It's important to not deny Black agency or legitimate claims on the polity. When we demand things from government it's not begging the " White Man " or being dependent. This isn't their country or their government its ours. Contrary to what Rightwingers and Black Nationalists claim the government has been doing things that helped White people since Independence. But it hasn't done nearly enough for us. We are more than justified considering denial of our rights and material deprivation due to systemic racism.
Most Black people who vote support the Democratic Party although more and more Blacks especially younger people are identifying as independents or Republicans. And Democrats need Black voters because most Whites support Republicans. It's often said that Democrats take Blacks for granted and do nothing for us. That's not true. While there's been no major legislation or policy initiative targeted towards Blacks since the 1960s. We benefit from all kinds of government policies that help everyone like the Affordable Care Act. In large urban areas programs that directly benefit Black communities get Federal funds. Black businesses at local, state, and national levels benefit from Federal contracts. All of this is due to support from Democratic politicians both Black and White. Furthermore large numbers of Black people have good paying government jobs. Democrats believe in an active government that helps people and spends money. These things benefit us.
However the Democratic Party is not perfect. It needs to do more and be effective in addressing the problems faced by Black people. This is why advocacy and activism are just as important as voting. Just because Democrats are in office at any level doesn't mean they will pursue policies that help us. We need more than representation or symbolism. We have to fight for concrete change through government action even when that means challenging Democrats. Democrats don't do enough for us. But we don't do enough to hold them accountable.
We benefit from supporting Democrats. But we won't get more and better until we organize and pressure the party more effectively. Voting is only part of the solution. Black people need grassroots groups like Black Lives Matter. We must also lobby and pool money to form political action committees to flex our power. And we need to use all forms of media to achieve our goals as well. This has to be the approach to Democratic Party politics.
- Read more...
- 0 comments
- 87 views