Until
we Americans deal with the color of our moral compass, “liberty
and justice for all” will continue to apply to some, but not
all, Americans. Although
major political candidates and their parties pontificate about
America as the
moral protector and leader of the world, many of us (particularly
people of color) had a very different experience when we tried
to register to vote and get our votes counted in this election.
This election
dramatically demonstrated that racism remains alive and well
in our country. Racism
still clouds our judgment and persuades people to act against
their own best interests. It still diverts attention from critical
issues and injustices that impact everyone. It still
serves as a means to divide natural allies. It still alienates
Americans from their own moral compass. It still acts as a weapon
to silence protest.
As the
drama of this election has unfolded, it has become apparent that
it is still
not the right of every American to vote. In particular, people
of color have been targeted for voter intimidation and disenfranchisement.
The brazenness of these acts, committed by private political
organizations, partisan judges and government officials is shocking. The
realization that they can be so bold because no one in leadership
anywhere in the U.S. will seriously challenge them is both deeply
wounding for people of color and frightening for us all.
We are
wounded because the allies with whom people of color have been
working side by
side for months really have betrayed us with silence. We are
frightened because these allies don’t even realize that our mutual
fates are intertwined. They have ceded political power that
won’t be easily regained. They have sacrificed constituencies
and power bases that they really need. And they have betrayed
the integrity of their party and their own moral compass that
were sources of strength and identity.
Republicans
have overtly attacked the rights of people to vote, and have
been very calculating
in focusing on people of color. Democrats have pretended they
don’t see what’s happening. They are hesitant to challenge irregularities
and reluctant to demand justice. Translation: they consider
people of color expendable, pawns rather than individuals who
deserve justice and an equal place at the governing table.
When this
betrayal happened in the 2000 election, the Democratic Party
stood by, silent in
Dade County, in the media, in the Congress and in the courts. No
person of color will ever forget the parade of African Americans
coming before the Congress to ask for justice – an inquiry into
voting irregularities in Florida – and not one Democratic senator
standing up on our behalf. On
that day, people of color lost, the Democrats lost, and democracy
lost. And here we are again. Where is the outcry?
How the
U.S. treats its people of color is the real America, unmasked. For
people of color, there is something chillingly familiar about
the army
of challengers intimidating brown and black voters at the polls,
the shortage of polling places and machines in black and brown
communities, the erroneous purging of voter rolls targeting African
Americans, and numerous other actions that form a national pattern
of racial discrimination.
Until we
heal this sickness of racism, America will never be free. That
which is so difficult
for Americans to face, is so obvious to the rest the world. We
will heal this spiritual wound or fall as so many nations have
before us.
Republicans
must confront their racism. So much of what makes George Bush popular is the
subliminal message (responding to the subliminal hope) that he
can return America to a time of white supremacy – a time of entitlement,
domination and power without accountability. This kind of thinking
is responsible for very dangerous choices Americans are making
in the world community today.
Democrats
must heal their racism – so fearful of what their neighbors will think
by being affiliated with “those people” that they will deny people
of color in a heartbeat if they must choose between a vote and
what’s right.
Progressives
must challenge their racism – their persistent belief that race
can wait until more important issues are handled, and failing
to realize that
the predominant
white leadership has a lot it can learn from the survival knowledge
of people of color. They must be willing to share power with
people of color.
We people of color must value
ourselves more. We need to dig deeper into building our own
base of power – determine how we can leverage our political and
economic power to advance our interests. We must organize our
communities more effectively, strengthen our internal institutions,
and culturally and spiritually heal and empower our people. We
must withdraw our support from those who don’t support us. We
need to get smarter, tougher and more strategic in the political
process, and not sell ourselves cheap. We have paid for this
right to vote in blood – our votes should dearly cost the person
who wants them.
Those who
seek a just and free society must unmask the dirty tricks of
racism and partisan
politics. Our coalitions must take all necessary measures to
ensure that everyone can vote and every vote is counted. We
must not allow code words for racism to pass as civil discourse. It
is racism that is always politically incorrect – not we who speak
truth to power.
We must
take racism out of congressional districting and electoral policy. We must
investigate the attacks on the right to vote and prosecute them
to the fullest. We must push for federal voting standards and
procedures. We must insist on a paper trail for every vote.
Will color
continue to define America’s moral compass? We cannot hope and
wait for either party to stand up for what is right; we must
take responsibility
for the justice we seek. People of color have overcome slavery,
Jim Crow, lynchings, deportation and roundups. We will press
forward with great spirit, perseverance and effectiveness to
secure our rights. We challenge our fellow Americans to stand
with us so that the colors - red, white, and blue - truly mean
liberty and justice for all.
Eisha Mason is Executive
Director of the Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence: www.nonviolenceworks.com.
Contact Ms. Mason at [email protected] |