Volume
1 Issue 2 - April 2001
Elections
"Despite the election's outcome, black voters are and will remain a deciding voice in American elections."
By Richard Dickerson
The election is over. Whether we agree with the results or the process that yielded the results, George Bush is the President of the United States. On the subject of the electoral process, I join with millions of Americans who were and remain outraged by an election process that denied so many Americans their right to vote. The recently concluded presidential election will be known for many things. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that so many native Americans, black Americans, other minorities and poor people suffered the unfair burden of a widespread denial of the right to vote. In addition, our senior citizens were denied the right to vote in too many instances. I suggest that we consider taking the following actions:
1. Keep Voting. There is power in the ballot. I hope that all Americans realize and appreciate the importance of voting, and will continue to vote. Further, we need to demand that our elected and appointed officials institute an election process that is beyond reproach.
Despite the problems that arose during the past presidential election, the power of voting was evident. Contrary to the popular reports, the media was not wrong on election night. They were right. They asked voters in Florida whom did they vote for and the majority of the voters replied Gore-Lieberman. The record black turnout speaks to the power that exists in minority communities. The black vote made a difference in many of the battleground states. Despite the election's outcome, black voters are and will remain a deciding voice in American elections.
2. Education and Information. We need to become more informed voters. We must educate ourselves about the issues and the candidates. Equally we need to be sure that we educate all voters about the various processes of voting. We must work hard to insure that all voters, particularly first time voters, understand how to properly operate the voting machines. Our vote is an investment and no party should think that our support is automatic. All candidates and political parties need to understand that "we" are informed voters. Candidates will need something more than photo opportunities with black children and appointments of black people to jobs and agencies to obtain our vote. History has repeatedly taught us that having a black face is not a guarantee that a candidate will be supportive of the black agenda.
3. Raise Money. Freedom is not free! We must raise money to support the candidates and issues that are important to our communities. The black community should raise the necessary money to pay election day expenses. Too often, political parties spend money in the black community before the election. We are not asking for any handouts, we are only asking that our votes be accorded the same level of respect that other groups receive.
As we move forward in the 21st Century, there are many other activities that we can and must do to help secure greater political independence and power. However, I suggest that it might be prudent to focus on these items as a way of developing a foundation.
Earlier, I referred to "WE". You might ask, "who is he referring to?" The answer is "all Americans, regardless of their race or economic standing who believe that the most recent presidential election was one where too many Americans were denied their right to vote. This denial came in many forms, including: ballots that could not be read clearly, voter lists which did not have the names of many newly registered voters, questionable activities by local police, and the abuse of power by local officials. Unfortunately, the problems associated with administering the election were not limited to Florida. In many communities, irregularities occurred which prevented ballots from being counted the way the voter intended.
The voting process should be beyond reproach. The idea of one-person one-vote is one of the founding principles for the United States. Our failure to fairly administer a presidential election is a source of national and international embarrassment.
Further, the "WE" is that community of people who believes that black voters are too often taken for granted by the Democrats and ignored by the Republicans. The "WE" is that community of people who believes that there is a black agenda. The black agenda includes improving education, not just teaching the tests. The black agenda includes continued aid for our cities with an emphasis on economic development. The black agenda also includes support for affirmative action. We realize that race still matters in America and the playing field is not level. The black agenda calls for a tax policy that is based on fairness and equality. Government has to play an active role to help insure that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are goals that can become realities for all Americans. Further, the black agenda includes an emphasis on protecting the environment. It is imperative that we commit ourselves to public policies that protect the air we breathe and the water we drink. Our tasks are great! However, working together, we can achieve success.
(Richard Dickerson is a Senior Associate at Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. in White Plains, New York. Mr. Dickerson has been a key political strategist for several presidential and gubernatorial campaigns.)
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