On The Black Vote

I don’t think it heavily contestable to say that casting a ballot is one of the highest forms of civic contribution one can make. I haven’t had the privilege in partaking in the process my ancestors deemed as the lifeblood of the Black community being fully recognized children of America, but I am excited to do so. Many of my peers, however, do not feel this way. They feel no necessity, no oneness as it pertains to the interests of America and the interests of Black people. I think I’m justified in calling this the Black voter problem.

Whenever I have enough political stamina to engage in a debate with some of my friends or family, the conversation eventually gets to the point of voting. I tend to just sit and listen to these debates because, it’s safe to say, no one will be persuaded from the way and practice in which they choose to live their life. A non-voter isn’t going to suddenly vote because I told him his ancestors would be ashamed if he didn’t. As a result, I’m always the note taking spectator.

The argument claimed by the usually less favored side always taps into something within me, within my existence as a child to mother America; some, underappreciated, underrepresented part of myself. The fucked-up thing is, most of the time, I’m rarely aware of this part of myself, this very much alive and burning part of myself. This realization was similar to a dick: when you don’t have underwear on and your dick is out in the open, you tend to acknowledge it; when it’s not out, it’s like it doesn’t even exist. However, this does not mean it’s not there and it definitely doesn’t mean you don’t think about it. You always will, and sometimes you’ll even wish it were bigger. This is the experience of the proud Black voter. These people advocate for their voting privileges and democratic processes. They’re the ones shouting, “You have power!” while the cynics on the other side are saying “You’ve been brainwashed.”

There’s no doubt that the proud Black voter should feel accomplished and nourished by the fruits of actively trying to progress this nation and its people, as that is the common goal of every good citizen, Black or white. But that doesn’t mean the opposing side is wrong. Too often, the Black voters first defense is to hurl insults and pass judgment on his non-voting brother. Meanwhile, there’s something going on in him that he’s failing to acknowledge: the awakening of pessimistic truths, and as he aids in his brothers descension into complete ignorance, he’s concurrently snuffing the life out of that pessimistic part of himself, the part that agrees with his brothers position, “My vote doesn’t change a thing.”

This cynical attitude towards our democratic processes makes a sizeable portion of the Black community. The Black voters, who are usually more patriotic and carry that hopeful spirit of their disenfranchised ancestors, push those unsure thoughts down into some dark and cloudy recess of their odd existence here in America. On the other hand, their resentful yet unmotivated brothers cling onto this notion that their situation will forever be disregarded. It’s well known amongst the experienced talkers and good listeners that the tortures of slavery and everything that has happened to the Black (wo)man hitherto has shaped his helpless, victimized mindset. The truth is, this type of person has been broken a long time ago: his daddy was broken when police locked him up for his drug addiction, his granddaddy when they killed Martin Luther King Jr., his great granddaddy when he was forced to live in the ghetto because he was turned away from a home loan, and his great, great granddaddy when his wife was raped, killed and hung from an oak tree. The psychological impact of being oppressed throughout several lifetimes and generations has manifested itself into permanent apathy. No matter what he does or who he votes for, his state of existence will never change because, as far as he can tell, America has never had his best interest. It’s this person’s contention that, regardless of policy or practice, America will never do right by him.

This mindset is understandable and would greatly benefit the African American community at this point in time if it weren’t embraced mostly by uneducated hoodlums (through no fault of their own) whose lasting impressions will be as menaces to society. Still, they’re not completely wrong. The cynic has watched, just as we all have, centuries of the bare minimum our government has passed off as extraordinary and liberating work. The Democrats never follow through with their promises and the Republicans revile him completely. And these are his options? It isn’t long until he says to himself, “I’d rather their overt racism than their undercover indifference.” But I’d like to pose a question to the complaining spectator, why are the powers that be actively trying to gain or even suppress Black voters? It can’t be that our votes are inconsequential, otherwise, they wouldn’t be trying so desperately to strip or gain our vote. News flash: as a collective, ours could be the most powerful and we can use that voting power to demand better from our elected officials.

With that said, we are not a monolith; even though most Black people fall into those two radical categories, as a larger group we inhabit all spaces within society. In speaking with people of differing opinions as it pertains to the Black vote, I found that the vast majority of people are being suffocated by the two-party system but that’s a discussion for another time. Ultimately, citizens in general just want better for our nation and the people in it. We want to grow and be able to spot the change in our daily lives. I only have these last words: Blind allegiance to your voter’s cause is a disservice to all people; so is a disregard for any type of civic duty. We must be able to maintain an optimistic skepticism of government powers and reject self-serving, corrupt politicians who undermine our constitutional values and the spirit of our great country and our great people.