Voting is to democracy what gassing up is to a long trip. It is necessary, but not sufficient. Like a marriage proposal to an enduring and healthy relationship, voting initiates, rather than fulfills, the process of democratic representation. The hard work of participating in democracy happens after, rather than during, the election. Sadly, African-Americans and other subordinated groups have been bamboozled into thinking democracy is “about voting.” Significant “get out the vote” efforts, candidate campaigns, door-to-door canvassing and the perennial church visits by politicians mark the election season. Unfortunately, after the election, far too many African-Americans enter a two- or even four-year hibernation, awaiting the next election or some racial outrage to awake from this deep political slumber. While they sleep, others meet with, lobby, cajole, persuade and convince politicians or otherwise force political agendas that decide everything from policing practices, municipal contracting, criminal laws and sentencing, environmental quality and incarceration rates, to the shape and makeup of the educational system, student loan availability and the judges and government appointees that shape our experiences as citizens.
In response to this, some may say African-Americans lack the numbers to make a difference in Indianapolis and Indiana, but that would be a mistake. In his excellent book The Political Economy of Race in Indianapolis, 1920-1970, Richard Piece surveys the successes and failures of past political engagement in Indianapolis and across the state. The clear message of his work is that Black communities’ inability to reverse the political marginalization, educational segregation and economic subordination that characterized their lives flowed most directly from their failure to stridently confront and challenge the racial domination they faced, and not their numbers. Today, the same is true. In Indianapolis, neighborhoods and schools are still highly segregated, and employment opportunities for the masses of Black people are limited. Politically, African-American issues and concerns seem to have little significance in the discussion of issues and elections. The dearth of Black teachers across Indiana, the school-to-prison pipeline, mass incarceration and environmental justice represent a few of the numerous issues of vital importance to African-Americans. Here in the state capital, you would never know it. A deafening silence marks the streets of Indianapolis, the hallways of the Capitol and the airways of the television stations on these issues. While the Recorder and WTLC do a great job keeping these issues before us, political action is too often slow or non-existent. Voting alone will never solve these issues; only engaging the political process after and between elections will do that.
Again, voting is important, but it is just the start, like shopping is to cooking. When you go to the store, you may not end up with all the ingredients you want, but you have to use what you can get to make what you need. In the election, we may not get all the politicians we want, but we have to work with and against the politicians we get to make life better for our communities. To that end, we have to plan and work for the outcomes we need. That means asking nicely, protesting disruptively and using money and people power wisely to lobby and influence the political process. To improve the quality of life for our communities, we must envision and then advocate for the educational, political and economic changes necessary to bring progress and prosperity. We have to believe in ourselves and our ability to bring about the uplift of our communities irrespective of who occupies the White House, the governor’s mansion or the Capitol building. So campaign for your favorite candidates and vote, but afterward, let’s get to work to make this city and this state a great place for African-Americans and all disenfranchised people. Contrary to popular opinion, that depends less on the outcome of Bernie versus Hillary, Trump versus Cruz, and Pence versus Gregg than it depends on you and me, so let’s wake up, get up, get out and vote now. But after the election, it is time to start cooking!
Carlton Waterhouse is a professor of law and Dean’s Fellow at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
