My thoughts in this matter is through the course of history Black people have fought for the right to be treated and respected as citizens of a country they were forced to travel to on slave ships that crossed the Atlantic Ocean.
The numbers of Blacks that did not survive have been long forgotten and dismissed by generations of Blacks that think just because they make a little money, drive some kind of car, work on a job, but still are Just Over Broke can take voting as an event that can be discounted and overlooked.
The evidence of non-participants in voting can be seen in data that shows the numbers of non-voters. A record that shows there are still Blacks that either do not care for the sacrifices of others to allow them to be seen as a resemblance to equality or they are just ignorant and still lost on mental
slave ships waiting to be mercifully sunken to save their lives. Yes, the last election brought about a reality in the power of voting, but statistically Blacks still need to grow in their political awareness and participation.
Too many Blacks have forgotten the struggles, sacrifices and deaths to be
granted the opportunity to vote. In the early 1950’s a Civil Rights struggle started; The right to vote. This was not easily earned, Blacks were not respected enough to be freely given this right.
Blacks had to protest, seek legal means, demonstrate, were jailed willingly and unwillingly, some gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, women, children and men died for the right to vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965,Section 2 of the Act, which followed the language of the 15th amendment, applied a nationwide prohibition against the denial or abridgment of the right to vote the literacy tests on a nationwide basis.
Blacks at that time were given an unfair test to see their “worthiness” even to vote. Even if they did pass the test many were still denied the right to vote in many cases. Does this sound familiar even in the 21st century?? In the 21st century if there was a nationwide literacy test in order to vote,graduate
from high school, be employed or even have children, if this were the law how many Blacks, minorities and women would fail?? The reality is there are tests, but based on other criteria that seem to grow each year. Blacks still fail to see the writing on the wall hidden under governmental programs, incentives, and special programs.
This proves several important things,
1. Education and the ability to read will always be important.
2. It is a tragedy that in the 21st century still too many Blacks are not literate enough to read a voting ballot.
3. Some Blacks still don’t get it, the right to vote can be slowly and systematically taken away or denied.
4. If incarcerated in any way this can keep Blacks and minorities from voting.
5. Voting rights can be re-established even after a felony conviction, but they must be demanded and not allow threats to work.
The seriousness can still be seen across the nation, legal battles are building over state laws passed that seek to stop the voting of minorities. This is a warning of alarm for minorities and women, that the denial to vote is still an attempt to deny political power for minorities and women through restrictions. These are changes that threaten the ability of many to vote even legally.
Denying minorities the opportunity to vote weakens the voting strength of all minorities, women, the economically challenged, under educated and even those that were incarcerated and served their sentences are discriminated against.
Through the voting process Blacks were liberated physically from slavery years ago. The psychological / mental liberation is still occurring today. Too many Blacks are mentally still in slavery with thoughts of low self esteem, self and cultural destruction, accepting second class citizenship by not wanting to go back to school to continue their education. Allowing the media to define their existence and behaviors that result in continued self destruction.
You want to call it racism that I vote for a black man then ok and even though people say Obama has done nothing for blacks directly ,,,I say if he was not in office blacks as a whole would be in a worst condition then they are in today,, this my perspective ! David Johnson
Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Saturday, October 13th 2012 at 12:00AM
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