The Politics of Race

In Cynthia Tuckers editorial on June 2, racist and Republican were used somewhat interchangeably. Unfortunately, there are racist members calling themselves parts of political parties on both sides of the aisle. In defending the Republican side, it could be pointed out that because of 22 Democratic Senators from the South; it took Republicans to make the Voting Rights Act and The Civil Rights Act of the 1960s the law of the land. You could list all the power that was first given to African Americans through Republican appointments. You could look at Rev. Joseph Lowry's statement that "Republicans take us for granted and the Democrats just take us." You could listen to Rev. Eugene Greene of Gainesville say that the grassroots group he put together to change the Georgia flag "didn't want to shove the change down White folks throats because then they will feel about the new flag the way Black folks feel about the old flag." He said that on the day Governor Roy Barnes introduced the new flag. Finally, you could listen to Representative John Lewis, D-Georgia, say on WDUN in Gainesville on November 6, 2000, that even though he was a partisan, it does not serve African Americans best interest for any party to know that they have their votes.

The issue here is a more political one. It is easier for Democrats if they can lump groups into their voting block. When Senator Richard Russell, D-Georgia, went to President Truman in 1952 for his endorsement to be the Democratic nominee for president, Truman said, "the Left-Wing groups in Chicago, New York, St. Louis and Kansas City must be kept in the Democratic Party if we are to win and they will not vote for you (Senator Russell). We must keep these groups in the party." This is still the policy in the Democratic Party, to pit one group against the other and paint them all with the same brush. This is stereotyping of the politically correct kind. Stereotyping is just as wrong if it is racially motivated or if it is politically motivated.

"Why is it that only White men can have different points of view while the rest of us are expected to vote in a block?" It was a nice theory, but it just does not work anymore.

Closer to home, this line of thinking is being attempted in the Democratic Primary battle for the 4th Congressional District in Georgia. Battle is the right word. Representative Cynthia McKinney can be described as embattled and always ready to defend her interests. Are her interests, the ones of a changing and growing 4th Congressional District? Denise Majette thinks they are not and has thrown her hat into a very dangerous political ring. This battle will be on the lines of a Tyson/Lewis match up.

Cong. McKinney questions whether Judge Majette is a "real" Democrat. This will be a great match up because race should not play a part. We have come so far that we have two African American women running for the United States Congress and ideas will be debated. The voter will see in this race that these women will debate their ideas and the voter will decide based on those ideas.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/7/191894