By La Royce Jones
This summer of 2014, we’ve commemorated the historical movement known as Freedom Summer, or the Mississippi Summer Project. Although, Black men gained the right to vote in 1870, their right to utilize their voice was often stripped from them by the oppressor. Rarely, were they allowed the opportunity to fairly register to vote. They were made to endure obstacles of Poll Taxes and discriminatory Literacy Tests, in which their White counterparts were exempted from due to the grandfather clauses of many Southern States constitutions and laws that were upheld by the US Supreme Court from 1890 through 1910.
Later, in 1915 the US Supreme Court decided to strike down the use of grandfather clauses. Then in January of 1964, the 24th Amendment was ratified, which forbade Poll Taxes in federal elections; and the decision of Harper vs. VA State Election Board, which forbade Poll Taxes in state elections. Later, in 1965 the Voting Rights Act was signed to enforce the amendment.
The need for the Freedom Summer movement emerged due to the successful suppression and disfranchisement of the Black vote in Mississippi.
Mississippi had the lowest percentage of eligible Black voters who were actually registered to vote. That percentage was less than 7.
So, a coalition was formed to remedy this wrong. Civil Rights organizations, such as CORE, SNCC, NAACP, and COFO, came together with nearly 1,000 predominately White college students and volunteers from the north to ignite a movement and register as many eligible Black citizens as possible. This movement led to the signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Again, we commemorate this historical movement, as we should.
However, as I ponder then, and now, I dare say there is a need for a movement. Suppression of our vote is still at the forefront of the oppressors’ obstruction. It has been proven in the 2013 ruling of the US Supreme Court, which struck down the need for historically discriminatory states to get approval prior to making changes to Voting laws. Hence, here in Texas, we now are faced with the suppression of the Voter ID Law.
As insane as it is, that 50 years later, as we commemorate Freedom Summer, the suppression of the oppressor is not our biggest fight in the summer of 2014. Our fight is standing and utilizing our voice through our vote. I shared that Mississippi had less than 7% of its eligible Black citizens, registered to vote. Now, here in Texas,
In Dallas County, we have less than 6% of registered Black voters, who actually stand with their vote. Only 6% of registered Black voters in Dallas County actually vote! What an insult to all of those who stood and fought for our right, gave their blood, for our right to vote. Yet, we shame ourselves by not utilizing our gift.
Indeed, there is a need for a movement! Policies and laws that affect our communities will never change if we don’t heed the need to raise our voices. We say that it appalls us for our young brothers to be stricken down in the streets. Yet, when we are faced with electing public servants who share in restructuring the unjust “Stand Your Ground” laws, we become too busy to elect them.
We have the audacity to ask “what about our children” when a need emerged to show compassion to children crossing over our borders into safety from a distant land. I dare ask, “What about our children” when our elected school board members and our state elected officials slash the budget for education. “
“What about our children” when they are being labeled, boxed and wrapped to be shipped to the dehumanizing modern-day plantation known as mass incarceration.
“What about our children” when we turn a blind eye to uneven distribution of state and local taxes by remaining silent when it’s time to elect state officials whose desire is to afford the same opportunities to every citizen.
“What about our children?” Yet, only 6% of registered Black voters in Dallas County actually vote.
I dare ask, “What about our community”, when we sit silently in our food dessert accepting the leftovers of healthy produce and meat thrown to us from the northern sector. “What about our community”, when Banking Institutions are voided in our neighborhoods, and replaced by modern-day loan sharks known as the Payday and Car Title Loan Industries. “What about our community”, when education lacks, unemployment is high, and infrastructure is denied. What about our community?
Shamefully, I ponder, “What about our future?”
Brothers and sisters, in the midst of this turmoil, wickedness and shame, there is a light that shines. That light is, and has always been, the African American Faith Community, the Black church. We have always stood when called upon. Right now, our Father is calling, what are we going to do?
The survival of our community depends upon the faith and the work of doing justice. We must stand and become the leaders whom we were created to be. We must begin to live as children of the Creator of the Universe, and love beyond the walls, as our Savior Jesus did. We must stand and be the example for our community.
Freedom Sunday is Oct. 26. This is our opportunity to start a movement by utilizing our voices, and demanding justice for our children, our community and our future. Let’s leave the 6 percent in the past, and begin to educate our community to the need of lifting our voices through our vote.
Let’s show our children that we care about their education, their health and their future by standing for justice. Let’s stand in the face of evil to profess we are children of the Most High, and we will not stop fighting until justice prevails for all.
La Royce Jones is with the Justice Ministry of Friendship West Baptist Church and is community activist and writer.
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