By Guest Columnist, Calvin Miller, II, Grand Worthy Patron
In the August 26, 2020 edition of Speakin’ Out News, Sandra Beckard penned a beautiful column titled: Stay Woke: This is “Good Tea”, concerning Racism and Politics in this country.
My question to us all is WHEN DO WE WAKE UP? On Sunday, August 30th, I shared the following with my Madkins Chapel Church Family:
I know by now many of you are tired of hearing about voting and elections. I am in agreement, but I am sorry, there is just too much at stake for me and others not to keeping talking about it so that we all can do something about it – like get out there and vote at every opportunity.
This will not take long. As my Father used to say, ‘Bad news don’t get better with delay’, so let’s get right to it!
Even though the issues I will be speaking on this morning are particular to the Huntsville, Alabama area, the focus and premise is applicable to every city and community in this country that we call ours.
Many of us, I know – not all, but many, pick and choose when we want to be recognized as proud citizens or residents of a city, neighborhood or area. Then as quick as you can bat an eye, we voluntarily forfeit the basic tenets and rights of that citizenship by not voting in every local election.
If someone is handing out stimulus checks or free food – Yes, I’m a resident! Some will stand in line for hours on end just so that they can be sure to say that they want to be recognized and acknowledged as part of the whole! However, when it comes to voting, and notice that I said voting, not registering, too many of us can’t find our voting precinct if our lives depended on it!
To be fair, some of us do make the effort to go and vote if we think the issue just might benefit us on a personal or kinship level – Like if Barack Obama or someone who looks like me is running for anything! But even that position is miss-guided and miss-stated: For the recent City of Huntsville elections six days ago – Both candidates for City Council District # 1 in Huntsville were Black. Both candidates for City School Board District # 1 were Black. The candidate/ incumbent City Councilman for District # 5 in Huntsville is Black. Remember those facts for a moment. But please listen to these facts:
In the eighteen voting precincts that comprise Northeast and Northwest Huntsville for city elections on August 25th there are 64,303 Registered Voters.
Of that total, 37,398 are Black. 26,720 are classified as White.
In the City of Huntsville Elections of August 25, 2020, 8,948 ballots were cast by the Registered Voters in those eighteen voting precincts in NE & NW Huntsville.
For the purposes of pinpoint illustration, pictured below, I have selected ten (10) precincts to show the depth of the problem.
Again, to be fair, voting was down throughout the area on August 25th. In the City of Huntsville there were 163,240 Registered Voters. Only 27,866 Ballots were cast for a dismal 17.07 percentage.
I really hate to sound cynical, but fact is fact: It should be no surprise why the areas of Northeast and Northwest Huntsville don’t get more positive attention like street and light repair, shopping center upgrades, removal of eye sore buildings and landscape beautification: The answer is simple – When it comes to expressing our wishes, desires and concerns at the ballot boxes in Northeast / Northwest Huntsville – NO ONE LIVES IN THOSE AREAS! WHY SHOULD WE GET ANYTHING?
FOLK, WE JUST GOT TO DO BETTER! IF WE REALLY WANT OUR LIVES TO MATTER, WE HAVE GOT TO ACT LIKE WE MATTER BY VOTING EACH AND EVERY TIME! AND DON’T STOP WITH OURSELVES, EACH ONE – REACH ONE! I thank you for your time and attention! May God continue to Bless Us All.
