Sometimes I read stories that puzzle me, sometimes I read stories that make me laugh. And then there's stuff like this that just makes me extremely angry.
Despite record numbers of voters who turned out during the presidential primaries last spring, eight million African-Americans are still not registered to vote.Note: Before anyone thinks otherwise, I am by no means saying these people should be registering to vote so that they can get Obama into the White House. I'm certainly not advocating that they register to be Democrats either, considering where I stand on that issue. I also realize that lots of whites aren't registered either. But I'm not talking about whites, I'm talking about us.
This according to Rick Wade, African-American vote director for the Obama for America presidential campaign.
“Our principle focus has been a 50-state voter registration initiative. I think we all appreciate that if we increase the number of African-American registered voters and then increase turnout and get people to the polls on Nov. 4, then Sen. Obama will be the next president of the United States,” Wade says.
Wade explains that the eight million unregistered Black voters accounts for 32 percent of eligible Black voting population nationwide. But, the Democrats are not alone in going after the Black vote. Republicans, who barely get a tenth of Black voters in presidential elections, say they are not giving up.
My biggest qualm is that in an era where jobs are being shopped overseas, gas prices are out of control, school funding is down, we're in a war approaching a decade in duration, and T-Pain is still using that damn vocoder, how could anyone willingly sit on the sidelines?
I'm not saying voting changes everything. It clearly doesn't. But in today's environment, how can you not care enough to simply register, let alone vote. How damn lazy and nihilistic must you be to not care about who your mayor, city council, and school board are, and what they're doing with your tax money?
I guess this should serve as a wakeup call. If folks can't even get interested enough in merely registering to vote (let alone actually voting) when there's a Black man with a legitimate chance of becoming President, what hope is there for us?
I make lots of jokes here all the time, but I have to issue a serious challenge to my readers. If you know of a friend or family member who for some odd reason is still not registered to vote, help them. Forward them the link below, and lovingly hold their hands through the process. Spend a couple of minutes lovingly telling them why it's important. Do not mention the words "Barack" or "Obama"! He is completely irrelevant. If folks don't care to vote for their local officials, a President is going to be the least of their concerns. Worry about first things first.
If you've got that base covered and want some extra credit, find a local organization like a church, civic group, or frat/sorority that is actively holding a voter registration drive. Volunteer and assist.
But whatever you do, don't just sit on your hands. I assume that all of you who read this blog are voters, and you're voters because someone (likely your parents) at some point made sure you understood the importance of exercising your right. Someone helped you understand that our people were not given that right by the Constitution. Our people had to fight, struggle, and in many cases die for that right.[1]
Getting your ass out of bed on November 4th and waiting in line for a few minutes is a small price to pay for what our forefathers only dreamed of.
We should all be ashamed.
Ashamed enough to do something about it.
Fannie Lou Hamer is crying inside.
Question: Do you personally know someone who is eligible to vote, but not registered? Can you commit to getting these folks registered? Other than the obvious reason (nihilism) why do you think so many people have so little interest in the democratic process?
Register To Vote at ProjectVote.org
Eight Million African-Americans Still Not Registered to Vote [Seattle Medium]
[1] Go ahead and insert your own "Yaw's Boy" joke here. I know, I walked right into that one.
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I remember being like 4 and my parents dragging me out in November for presidential elections and in the bone chilling cold of February for local elections up here in Chicago, walking around to the high school around the corner at 6am in the morning.
I remember the old election judges with huge voting books sitting at a table with glasses sitting on the tops of their noses checking drivers licenses with signatures in the book. I remember the hum and buzz of the flourescent lights in the empty gym room and hearing the intermittent punch of the punchcard ballot booths.
So yes, I'm registered Democrat here in the state of Illinois, Cook County.
Do I know anyone who isn't registered? No, but I doubt anyone would come within 50 feet of me and actually admit they're not registered. Moreover, I think almost an equally as serious problem is how often do those who are registered actually vote. I think that's more the problem for my friends.
I know for many of my friends who are out of state such as me, it's a bit of a hassle to do absentee ballots, which is what I'll have to do this fall. Or twice, including this last election, I've went to early voting polling places and cast my ballot. But again, that does require someone who's committed.
And honestly, aside from nihilism, I can't think of anything else other than sheer laziness--the actual desire to NOT get off one's ass and go do something. I think the laziness is reinterpreted as nihilistic proclivities to act as an excuse for one's inability to get off one's ass. I mean, that's the same case for when the proverbial doom that a black candidate faces on election day if it's raining or snowing or just freezing cold.
It's lazy m'fers who blame it on--"well, my one vote don't count anyways."
Great post AB...I manage a meetup.com group (singles.meetup.com/883) and I will make an announcement about voting ask everyone to make sure they are registered to vote. Most of my friends are South Florida Transplants like me and I suspect some of them have not changed their residency to Florida....
On a similar note, I recently met a Broward County Community Liaison Deputy and I plan on asking him about how I can help him do a voter registration drive. His district is the so called 'hood' and I'm sure we will be able to get several dozen people get registered and participate in the boondoggle called the electoral college.....
I'm committed this election to doing my part to get our folks to vote.....
AveBro,
I think that there are quite a few Black people out there that think that if they register then bad things may happen.
I knew someone who refused to register because he thought bill collectors would be able to find him more easily.
I think that it's important to understand that some people's motivation for not registering is not laziness but fear.
If people are approached in a condescending manner than they might be turned off. So I hope that as people try to get others registered they will remember to educate them on the registration process and let them know who will and who won't have access to their personal information.
The lovely and gracious Monie just said:
I think that there are quite a few Black people out there that think that if they register then bad things may happen.
I am one of those people who agree with the afformentioned statement. It will mean more social engineers and socialists (some call them Democrats) in office. I encourage them to stay right where they are. I hate to go all Barak(tm) on this subject, (which in this case means elitist) but the last thing we need is an undeducated, uninformed, "I want justice" (whatever that means in 2008), and non-tax paying populace voting. Wanna what happens when they do?
Atlanta happens. Detroit happens. Need I say more? The last thing we need is more of that foolishnes in this country.
And no, this is not just a black issue, the problems caused by an uneducated and uninformed populace know no color. Roll through Appalachia sometime and see what I'm talking about.
As the great Barak(tm) once said and I'll paraphrase here. "Let them cling to their bibles and guns"(or eat cake LOL!)
Now, if you know someone who has some sense, who earns enough to pay taxes who is not registered to vote I would encourage them to do their civic duty and vote. It takes a few minutes to let your voice be heard.
PookieNem dont need to vote.
"Im sick and tired of being sick and tired" - Fannie Lou.
I work in as a contractor in a welfare office - my clients overwhelmingly are not very interested in voting. Monie is right that some of them are afraid - and the fact is anyone who wants can have access to your voter reg information - although I doubt people would bother checking the reg rolls for my clients. But of course, with my state's recent budget catastrophe my clients are about to get screwed royally precisely because they don't vote.
Many of them also believe if you have a criminal record you can't vote - but that's not true in my state.
Many are simply and just about totally alienated from the system. You know how the blogosphere has been talking about Obama for months and months? Just three months ago I was meeting people, and some of them pretty smart people, who didn't know who he was. "Oh, yeah, some guy running for President?" I don't think a lot of my clients read newspapers or watch news on television. For whatever reason, many of them have zero interest. I think people are underestimating how serious and widespread this is.
straight up, we should vote because in almost all states, the jury we see in the court rooms are pooled from voter registration lists. so when someone you know goes to court and looks at a jury that doesn't look like them, 9 out of 10 times is because the folks in your district aren't registered to vote.
also, politics is local. we have more say so over who sits on city councils and in the mayor office then the president of the u.s.
Personally, I don't know if I'm registered or not to vote. I feel the Black vote don't count. It's the way most Black people vote to me. All we do is vote assuming the canidate will do right by us. We don't do what other groups do (Latinos, Jews, Gays and Lesbians, Asians etc.) Other groups demand quid pro quo from a canidate running for office. These groups are unified during the elections, they have a agenda and come up with some issues that effect them. Not general issues like the economy, War in Iraq, energy crisis etc. They go to these canidates with their agenda and if the canidates don't address them, those canidates don't get their votes! Point blank. I don't know what else to say.
I am really disappointed at the comment above me. You feel like the black vote doesn't count so you choose not to vote? That's insane and a good portion of why it may seem like it DOESN'T count. There are at LEAST 8 million votes that aren't counting because they are not being cast!! This is definately a case of when you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. If you want your voice to be heard my friend, you have to speak up.
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