Black Folks and the Election Process

The United States presidential election is looming in 2008 and most of the nation is bracing for what is viewed by many as yet another opportunity for the, quote, unquote people of the United States to use their vote to choose the next leader of this republic and therein lies the key to this whole exercise.

The United States of America is a republic. That means that any and all votes cast by the populous do not translate directly into representing the interests of whomever cast the vote. It means that the voter chooses someone, acting on their behalf, to vote on matters and concerns that impact the voters or the electorate.

In the case of electing the president, remember, whomever gets the most electoral votes from the Electoral College, not the popular vote, wins the presidency. With this process, each state is allotted electors equal to the number of representatives of each state plus each states' two senators.

For instance, there are 13 representatives and 2 senators in New Jersey. That total equals 15 electors with 15 electoral votes. Each party selects its own method for choosing electors to the Electoral College. Ultimately, this process of voting results in a tally of votes that are read before both houses of Congress on January 6.

The subject of voting among those of African descent (Black folks) here in the US is an extremely sensitive issue in the African American community. Many have heard of the horrors endured by the ancestors and relatives of those of African descent as they sought this basic citizen's right.

It must be remembered that upon the earliest participation of those of African descent in this process, during the period commonly referred to as Reconstruction, beginning in 1865, where it is estimated over one thousand persons of African descent held office in the South after the so called Civil War, shortly thereafter the Black Codes were established to halt any further progess made during the period and to wrest power from the hands of the former enslaved.

The loyalties of the descendants of Africa during the period of Reconstruction, in terms of voting, had been to the Republican Party because that was the party of Abraham Lincoln, misidentified as the Great Emancipator, with most unaware of exactly what the Emancipation Proclamation states as fact. When it is read, it is understood that only the enslaved persons within states that had declared their secession from the U.S. were declared to be free.

In states and in portions of states that remained true to the Union, as stated in the document, such as in a number of counties within Virginia and the counties contained in what was now called West Virginia, the Emancipation Proclamation, first read in 1863, declared “....and which accepted parts are for the present left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued”, meaning that slavery was not abolished outright at the time of the Proclamation was put to paper by Lincoln.

After the presidential election of 1876, an agreement known as the Compromise of 1877, settled the disputed election results of the 1876 presidential election by giving the White House to the Republican candidate Rutherford Hayes, with the agreement that he would remove federal troops from the South, troops whose presence aided in supporting the former enslaved and the gains achieved during the twelve year period of Reconstruction, from 1865 through 1877, by the newly freed descendants of Africa, including the right to vote.

Once troops were removed from South Carolina, Louisiana and Florida, Republicans ceded their power in the South, leaving office or changing their party affiliation to that of Democrat. This ended the period of Reconstruction, replacing the Republican Party machinery put in place by the party of Lincoln during Reconstruction, with those former Republicans becoming known as the Redeemer Democrats.

In the North, after the turn of the century in the 1900s, it was the job of the Negro politician, who was most often groomed and solicited by the newly developing immigrant European worker class, no matter what party affiliation, to 'get out the Negro vote', with the promise of some benefit, sometimes personal, by way of money or perceived power and sometimes by some task or deed wanted or needed in the African community, being the reward bestowed for the support given.

It is not my intent to demean those of us of African descent whose ancestors or relatives have engaged in and contributed to this process, my paternal grandfather being among them.

If there is any doubt what African Americans endured as individuals to become participants in this process, research the history of Sister Fannie Lou Hamer and listen to her impassioned testimony as she addressed the Democratic Credentials Committee meeting as a founding member of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, telling of the beatings and torment she suffered, questioning if indeed America, “... was the land of the free and the home of the brave?”, when those seeking to be treated as human beings are threatened with death for trying to register to vote, proclaiming her party's right to be seated in addition to the all white delegation sent to represent Mississippi at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1964.

The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, with 68 delegates, was offered 2 seats by the credentials committee at the national convention, which they refused, with Sister Fannie Lou saying, “We didn't come for no two seats when we all is tired.”

Today, in the U.S., there are those of African descent that occupy positions of power who, at first glance, seem to reflect the condition that all of African descent have equal access to power. The success and power of a small percentage from among a group, viewed and assessed as reflective of the whole of a group's success and progress results in a skewered perspective. Click here to view an executive summary of the latest State of Black America report.

At best, the world of politics is a game of 'good cop' versus 'bad cop', with those playing the roles exchanging hats periodically and frequently. Each political party takes a turn being the 'bad cop', enacting legislation while the other side, playing 'good cop', cries foul or laments the betrayal of the will or interests of the constituency, each blaming the other side for the woes of the nation.

For those who choose to participate in this process, become part of the informed constituency. Please participate by forming or joining a political action committee or PAC, composing a list of goals and issues you want addressed by any and all candidates seeking your vote and the votes of those within your PAC.

Recruit others with the similar desire of accountability from candidates into the PAC or as citizens in agreement with the goals and issues addressed by your PAC, with the object being to galvanize and energize the voting base with those interested in doing more than picking the lesser of the two evils, as is often lamented when an unfavorable and unexpected outcome occurs after that choice.

Insist that anyone that has succeeded in winning your vote make good on their word or promise to address the issues raised by the PAC. If the issues and concerns are not addressed, whomever did not keep their word must be revealed as having betrayed the people within the PAC's trust.

The urge to hang on to them may be great, making excuses for those candidates', now elected officials', disloyalty, but as happens with most bad relationships or alliances when they fail to be loyal to us, if their word, on more than one occasion, has been broken, as with those other cases of disloyalty, it's time to let that elected official or those officials go and move on.

Be prepared, through the political action committee, to inform other voters outside of the PAC of the promises made and broken by that elected official to your political action committee the next time that official is seeking reelection or another office. It should be known by all engaged in this process when someone seeking votes to represent his or her fellow citizens as a representative has not lived up to his or her word.

Remember, the United States of America is a republic and as such, one man, one vote, does not determine the lot of the citizenry. The supposed will of the people, is determined by those elected who, in turn, wield power on behalf of the citizens, through the use of laws written and enacted by those elected into office.

It has never been a wise decision for anyone to vote for a candidate because he or she looks good, speaks well, is personable, they quote, unquote look like us or be impressed by their ability to fit in, 'keep it real' and kick it with the homies.

So, let's stop behaving like star struck worshippers of a cult of personality of the rich, the famous and the infamous. Demand that any and all candidates who seek the power to govern prove their desire to serve you, the people, through their commitment to specified goals and issues, submitted to them by you, the people, before you give your vote to them to represent you.