Keeping
Black Voters in their Place
by Jerry Mitchell,
executive director, North Alabama African American Chamber of Commerce
(NAAACC)
(ABOVE) Jerry Mitchell,
executive director, NAAACC.
Recently an associate passed on a New York Times column entitled “Keeping Black Voters in Their Place”. Times columnist Thomas Edsall notes that Republicans who now control the legislatures and governorships in the Deep South (i.e. Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina) are using the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to create a system of “political apartheid.” Much to my chagrin, Alabama is cited as the poster state for the decline of Black political power in the South.
Led by current speaker of the Alabama House, Mike Hubbard, the Republicans took over the majority in the legislature in 2010. In his book, “Storming the Statehouse: The Campaign that Liberated Alabama From 136 Years of Democrat Rule”, he discusses techniques for displacing White Democratic incumbents. In the book Mr. Hubbard states that he identified targets by commissioning a study of voting patterns in districts represented by White Democratic legislators across the state. The result is that prior to the 2010 election there were 60 Democrats in the Alabama State House, 34 of them White, 26 Black. Now there are 36 Democrats, 26 of them Black, 10 of them White. In the State Senate, the number of Democrats fell from 20 - 13 White and 7 Black, to 11 Democrats, 4 White and 7 Black.
The column points out that once Alabama Republicans gained control, they wasted no time using the results of the 2010 Census to corral Black voters into legislative districts with large African American majorities. The redrawn district lines minimize potential coalitions between a minority of White voters and a solid core of Black voters. This harkens back to the formulation of Alabama’s “1901 White Supremacy” Constitution, a document put in place by White’s who feared a loss of power if Blacks and poor were able to form political coalitions. Under these circumstances, predominantly White Republican Voting blocs remain dominant and the few predominantly Black Democratic voting blocs are isolated. Additionally they have weakened the power of Black voters in urban areas as well.
We still need a strong two party system in Alabama for the diversity
of ideas, so maybe Alabama Democrats will look to other states where
the party has had success and adopt the strategy for our state. Unfortunately,
a leader with an executable vision that others will follow seems unlikely
to appear in 2014. If anyone disagrees please call me with the persons
name and let me know the title of his or her book so I can read it.
Meanwhile Black voters in Alabama will either have to form coalitions
with other groups to fight retrenchment or continue to allow ourselves
to be kept powerless “in our designated place”.
Contact J. Mitchell on www.facebook.com/naaachamber.
Follow J, Mitchell for Black History Facts daily on facebook.com/naaachamber & alblackchamber.
ABOUT NAAACC
The NAAACC annually
serves over 500 business. The NAAACC serves as a vehicle to enhance
African American Businesses and other historically underutilized businesses
by identifying business opportunities. providing a resource base, and
encouraging members to do business with each other. The NAAACC is affiliated
with the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Which is headquartered
in Washington, DC. For more information visit us at http://www.naaachamber.org/
Contact J. Mitchell at www.facebook.com/naaachamber.
