A Deeper Look into the Issues of Politics
The film, American Blackout, addressed how African-Americans are being targeted in elections and how tactics are used to keep them from voting. Also, the film discussed the controversial issue of the 2000 and 2004 elections. According to the film, President Bush should not have won each election and the only reason he did was because many of the Black democratic votes were not counted. Reasons for the votes not being counted included black’s names were put on a list of convicted felons when they should not have been and voting machines in urban areas were missing which hindered voter efficiency. There were many scholars who discussed this conspiracy done by the republicans to get Bush and keep Bush in office. The film encouraged Blacks to take advantage of their right to vote and keep republicans from using tactics against them. This film sparked a couple of questions, issues and ideas in my head and made me focus on past and present politics and the current presidential race.
Although I do completely support the fact that Blacks as well as any other group of people should take advantage of their right to vote, I question a couple of themes presented in the film. First, I question the directors’ findings that led them to assert that Bush really did not win the presidency and that his party had led a conspiracy. There has been evidence from other independent research studies on the 2000 and 2004 election that show how Bush really did win the elections fairly. So, obviously someone’s research is false because both sides of the story cannot be true. Which one should Americans believe? I also question the political leaders from the Democratic Party and their efforts to encourage Blacks to vote. I just find it too convenient for the Democrats to blame republicans for wrong doings because Democrats know that statistics show the majority of Blacks vote democrat. So, the best way to gain the Black vote is to convince them your party will give them benefits and that the other party is outright against them. My personal opinion is that the Democratic Party takes advantage of Black voters. Blacks need to be weary of politics and realize that politics is a game about power, money and votes. The Democratic Party needs as many votes as possible just like the Republican Party needs the votes and so there is a race to see which party can gain the most. The more Blacks who vote democrat, the better the chance the Democratic Party will have in the race.
I think that Blacks tend to have unrealistic expectations from the Democratic Party. I am a Black woman and I am constantly amazed of the number of Blacks who are still waiting for a president from the Democratic Party to give them things such as reparations from slavery. Even though Obama is a Black man, if he is elected, he will not give Blacks reparations. Yes, slavery was a horrible inhumane act that was done to Blacks in American history and I am not trying to minimize the hurt, pain and oppression that it has caused. I just think Blacks as a whole need to realize that they may never receive the apology or reparations they are waiting for. So, the question is: If Whites never formally apologize or give reparations through a government publicized event, then will Blacks continue to perpetuate their state of oppression, pain and anger for generations to come? Isn’t there a way for Blacks to find true freedom through other means rather than wishing for whites to hand it to them? Isn’t there a way that Whites can admit that they are privileged over blacks simply because of race? Isn’t there a way for true racial reconciliation in the future? I really believe that slavery has placed a stronghold on the Black race and until the stronghold is broken, Blacks will remain in the state of oppression. The most important question is: Who can take away that stronghold and grant freedom to Blacks?
December 9th, 2008 at 11:23 am
The inauguration of Barack H. Obama as President of the United States of America will increase the likelihood of HR 40, the study to determine the impact of fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery on Blacks in America, will be passed. This will form the basis of a reparations accord for Blacks in America.
Now, reparations will not be paid without a mass demand on Congress and the major corporations, let’s be clear on this point. Also be clear, our demand has to be as organized and effective as the South African Divestment Campaign was. If this is done, there will be racial conciliation, because the mass demand will create the social conditions that will become the predicate for both sides to pay the “price of racial reconciliation”–reparations.
Corporate capitalism has always responded to low-risk and low cost investment opportunities. Human capital development of Blacks in America is the best investment available.
Underlying the passsage of HR 40 is a unifying principle we can not continue to ignore or fear: Obama, change, and reparations will make America better, in every way. We must demand it. Yes we can, and we will! For a more detailed understanding about Reparations, go to http://www.ncobraphiladelphia.org.