Consistent with pre-election predictions, the Democrats have regained control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for the first time in more than a decade.  As expected, African American voters delivered the margin of victory to Democrats in several key House and Senate races. 

African Americans and the nation have clearly rejected the mismanagement, corruption, and deception that have been par for the course in the Bush White House and Republican Congress.  Their votes have proven that Americans understand what is in their best interest and that they are willing to speak truth to power to preserve all important democratic values.

Now that the elections are over, it is vital that African Americans not make the critical mistakes of the past when it comes to translating our voting power into substantive community benefits.  For we have always assumed that our work was done once our preferred party or candidate was elected to office.  African Americans will never receive the education, health, economic development and human justice reforms we seek if we continue with this failed tactic.

We must understand that the heavy political lifting really begins after the election is over.  In order to ensure party leaders prioritize the policies and programs important to our communities, African Americans must be effective and consistent advocates for a policy agenda that gets us towards our desired goals (see previous BC issue).  Because many groups and interests are vying for the attention and loyalty of the party in power, African Americans must make their presence known.

How is this accomplished?  It is done by staying informed about the issues and educating others about what is happening.  It is done by calling, writing, and/or visiting your elected representatives to let them know what your priorities are and that you demand they act on these issues.  It is also done by speaking up and speaking out--through the media, protests and other individual and group actions--when vital issues are on the table. 

A community empowerment policy agenda is also facilitated by joining and supporting advocacy organizations and coalitions that serve as policy watchdogs and as community advocates by placing pressure on policymakers and by educating and mobilizing the public when necessary.  Finally, like it or not, African Americans also need to protect those policymakers who protect our interests.  This can be accomplished by giving our support to these policymakers through a variety of actions that includes, but is not limited to, contributing financially to those who champion the issues that are important to our communities.

In sum, African Americans must not assume that our policy interests will be served just because our preferred party is in power.  Democracy is not on auto-pilot.  Even after the vote is cast, we must continue to push the levers of power to ensure not just a political victory but a public policy victory as well.

BC Editorial Board member, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore is President and CEO of Global Policy Solutions, a public affairs consulting firm based in Washington, DC. She is the author of The Political Action Handbook: A How to Guide for the Hip Hop Generation and co-editor of Strengthening Communities: Social Insurance in a Diverse America.  Maya can be reached at www.mayarockeymoore.com.

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