Black People Losing Their Right to Vote

[dsuchalady]

I don't know how many of you are aware of this but in 2007 minorities might lose their right to vote. The Voter Registration Act of 1965 was amended in 1982 by President Reagan for a period of 25 years. This means that in 2007 *38 States* have to agree to it for it to be amended, I think permanently.

I doubt it is highly likely but I'll pose the question to you that my professor did to me in class last week. If Black Americans let's say hmm...did something radial or were all of a sudden linked to an issue as Islamic people were this past year do you think that would weigh in on the 2007 decision?

[Blackwatch]

I have researched this a little for a class, but I think that they will always ratify the amendment. Because what it does is further justify inequalities, on some level. This past weekend, my chapter conducted it's "A Voteless People is a Hopeless people" campaign where we went door to door to try to get "our people" to get out and vote Tuesday. Many people didn't see the need. One man said "I don't vote, it don't make a difference anyway" which prompted my frustrated Chapter VP to mutter "you know, he's probably right". But with the Black vote protected by the constitution, some people will then say that Black people have the opportunity to vote, and they do not take advantage of it. Therefore they, by their choice, comply with the status quo, and demonstrate that the political system is justified the way that it is.


(Take a moment to digest that stretch of logic........... ....... okay, back to the post)


This is kind of like allowing ourselves to hang ourselves. I think that it is the way that oppression works in the 21st century. Our threat is not from Jim Crow now or Lynch Mobs of Klansmen, but it is complacency and our uncritical acceptance of a racist social order. The amendment being repealled would awaken too many people to become politically active. I think that the states will easily ratify it, knowing that Black folks' political unawareness is probably the biggest ally to social and political conservativism.
Blackwatch!!!!!!

[snuggles12]

http://academic.udayton.edu/race/04needs/vote01.html


Debunking an Urban Myth


QUESTION:
Is this a true statment?
"We are quickly approaching the 21st Century and I was wondering if anyone out there knew what the significance of the year 2007 is to Black America? Did you know that our right to vote will expire in the year 2007? Seriously! The Voters Rights Act signed in 1965 by Lyndon B. Johnson was just an ACT. It was not made a law. In 1982 Ronald Reagan amended the Voters Rights Act for only another 25 years. Which means that in the year 2007 we could lose the right to vote
ABSOLUTELY NOT! The right to vote is guaranteed by the constitution and no "law" ; nor the expiration of a law can take that away. Voters Right Act is a law that outlawed certain practices which states implemented as a means of keeping blacks away from the polls. (such as poll taxes and literacy tests). It also provide for federal monitoring to assure non-discrimination in voting. With the expiration of the Voters Right Act in 2007, theoretically states could pass laws requiring a poll tax or literacy tests. Although they still will not be allowed under the Constitution to discriminated. So the states can't take away your right to vote directly because that is a constitutionally guaranteed right. The real question is whether the states will pass laws that have the effect of discouraging people from voting. I tend to think generally they won't. Although some states may pass ENGLISH ONLY laws for voting affecting the ability of citizens whose primary language is not english.
The major lost from the failure to re-enact the voting rights bill is the failure to provide for federal monitoring of voting fraud. There are still a number of places in the United States where activites are undertaken to diminish minority voting efforts.

Originally posted by dsuchalady
I don't know how many of you are aware of this but in 2007 minorities might lose their right to vote. The Voter Registration Act of 1965 was amended in 1982 by President Reagan for a period of 25 years. This means that in 2007 *38 States* have to agree to it for it to be amended, I think permanently.

I doubt it is highly likely but I'll pose the question to you that my professor did to me in class last week. If Black Americans let's say hmm...did something radial or were all of a sudden linked to an issue as Islamic people were this past year do you think that would weigh in on the 2007 decision?

[dsuchalady]

Well allow me to rephrase...we won't technically lose our right "to vote". But think about it this way if those anti-discriminatory laws are not in place think about the decline in black registration. What if they put new tests in place that certain minorities can't pass. We can't deny the fact that a large percentage of minorities don't have the same resources as far as test taking skills etc.

I seriously doubt that this would take place because the public would respond in a way that I doubt our nation is ready for. But the mere possiblity, to me, should be enough for our people to want to utilize our "right".

[Love_Spell_6]

Originally posted by snuggles12
http://academic.udayton.edu/race/04needs/vote01.html


Debunking an Urban Myth


QUESTION:
Is this a true statment?
"We are quickly approaching the 21st Century and I was wondering if anyone out there knew what the significance of the year 2007 is to Black America? Did you know that our right to vote will expire in the year 2007? Seriously! The Voters Rights Act signed in 1965 by Lyndon B. Johnson was just an ACT. It was not made a law. In 1982 Ronald Reagan amended the Voters Rights Act for only another 25 years. Which means that in the year 2007 we could lose the right to vote
ABSOLUTELY NOT! The right to vote is guaranteed by the constitution and no "law" ; nor the expiration of a law can take that away. Voters Right Act is a law that outlawed certain practices which states implemented as a means of keeping blacks away from the polls. (such as poll taxes and literacy tests). It also provide for federal monitoring to assure non-discrimination in voting. With the expiration of the Voters Right Act in 2007, theoretically states could pass laws requiring a poll tax or literacy tests. Although they still will not be allowed under the Constitution to discriminated. So the states can't take away your right to vote directly because that is a constitutionally guaranteed right. The real question is whether the states will pass laws that have the effect of discouraging people from voting. I tend to think generally they won't. Although some states may pass ENGLISH ONLY laws for voting affecting the ability of citizens whose primary language is not english.
The major lost from the failure to re-enact the voting rights bill is the failure to provide for federal monitoring of voting fraud. There are still a number of places in the United States where activites are undertaken to diminish minority voting efforts.

Good articulation of the FACTS Snuggles12! I've also heard how people have misunderstood this issue, but you explained it very well if I must say so myself!!

[Pepsichick]

I was so upset yesterday. I live on campus and was shocked at the number of students who DECIDED not to vote. When asked why some said it was because of the rain, while others said they just didn't want to because their vote wouldn't count anyway. I was so embarrassed! So, I wonder if our right to vote could be taken away, what would they do.

[Eclipse]

Originally posted by Blackwatch
But with the Black vote protected by the constitution, some people will then say that Black people have the opportunity to vote, and they do not take advantage of it. Therefore they, by their choice, comply with the status quo, and demonstrate that the political system is justified the way that it is.

Blackwatch!!!!!!

My church had a political forum a while back and one of the elected officials there said "The government will provide you with the lowest level of acceptable service." and I beleive this 100%. If we act like it is o.k. things will continue to be the same.

Have you ever hear the story about how to boil a live frog? You see, as the story goes boiling a live frog is problematic because if you put a live frog in hot water it will immediately jump out. The trick is to put him in water that is a nice and comfortable and slowly turn the heat up. The frog will be so complacent and so you will have Boiled Frog Soup! Sounds some of us are in the pot boiling and we don't even know it!!