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October 28, 2004

Vote Kerry for president

When the Boston Red Sox lost the first three games of the American League Championship series, the conventional wisdom was that the New York Yankees would certainly win the Pennant. To be victorious the Yankees had to win only one of the remaining four games. The Red Sox would have to win four straight, a record never before achieved in the history of baseball.

However, the pundits had underestimated the determination and courage of the Red Sox. Rather than becoming discouraged and despondent, the Sox refused to quit. The team visualized the Pennant hanging in Fenway Park and every player drew on reserves of talent to change baseball history.

The record of this achievement could well serve as a model for African Americans. After decades of being marginalized and disrespected in this country, African American leaders have focused their attention primarily on confronting bigotry. Too little attention has been given to the development of a strategy for black empowerment.

One element of such a strategy, if one were promulgated, would be a massive turnout on Election Day. After the recent election of Andrea Cabral as Suffolk County Sheriff, the importance of a solid turnout should be clear. Black Bostonians achieved greater respect in the city because of their willingness to go to the polls.

Voting should be something that African Americans do in every election as a matter of principle. There should be no acceptable excuse for staying home. The reason for voting is not that your single vote may change the outcome of an election. For African Americans, voting is an act of solidarity to remind others that a massive march to the polls by black voters is a consistent, reliable expression of power.

Every black in America should register and vote in the presidential election on Tuesday, November 2, even if the motivation is only an act of defiance. In order to retain their grip on power, Republicans across the country have been making it difficult for blacks to vote because of their preference for the Democratic Party.

This is nothing new. The poll tax and excessively stringent literacy tests kept many blacks out of the polls in the South until these measures were outlawed. Then a number of states, including Florida, passed laws that barred convicted felons from the polls for life. With minor drug convictions being transformed by law into felonies, a growing number of citizens of all races are being disenfranchised.

There is a tendency among many blacks to be less informed about their history than is advisable. One reason for this is that so much of the history is a tragic tale that recalls painful personal memories. Nonetheless, everyone must become aware of the pending transformation this country will face if the president is re-elected.

During the last four years Bush has exhausted Clinton’s budget surplus of $397 billion and accumulated a deficit of $415 billion. If he is re-elected he will scare the nation about the size of the deficit and cut spending on all the safety net programs that so many depend upon.

It is so important that all Americans concerned about the welfare of the working class must vote for John Kerry for president and persuade friends and relatives to do likewise. Kerry can win. Consider what the Red Sox achieved with focused commitment.

 

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