“Juanita’s Perspectives”: African Americans Must Turnout in Numbers for the 2014 Midterm Elections

By Juanita Bratcher

Author, Publisher & CEO, CopyLine Magazine

There is strength in numbers and the whole idea should be that of defeating elected officials who want to take voting rights away, women rights away, try to derail immigration reform, against equal pay and in opposition to a  minimum wage increase, and whose extremist, incendiary voices seek to divide this country. They should not have the privilege of holding public office.

I’ve always advocated the importance of voting and of turning out at the polls on Election Day to participate in our democratic process. I am very familiar, as with others, the challenges and struggles that our black forefathers encountered in trying to get the right to vote in this country. It wasn’t an easy task, and many of those on the battle lines bled and died to get that right. And now we see Republican governors and Republican-controlled legislatures in several states across the country trying to take that right away under the disguise of voter fraud, which is absolute BS. It’s more about voter suppression than cleaning up voter fraud. According to many reports, voter fraud would barely make it to 1 on the Richter Scale, yet it is being used as a tool to take voters’ rights away through Voter ID laws, specifically from African Americans, other minority Americans, the old and young; those who would probably vote for Democrats. And they’re getting some assistance from the U.S. Supreme Court. Many of these Voter ID laws were passed after the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County vs. Holder that gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965, overturning key components.

As a Journalist now for more than 38 years, I have written innumerable articles pertaining to voters and the voting process – the good and the bad. I wrote a yet unreleased book on “Lest We Never Forget: The Power of the Ballot”, which traces the history of Blacks’ efforts in trying to get the right to vote.

Just recently, a Georgia official was sued by a coalition of civil rights organizations. The coalition sued the Georgia Secretary of State’s office over a backlog of 40,000 voter registration forms. They claim that the people who signed up names have yet to appear on the voter rolls.

It reminded me of excerpts from my book, “Lest We Never Forget: The Power of the Ballot” that was similar to what the Georgia official is accused of:

“During voter registration drives in Alabama, when Blacks showed up at the registrar’s office to register, registrars would conduct slowdown days to frustrate or delay their efforts, but registration was at high peak on days that Whites registered to vote,” the book pointed out.

“The tests were very difficult, and administered by unsympathetic Whites, some of which couldn’t pass the test themselves. And while some registrars assisted Whites in filling out lengthy and difficult application forms, they did not extend that same courtesy to Blacks. In some places, the application form for Blacks was a different color from that of Whites. Forms from Whites were processed; forms from Blacks were not.

“After getting the right to vote, Blacks still faced many other obstacles, including literacy tests and poll taxes. In some states, they were required to read and interpret complicated sections of the Constitution. It was a practice in South Carolina. Blacks had to interpret the Constitution before they were allowed to vote, and many of them could not read or write. And if one cannot read or write, how can one be able to interpret anything?”

On Fox News “Fox and Friends” last month, co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck proposed passing a test in order to be allowed to vote. Was that for scare? A fear tactic? Can she pass a voting test if presented to her? Many times it is not what should be done but that fairness prevails in the overall process. Although I am totally against tests in order to vote, if such a thing happens just make sure everyone has to pass a test and not by a selection process of who does and who doesn’t.

There’s power in the ballot and power in the people who use it:

Voting is a privilege

Voting gives people a choice

Voting gives power to the people who use it

Voting is political power

It is of utmost importance that African-Americans understand the meaning of political power, political empowerment, and at the same time, keep a vigilant eye on what is happening politically in our country. It is also important that we always exercise our right to vote at the polls on Election Day and let our voices be heard through the ballot box.

That said, I urge all to go out and vote, without hesitation; not only during this midterm election but in all elections.

Juanita Bratcher is an Award-Winning Journalist, the Publisher of www.copylinemagazine.com and the author of several books, songwriter and poet. She has been a Journalist for more than 38 years covering politics, education and a wide-range of other topics.