Voter Intimidation in Black Communities – a role for white anti-racists?

Alabama Republicans are barring community organizations from registering eligible voters who are currently incarcerated. Surprisingly, Alabama has a state law that allows certain people – like those with drug possession charges- to vote even while in prison. The Ordinary People’s Society and their national partner the Drug Policy Alliance began a historic voter registration drive earlier this month in prisons across Alabama, with the full support of the Alabama Department of Corrections (DOC).

But when GOP party officials found out, they put pressure of the DOC, thereby blocking the community groups’ right to register up to 10,000 eligible voters in prison.

Considering that African Americans make up just a quarter of Alabama residents, but 60% of state prisoner population, the impact of Alabama GOP leaders on Black voter disenfranchisement this election is significant.

“Voter registration drives are an essential part of our democracy, and

this action by the GOP and the Department of Corrections smacks of voter

intimidation,” said Rev. Kenneth Glasgow, founder and executive director

of The Ordinary People’s Society, the group leading the registration

drive. “Our focus isn’t politics, it’s restoration. We’re just doing

what the Bible says, visiting people in prison and ministering to them.

The chairman of the Republican Party and the chairman of the Democratic

Party can go into prisons with us and monitor the registration process.”

Voter intimidation and manipulation in Black communities has a long and unfortunate history in the U.S., and this latest news in Alabama defies claims of an impending “post-racial society.” In many ways, this election season has brought together unlikely alliances and re-energized folks’ enthusiasm for progress in a multicultural world. However, tales like these remind us of the importance of sustained grassroots efforts for racial justice, and the direct acknowledgment and struggle against systemic racism.

One Campaign for Whites, One for Blacks

This article by Andrew Hacker for the New York Times explores the systemic ways that folks of color, particularly African Americans, are disenfranchised in this country and the connection this will inevitably have on Obama’s chances of winning the election.

An excerpt:

“Just what is there about being white that might incline someone toward one candidate instead of another?

The concluding suggestion that Obama embark on two-track campaigns with one specifically catering to white votes and “featuring white faces” is insufficient in my opinion because it fails to address systemic racism. I understand that from a strategy of ‘do what is needed to win’ you could conclude that, but I still believe it reinforces white supremacy by acceding that for a black man to succeed in this election he needs a two-track campaign with one featuring white faces and white endorsements.

Sneak Preview: Race and Politics Series on NPR Tomorrow

“VOTER: White people are almost invariably shocked when they hear some of the things African-Americans have to put up with. And it cuts across economic groups too. African American profressionals in this town are treated differently

MICHELLE NORRIS: How are they treated differently?

VOTER: We’ve had incident where white lawyers wouldnts shake the hand of a black lawyer.”

And that voter veing interviewed is a white Republican man… tune in to hear what else NPR Hosts Michelle Norris and Steve Inskeep found when they had an in-depth 3 hours interview with a diverse pool of 13 voters from York, Pennsylvania – a battleground state. The series will be aired on both Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

“Palin’s record on race a blank sheet”

Earl Ofari Hutchinson writing for the San Francisco Chronicle questions the Republic VP candidate Sarah Palin’s “silence” on race and civil rights

Knowing Palin’s views on race and civil rights, whatever they are, is more than just a matter political one-upmanship. If elected, her views will carry much weight when it comes to making and enforcing legal and public policies that affect minorities and women.