Voter Registration 2004: What Can Be Done?

[CrimsonTide4]

Voter turnout was low yesterday, primarily within "our community". What can WE do (as members of BGLOs) to awaken, revitalize the voter turnout of BLACKS? What are STRATEGIES that can be implemented between NOW and 2004? What can WE do to get candidates to HEAR US?

SORORS, Political Involvement is a THRUST. What is your chapter doing in terms of political involvement?

Is it a class thing, a race thing, an age thing that keeps some folks AWAY from the polls?


just some questions for you all to ponder.

[DoggyStyle82]

Personal responsibilty and personal involvement. Why are we so passive? Why do we have to be told to register, when to vote, where to vote, who to vote for? Why was I out in the rain with my Frat brothers trying to get sorry ass Negroes to care about THEIR future? We spoon feed these people. Harassing them at malls, in church, in the projects, and they still don't care about THEIR lives. We need to stop babying our people. Do you know politicians don't visit white churches, there are no white frats out getting out the vote, there is no white NAACP GOTV campaign, there is no white Tom Joyner registering voters by the thousands and imploring their people to vote. Why do BLGOs have to babysit the whole damn Black community? Why do we BLGO's have to be criticized when our good efforts go un-noticed or unappreciated. We can do what we do. Every thing else is PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

Where I live, every rich, middle class, and redneck poor white trash made it their business to vote yesterday. They had a record turn-out in the poorest white voting districts. Know why? Because they were pissed that the governor removed the confederate flag from the state flag. My state hasn't had a Repulican governor for 130 years.. The balance of power in the Senate was changed because the incumbent Democrat lost to a nobody Republican. Now Bush can get all his retro-1950's judges appointed and control of all 3 branches of government. If your own personal self interest can't get you to vote, what the heck can I do to get you to care? The Last Poets got it wrong, "niggas" aren't scared of revolution, they are scared of education and personal responsibility and we need to stop footing that bill.

If I sound bitter, its because I am.

[Love_Spell_6]

Originally posted by DoggyStyle82
Personal responsibilty and personal involvement. Why are we so passive? Why do we have to be told to register, when to vote, where to vote, who to vote for? Why was I out in the rain with my Frat brothers trying to get sorry ass Negroes to care about THEIR future? We spoon feed these people. Harassing them at malls, in church, in the projects, and they still don't care about THEIR lives. We need to stop babying our people. Do you know politicians don't visit white churches, there are no white frats out getting out the vote, there is no white NAACP GOTV campaign, there is no white Tom Joyner registering voters by the thousands and imploring their people to vote. Why do BLGOs have to babysit the whole damn Black community? Why do we BLGO's have to be criticized when our good efforts go un-noticed or unappreciated. We can do what we do. Every thing else is PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

Where I live, every rich, middle class, and redneck poor white trash made it their business to vote yesterday. They had a record turn-out in the poorest white voting districts. Know why? Because they were pissed that the governor removed the confederate flag from the state flag. My state hasn't had a Repulican governor for 130 years.. The balance of power in the Senate was changed because the incumbent Democrat lost to a nobody Republican. Now Bush can get all his retro-1950's judges appointed and control of all 3 branches of government. If your own personal self interest can't get you to vote, what the heck can I do to get you to care? The Last Poets got it wrong, "niggas" aren't scared of revolution, they are scared of education and personal responsibility and we need to stop footing that bill.

If I sound bitter, its because I am.

DAMN DOG!!!

I can't even be mad at you though, because I completely feel you. When I articulate feelings such as these, most people say that I'm coming off too insensitive to the needs of our community... People aren't going to wake up until something drastic happens..

So why folx are out there focusing on trying to buy the latest Mercedes, Navigator, or cop the latest, most expensive article of clothing,....our rights are being trampled, and there is nobody to blame but ourselves!

If in this day and age....you don't feel the "need" to go out and vote, there's no registration drive that's going to make you.. Registering is only half the battle... it's getting your lazy butt out of the house in the pouring down rain to go to those polls...I don't really feel there's anything that I or BGLO's can do to make someone do this....like I said earlier...I really feel things aren't going to change until something drastic happens...if u snatch welfare completely and make everyone that gets ANY type of aid from the government take a piss test first....people would be marching 2MORROW!!!!

When it's all said and done, if you didn't do your part, bump you and your opinion.

[brainzandbeauty]

What's up Sorors, SFs and you too Doggy

You can tell some black folks that so many brothers and sisters died so they could vote until you are blue in the face, but you will only convince a few.

Low black voter turnout boils down to two things:

contentment
complacency/low efficacy

A sizable majority of black folks are doing just fine and see no need to cast a vote unless they are pissed [the Reactionary voter]. They have their degrees, their homes with manicured lawns and they volunteer their time and generou$ly donate to our cause..... so why "rock the vote"? Some of y'all may hate this, but a *growing* number of African-Americans are politically and socially moderate/conservative and are fine with Republican Leadership. And they ain't sell-outs either

A significant portion of us, unfortunately, are complacent out of necessity. When you don't know where your next meal is coming from or how the rent will be paid, casting a vote is the last thing on your mind. It may be triflin, but it is reality.

This type of complacency is rooted in low voter efficacy. I learned this in Eighth grade Civics class. Some folks cannot see how their one vote matters at all. They fail to see the prinicple in voting or participating in a representative democracy because they fail to see how policies in Washington D.C. or their own City or Town Hall trickle down to their front door and affect their lives.

By the way Soror CrimsonTide, my Chapter worked along side the local Panhellenic Council to give folks rides to voting stations on Election Day and many Sorors assisted the Ron Kirk campaign with phone banking.

[brainzandbeauty]

Soror, you asked What Can Be done?

My bad, I have a few ideas....

Tavis and Tom Joyner do those State of Black America Forums every year or so. That model may be good for informing people about specific policy issues... Social Security, public education finance, housing/development. BGLOs and other civic orgs can conduct issue forums locally. The best thing to do is to start early. Not wait until Sept./Oct. to start.

I also like the idea of having Black Family Reunions in major cities other than D.C... that is a great way to register a large amount of people. I am deputized to register voters in my city and people are lot more responsive to a voter registration inititative in a social gathering. Just a thought.

On other thing.. may be it's a whole new thread, but when 85-90% of blacks vote for the same party, those folks get a little lazy and take us for granted. With our vote divided in many different directions, we can attract more attention in the political season, especially since we are always considered the Swing Vote.

As far as I am concerned, all Republicans are not our enemies and all Democrats are not our friends.

[Blackwatch]

Very good responses and insight from Doggystyle (as usual) and brainzandbeauty. I too am frustrated over low voter turnout and political apathy in the black community. I do not think though that it is all about people not caring or not taking "personal responsibility", but it is more about ignorance (I don't mean this in a bad way), but people just don't know. We do not understand politics and how policies effect us. We don't understand that it's the three strikes law that got "junebug" locked up for 20 for stealing a snickers as his third offense (as in some areas). We don't understand that the Judge that just enforced the law without considering the heart of the law was appointed by the governor that you didn't see the need to vote against last year .


I see the dire need for political education on the grass roots level. Forums would seem to be the likely solution, but people are not motivated to deal in politics. I think one resource in our community that gets heavily underutilized in our political and economic struggle is the church. Politicians come to the church to ask for votes, but do churches take an active part in educating the congregants on issues? I teach a Sunday School class at my church, and I always talk about how we as Christians are charged to be the light of the world. This means not to be "snooty", but to be the conscience of the people. This entails understanding things like oppression and injustice and fighting against it. Our People will not go to a political forum, but our people do go to church, and trust the Pastor. There needs to be a push to have smarter, more socially aware pastors who recognize their influence and use it to help educate and motivate people to vote and remain politically active.


I say this because I do not think the solution is to give up on our people and say "if they don't care, then I don't care about them". Because it is not about "us vs. them" because we are all in this together. Your degrees and your manicured lawns don't protect you from oppression as much as you think. Many of us in the "middle class " are just a CEO's decision away from the "other side of the tracks" so to speak. We really don't have wealth; we have income, that is dependant upon someone else's capital. It is because of this fact that we have to continue to fight for our empowerment. Yeah it gets frustrating when you see things some of your brothers and sisters don't see, but keep in mind we still live in a White Supremacist, capitalist society. While your economic class can make up for some things, your skin color still takes away many things as well.

Blackwatch!!!!!!

[DoggyStyle82]

Originally posted by Blackwatch
Very good responses and insight from Doggystyle (as usual) and brainzandbeauty. I too am frustrated over low voter turnout and political apathy in the black community. I do not think though that it is all about people not caring or not taking "personal responsibility", but it is more about ignorance (I don't mean this in a bad way), but people just don't know. We do not understand politics and how policies effect us. We don't understand that it's the three strikes law that got "junebug" locked up for 20 for stealing a snickers as his third offense (as in some areas). We don't understand that the Judge that just enforced the law without considering the heart of the law was appointed by the governor that you didn't see the need to vote against last year .


I see the dire need for political education on the grass roots level. Forums would seem to be the likely solution, but people are not motivated to deal in politics. I think one resource in our community that gets heavily underutilized in our political and economic struggle is the church. Politicians come to the church to ask for votes, but do churches take an active part in educating the congregants on issues? I teach a Sunday School class at my church, and I always talk about how we as Christians are charged to be the light of the world. This means not to be "snooty", but to be the conscience of the people. This entails understanding things like oppression and injustice and fighting against it. Our People will not go to a political forum, but our people do go to church, and trust the Pastor. There needs to be a push to have smarter, more socially aware pastors who recognize their influence and use it to help educate and motivate people to vote and remain politically active.


I say this because I do not think the solution is to give up on our people and say "if they don't care, then I don't care about them". Because it is not about "us vs. them" because we are all in this together. Your degrees and your manicured lawns don't protect you from oppression as much as you think. Many of us in the "middle class " are just a CEO's decision away from the "other side of the tracks" so to speak. We really don't have wealth; we have income, that is dependant upon someone else's capital. It is because of this fact that we have to continue to fight for our empowerment. Yeah it gets frustrating when you see things some of your brothers and sisters don't see, but keep in mind we still live in a White Supremacist, capitalist society. While your economic class can make up for some things, your skin color still takes away many things as well.

Blackwatch!!!!!!

Blackwatch, my Brother, you speak with a forked tongue. On many an occassion you show support for one position only to return to your ultimate socialistic viewpoint. America will always be a capitalistic society and its not gonna change to appease 5% of 12% (Black Folks) of the population.

The pastor of your church is there to preach the word of God, not advocate a political viewpoint. If you need politics in your religion, seek out Falwell, Robertson, Jackson, and Sharpton. As you can see by those four, they all fall short of the Glory of God. Again, our people are too used to being told when to do for self. We wait til church to open the Bible, we wait for the 1st and the 15th to get paid, we wait for food stamps, appointments at the public health clinic, we wait for some new Black political messiah ad infinitum. We, as collective individuals, need to empower ourselves. Iyanla Van Zandt, E. Lynn Harris, Michael Bolden, Oprhah Winfrey can't do it. Just the man/woman in the mirror. Are we children that need to be told everything. Are we so petulant and intellectually immature that we need outside stimuli (motivation) to act in our own self-interest? What you are basically saying Blackwatch is that our people are so stupid and inept to the point that they need the enlightened few (talented tenth, 5% Nation, whatever) to tell them what to do. Isn't that the same patronizing, paternalistic viewpoint that so-called well meaning white folks did with us. Negroes need evolution, not revolution. Evolve from that docile passivity that you advocate to one of self-empowerment. If Black folk are gonna do for self, they have to start with self.

[Blackwatch]

Doggystyle,
I see your point about self-empowerment. I understand the patronization of white liberalism and its obvious attack on the humanity of black folk. I have been persecuted in many sociology seminars for standing up for the autonomy and power that black people have to TAKE for ourselves, to the bewilderment of many of my white collegues and professors. But understand this, I advocate for us as a people to rise up as a collective and stake our claim to humanity being based on freedom, justice and equality. This is not done simply by allowing a few who are "fortunate enough" or "acceptable enough" to be pacified by the status symbols of degrees and SUV's, but true empowerment is about control of our own destiny. Some may think that we have control, but I do not see it when I observe this society critically. If this sounds like socialism, then I am a socialist, but so is the Prophet Isaiah who told of a day when true "fasting" ,or we can today say religious practices, would entail "...loose[ing] the chains of injustice and untie[ing] the chords of the yolk, to set the oppressed free and break every yolk ...to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter....and not turn away from your own flesh and blood"!(58:6-8 niv)


Throughout the history of the children of Israel, the prophets warned that the economic and political inequality in the land was indicative of the fact that the system that they lived under was not of God. Oppression is the chief indicator that the system is not godly. Doggystyle, I see inequality and oppression in this land, and as a lover of God and righteousness, my conscience is seared by the sight of social inequality. The thought of people justifying inequality and becoming complacent with injustice (so much so to be willing to give up the fight against it, out of some self righteous yet selfish notion of "I got mine, how come they can't get theirs") seem to me to be uncritical at best, and arrogant to say the least. You talk as though inequality is justified and that the church shouldn't speak against it. Capitalism is unjust, not because Marx said so, but because the Bible says so. So you not only indite me, but you also indite the Old Testament Prophets, and Jesus the Christ Himself.


You call this view paternalistic and patronizing, yet you are the one saying things like " we have to spoon feed these people" obviously stating that "these" people are infantile and need to be fed. Obviously you do not see them as you see yourself. What ever happened to the notion that Jesus himself taught, about loving your neighbor as you love yourself? I do not take such a stance, for the Bible teaches us that we are all saved (how ever you want to take it) by grace, not by our own might. I am thankful for the opportunities in life that I have been given, as well as the talents that God has blessed me with. I also recognize that it is but the grace of God that I have been given them. It is but for the grace of God that oppression hasn't killed my hope like it has for so many of "these people" that you say are not motivated to do for self. You say that I am saying that our people are too stupid to do for self, but I am saying that our ignorance (not stupidity) is not a character flaw, as you suggest (by suggesting that our people need to "evolve" as if they are less than you), but a symptom of systemic oppression. God given potential gives people only the ability, but you also need the chance in order to survive. That chance only comes through the conscious struggle against systemic inequality. The only way to "repay" God is to pay it forward by letting "my light shine" so that all people may see what God can and will do in their lives by advocating against social inequality and injustice.



Jesus came and taught, was it out of a paternalistic sense of "you're too stupid and inept to do for yourself"? I think not, but Jesus taught out of a keen sense of our collective condition (we are all fallen from grace, thus it is by grace that certain of us are 'successful' and others are "not succesful" in this lifetime.) Everyone has been created with God given potential to be great. What stops it is not God, but, as you say, the self. This self is created in a social context of injustice, poverty, white supremacy, the list can go on and on. Empowerment ain't just about gettin' yours economically, but it is about gettin' ours in the battle for our true humanity; spiritually, mentally, and physically. Social justice is Self empowerment!!! When you look into that mirror, as see yourself, you don't just see that infant that was fresh out of the womb, you see the years that slavery characterised this country, the resentment of your childhood in poverty and racism, the vast and deep effects of social inequality, the hatred that was filled in the TV screen as you saw countless black men on the news for burglary or armed robbery, you see the three strikes laws, you see the God given potential battling through our fallen humanity. Your history of experiences and environment make up your "self". To release that godly potential, we have to struggle personally and collectively against this "self".


So how can you separate politics and religion? You might as well throw the Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Habbakuk, Amos; Our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, and a whole slew of theologians after them into the same mix as Jesse Jackson, because they all recognized that (as I remix Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) spiritual enlightenment comes with not just personal development, but our recognition that I do not develop into all I can be (and all that God wants me to be) without desiring and advocating for a just society, so that my fellow human beings flourish and are allowed to develop into all that God wants them to be.

Blackwatch!!!!!!

[CrimsonTide4]

We have been talking about voter registration ideas on a Delta listserve I am on and a soror shared the following idea today.




I want to share with my Sorors and Bruhs an idea I have to help encourage young people, our urban communities and the hip-hop community to get out and vote.

I am making phone calls to record labels requesting free singles to give out. I am looking to hold voter registration drives at clubs
and give away FREE MUSIC CDs for anyone who registers to vote. In addition to that, however, I endeavor to do the same thing on election day, giving away CDs to people who come through with one of those "I Voted" stickers, that way we encourage people not only to register but to get out and vote.

Please take this idea and share it and use it if you think it could work.


Any other ideas that the various D9 orgs' chapters are doing in preparation for the November elections.