They believe total withdrawal from the system
is the answer. Others believe the political
system is flawed, but it is the only system we have to govern our country. For
those who are undecided on this critical issue, it is important to understand—at
least at a high level—the historical context encapsulating the issue of
voting. This is particularly important
for Black folk because people have literally died for us to be able to have a voice.
Maybe the most fundamental tenet of democracy is voting. The framers of the U.S. Constitution ensured the right to vote was included in the Constitution. But, as we know, fundamental rights have not always been afforded to everyone. In fact, the white men who drafted the Constitution only guaranteed these rights for one segment of the population: White men. Black people and women (of any race) were not part of this group, and thus were not granted this right. And were not able to participate in the voting system (at least in theory) until many years later. But, let’s take a quick look at the ideal of democracy. This is a system where citizens elect representatives to represent their interests. In theory, this is a much better system than a monarchy where one man has unfettered power to make all decisions.
So when did Black folks gain the right to vote? On February 3, 1870, Congress ratified the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In part, it provided: “rights of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous conditions of servitude.” This ushered in a time when Black folks voted and held positions in Congress. However, this period of progress was short-lived. By 1900, states discovered ways to work around the law, including literacy tests and poll taxes. Remember: Many of the Black folks who could suddenly vote after the passage of the 15th Amendment were former slaves. Thus, it was illegal for them to learn to read and write. Many were destitute. So, how the hell could they pass these voting tests? And, the shadow of the KKK loomed in the background for many would-be voters in the South. They terrorized Black folks in every conceivable manner. That begs the question. If there is no power in the vote, why were there so many people trying to keep Black folk from voting?
I want to focus your attention on the 1960s. This was a transformative period. This was years after Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the doctrine of separate but equal (Segregation) in 1954. But, the federal government refused to enforce this ruling on the states. So, many states simply ignored the ruling and continued with their Jim Crow segregation practices. This meant that Black people continued being relegated to second class citizenry. We still had to sit in the back of buses. We were required to watch movies from the balcony of movie theaters. We could spend money at some businesses, but could not receive food from lunch counters. I cannot even imagine how our ancestors must have felt. But, one thing I know about Black people is that we are resilient.
The Civil Rights Movement was an ugly time. So many Black people lost their lives, freedom, and endured inconceivable torture from racists—including politicians, law enforcement officials, the system of government (all levels) and regular citizens. This was a time when Black folk in Nashville, TN (and other Southern cities) aggressively protested segregation. They staged sit-ins at department stores, movie theaters and other public facilities where the Black dollar was accepted, but we were not allowed to work in these stores, or even to purchase food from counters in these locations. The folks who participated in these protests often were spat on, struck with Billy clubs, punched, kicked, hosed, attacked by vicious dogs, repeatedly thrown in jail, and even murdered. They demanded that the government tear down all tenets of Jim Crow. They were tired of waiting patiently. They wanted fair treatment in all areas.
By the mid-1960s, SNCC (and other Civil Rights Groups), focused on voting rights. Of the many southern states where voter suppression was a problem, Mississippi was likely the worst of the lot. Historical context is important here. The battle for voting rights occurred after: The Freedom Riders, The Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the March on Washington. Mississippi was a particularly vile place where many cities had less than 1% of Black folks registered to vote. To effectively fight this battle, SNCC moved its headquarters from Atlanta to Mississippi. SNCC and many other groups and individuals staged protests and other nonviolent efforts to ensure that Black folks could vote. This included voter registration and voter education. Of course, many people were killed, imprisoned, harassed, and the like. But, these efforts, along with many other efforts, finally led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which more clearly prohibited racial discrimination in voting. This passage attempted to fill in the gaps left by the 15th Amendment. However, even to this day, there are racists who are hell bent on suppressing the Black vote. If the Black vote were not important, why would they be so opposed to it?
Democracy is an imperfect system. Many people are tired of empty promises from politicians. Managing expectations of the government is imperative. That is knowing that there are multiple layers of government. There is a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government. Unfortunately, some people focus only on the Office of the President. This kind of thinking completely underestimates the power and importance of local and state politics. So, you know that racist district attorney who prosecuted your cousin for a crime he did not commit? You can vote him out of office. Hell, you can become that district attorney. What about the judge who unfairly sentenced your father to 10 years in prison for possession of marijuana? Well, you can also vote her out of office. What about the senator who ignores issues that affect your life? You get the point. The system is not perfect. Voter suppression still exists. But, some would say that withdrawing from the democratic system without having a tangible plan to replace it is akin to spitting in the faces of the people who died for us to have a voice.
Peace
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