In little more than a week and some change Indianapolis voters will be able to go to the polls and vote for the candidates they feel best support their views. Election time creates an excitement for me — part of it comes from the energy of the newsroom on Election Day. Another, more significant part, comes from the idea that not only is it my civic duty, it’s my right — a right so many people fought and died for me to have — to vote. In school the books I read and films I watched depicting the struggle for Black Americans to vote inspired me. I figured if people endured literacy tests, the Grandfather Clause, poll taxes, beatings and murders to vote the least I could do is stand in line for a few minutes to cast my vote.
My point is, I think voting is important. I believe in the power of the Black vote. If it didn’t matter, why are there so many politicians working to suppress our vote? Just look at what’s happening in the gubernatorial race in Georgia where literally thousands of applications from Black voters are on hold. It was just in 2017 when the Black vote, specifically Black women, turned the tide in the Alabama Senate race. In that race, 98 percent of Black women voted for Doug Jones over Roy Moore. Black men also overwhelmingly voted for Jones (93 percent). Black voters made up 29 percent of the vote in that election — a significant enough number to impact the election. At the time, article after article stated how Black women made the difference. No one saw it coming. It’s not only a lesson for Black men and women to know our votes do matter, but also for politicians not to ignore or take the Black vote for granted.
Being taken for granted or ignored is exactly what seems to be happening in our local races. I’m disheartened and dismayed to see so few candidates spend their advertising dollars with Black-owned media — especially when dollars are spent with other media outlets. Is it a matter of Republicans ignoring Black voters because they believe Democrats have the Black vote on lock? Or, is it a matter of Democrats ignoring us because they know they have the Black vote in the bag? Or, is it Democrats and Republicans don’t see much value in the Black vote or Black media? Whatever the reason, it’s a problem. In general, people spend money on what they value. The fact that so few candidates spent advertising dollars with the Recorder speaks volumes. It’s downright shameful! Shame on you candidates for ignoring Black voters.
Dear readers, you must pay attention to who values you. I’ve long been a believer that as Black Americans we don’t know our value. Voting is one place where we need to understand our value. Those who fought for our right to vote definitely understood our value. We need to mobilize and let candidates know our vote is not guaranteed and we will not be ignored. Our votes can change an election. Forget what you heard. If candidates don’t try to reach you, they don’t care about you. It’s that simple.
Don’t ignore Black vote
