Black Power: A New Political Path for Empowerment

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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The Jim Crow Reboot

Black communities are facing renewed efforts to suppress their political power. These efforts are often called a "Jim Crow reboot" (newsone.com). This situation requires a shift from traditional political engagement. Instead, a more self-reliant and community-focused strategy is needed.

The original Jim Crow laws were a system of state and local statutes. They were put in place in the Southern and some border states from the late 19th to the mid-20th centuries. These laws enforced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. They effectively denied Black people their civil and political rights (journals.uchicago.edu). The "reboot" refers to current policies and practices. These policies, while not explicitly race-based, disproportionately impact Black political participation and power. They echo the disenfranchisement tactics of the original Jim Crow era (mdpi.com).

The "reboot" shows up today through modern voter suppression tactics. These include strict voter ID laws, fewer early voting days, and purges of voter rolls. Gerrymandering, which is manipulating electoral district boundaries, also plays a part. These tactics disproportionately affect minority voters (mdpi.com).

Understanding the Jim Crow Reboot

Jim Crow Reboot: This term describes modern policies and practices that, while not explicitly race-based, disproportionately impact Black political participation and power, echoing the disenfranchisement tactics of the original Jim Crow era. This includes tactics like strict voter ID laws and reductions in early voting.

Far-Right Tactics

Republican-led efforts to deny or restrict Black political power are not new (newsone.com). The modern version is particularly alarming. These efforts are not just about pleasing one political figure. They are part of a long-standing far-right strategy (newsone.com).

The "long-standing far-right strategy" to suppress Black political power involves a coordinated effort. Conservative political organizations, think tanks, and elected officials are part of this effort. They work to enact policies and promote narratives that limit minority voting access and influence. This strategy often uses legal challenges, legislative changes, and public disinformation campaigns (mdpi.com). This includes pushing for and putting in place restrictive voting laws. Examples are strict voter ID requirements and limits on voter registration drives (mdpi.com).

Gerrymandering is another key tactic. This is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party or group. It is used to weaken the voting power of minority communities (mdpi.com). The strategy also involves promoting stories of widespread voter fraud. These claims often lack evidence. They are used to justify restrictive voting measures and undermine public trust in election results (howard.edu).

The "Lesser of the Worst"

Many Black Americans feel betrayed by the political system and their allies (blackpressusa.com). This has led to a focus on self-preservation and community building. The feeling is captured by the idea that "Ain’t nobody coming to save us. We will save ourselves" (blackpressusa.com).

The "lesser of the worst" argument has always been true for Black communities (nationofchange.org). Black people have long understood the systemic and racially unfair nature of the political system (nationofchange.org). This argument describes a political choice. Voters, especially those from marginalized groups, support a candidate or party. They do this not because they fully agree with them. Instead, they choose them because the other option is much worse (howard.edu).

This approach often means engaging with politics in a practical way, not an ideal one. The focus is on reducing harm, not on making big changes (howard.edu). This "lesser of the worst" dynamic can make people feel disappointed. It can also make them feel that political participation does not help Black communities much (howard.edu). It can also explain why Black voters might keep supporting one political party, even with its flaws. The risks with the other party are seen as too high (journals.uchicago.edu).

Youth Disillusionment

Young Black voters often feel that neither political party truly cares about their interests. This leads to a lack of desire to take part in traditional elections (citybureau.org). Young Black voters in Chicago, for example, feel disconnected from politics. They believe that "nothing is changing because nothing moves for us" (citybureau.org).

This feeling of disappointment is common among young Black voters. Organizers and academics have noticed this (citybureau.org). Economic and social problems can negatively affect Black political participation. This can lead to disappointment among younger voters facing these challenges (journals.uchicago.edu). Feelings of alienation can come from a lack of real policy changes that directly help their communities. This makes them question if voting really works (howard.edu).

The "lesser of the worst" political situation can also make young voters feel apathetic. They feel they are choosing between imperfect options. This can lead to a lack of excitement for electoral politics (howard.edu).

Voter Suppression

Attacks on voting rights, such as limits on vote-by-mail and early voting, are seen as modern forms of voter suppression (newsone.com). These are similar to historical poll taxes. They are often justified by false stories of voter fraud (newsone.com).

The "Big Lie" of 2020 refers to the widespread and untrue claims. Donald Trump and his allies said the 2020 U.S. presidential election was stolen through massive voter fraud (howard.edu). Despite many audits, recounts, and court cases finding no evidence of widespread fraud, these claims continued. They were amplified, leading to big political problems (howard.edu). The "Big Lie" has been used to justify making voting laws stricter in many states. This is supposedly to prevent future fraud. However, it often ends up suppressing legal votes, especially from minority communities (mdpi.com).

Voter suppression tactics are strategies, often made into laws. They are designed to make it harder for eligible citizens to register, vote, or have their vote counted. Historically, these tactics were used to stop Black Americans from voting. Today, similar methods, though often called election security measures, still disproportionately affect minority voters (mdpi.com). Vote-by-mail restrictions limit who can vote by mail. They require specific IDs for mail-in ballots. They also reduce the number of drop-off locations. This makes it harder for those with limited transportation or time to vote (mdpi.com).

Early voting limitations reduce the number of days or hours for in-person early voting. This can especially affect hourly wage workers or those with rigid schedules who cannot vote on Election Day (mdpi.com). Poll taxes, historically, were fees needed to vote. This practice was outlawed by the 24th Amendment. While direct poll taxes are illegal, modern versions exist. These can include strict voter ID laws that require voters to buy specific forms of identification. This effectively creates a financial barrier to voting (journals.uchicago.edu).

Impact of Policy Changes on Black Voter Participation

Policy Impact on Black Political Participation

Increased
Black Political Empowerment

Decreased
Economic/Social Distress

Increased
Mayoral Control

Varied
Redistricting Effects

This chart illustrates how various factors influence Black political participation. Source: (journals.uchicago.edu), (jstor.org), (mdpi.com)

Broadening Black Politics

The focus on Black politics should go beyond race. It should include wider issues of social justice. It should also support marginalized groups within the Black community. This includes Black feminists and transgender individuals (howard.edu).

Research shows strong support for Black feminists and Black transgender communities (howard.edu). This highlights the need to expand Black politics beyond just racial concerns (howard.edu). A big reason why support for struggling groups does not always lead to advocacy is a misunderstanding. Many think Black politics is only about race (howard.edu).

Including Black feminists and Black transgender communities expands Black politics. It recognizes that the Black experience is not all the same. Different identities, like race, gender, and sexuality, shape political realities and challenges. Their inclusion shows the need for an intersectional approach to Black liberation. This approach addresses the unique oppressions faced by these subgroups (howard.edu). Black feminists advocate for politics that addresses both racial and gender oppression. They challenge patriarchal structures within Black communities and beyond. This expands the political agenda to include issues like reproductive justice, gender-based violence, and fair leadership (howard.edu).

Black transgender individuals face discrimination based on race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. They experience higher rates of violence, poverty, and lack of access to healthcare and housing. Their inclusion demands that Black politics addresses LGBTQ+ rights, safety, and inclusion (howard.edu). By embracing these groups, Black politics moves beyond a single focus on racial discrimination. It includes a more complete struggle for justice and equality for all Black people. It acknowledges that freedom for the most marginalized strengthens the entire community (howard.edu).

Democratic Party and Black Voters

Despite strong support for Democratic candidates, some Black voters feel abandoned by the Democratic Party (capitalbnews.org). This is especially true in rural areas. There is also a feeling that criticism often targets Black voters for election results (capitalbnews.org).

Many, including McCants, point out that election discussions within the Democratic Party often criticize Black voters too much. This happens even though Black voters strongly supported Vice President Harris, giving her 80% of their vote (capitalbnews.org). This focus on Black voters may have hidden other factors affecting voting patterns. These include sexism, misogyny, misinformation, and racism. Shifts among younger voters, Latino men, and the steady loyalty of white voters to the Republican Party also play a role (capitalbnews.org).

The article mentions rural Black voters feeling abandoned by Democrats. However, it does not go into detail about the different political dynamics between urban and rural Black communities. This leaves out important details about how location affects political engagement, priorities, and challenges for Black voters. Political empowerment, like controlling the mayor's office, has been shown to increase Black sociopolitical participation (jstor.org). This is more common in cities with larger Black populations. This suggests a different situation for rural areas where such empowerment might be less frequent (jstor.org).

Economic and social factors greatly influence Black political participation. These factors often differ between cities and rural areas. For example, gentrification and policing are issues in cities. Access to resources and agricultural policies are issues in rural areas. This leads to different political concerns (journals.uchicago.edu). Redistricting efforts, which affect both urban and rural areas, might have different effects on Black political mobilization. This depends on how concentrated and spread out Black voters are in those regions (mdpi.com).

A New Political Approach

A new approach to politics is needed. This means moving beyond simply voting to save democracy. Instead, it should focus on co-governance, community participation, and holding all leaders accountable. This applies regardless of their political party (newsone.com).

Trying to appeal to the morality of those who want to undermine Black political power is a waste of time (newsone.com). Relying on respectability, the rule of law, or proper behavior will not be enough (newsone.com). There is a need for constructive criticism and demands for accountability from those who claim to be allies. Some people in power may work against the best interests of Black communities (newsone.com).

The shift should involve talking with people about shared experiences and visions. It also means rethinking community participation and encouraging co-governance (newsone.com). This includes having young voices in decisions about schools and investments. It also means ensuring renters take part in economic development talks alongside homeowners (newsone.com).

Building a stronger democracy means building better communities. It means expanding access and opportunity for Black people to thrive, not just survive (newsone.com). The concept of co-governance emphasizes shared decision-making power. This is between government entities and community organizations or citizens. It goes beyond traditional public participation. It gives community groups a more direct and formal role in shaping policies, programs, and how resources are used (cambridge.org).

In practice, co-governance can involve formal partnerships. Community organizations can have seats on government boards or commissions with decision-making power (cambridge.org). Examples might include community land trusts working directly with city councils on affordable housing. Or neighborhood associations having a binding say in local development projects (jstor.org). The goal of co-governance is to empower marginalized communities. It aims to build trust and ensure policies reflect the needs and priorities of those most affected (howard.edu).

Black Voter Support for Democratic Candidates

Black Voter Support for Vice President Harris

80%




Supported Vice President Harris



Other Candidates

This chart shows the percentage of Black voters who supported Vice President Harris. Source: (capitalbnews.org)

Community-Focused Strategies

The article suggests broadening the scope of Black politics beyond race. This includes supporting Black feminists and Black transgender communities. This implies a more inclusive, community-driven agenda. However, specific strategies for this wider engagement are not detailed (howard.edu).

The idea of moving beyond traditional political engagement suggests building power through community organizing. It also suggests mutual aid networks and local economic development. However, these are not clearly outlined as successful alternatives. Research shows that Black political empowerment can positively affect Black civic activity (journals.uchicago.edu). But this can be "countered by economic and social factors that swamp the benefits gained from black political success" (journals.uchicago.edu). This means negative policy impacts could show up as less civic activity.

Studies show that increases in Black empowerment, such as controlling the mayor's office, lead to higher Black sociopolitical participation (jstor.org). This implies that policies undermining this empowerment would have the opposite effect. The impact of redistricting on Black political mobilization, as seen in recent midterm elections, suggests that changes in electoral maps can directly affect voter participation and representation (mdpi.com).

Key Elements of a New Political Approach

Key Elements of a New Political Approach

Co-governance

Shared decision-making power between government and community.

Community Participation

Reimagining how communities engage in decision-making processes.

Accountability

Holding all leaders responsible, regardless of political affiliation.

Beyond Voting

Focus on broader community building and self-reliance.

This graphic highlights the core components of a new political approach for Black communities. Source: (newsone.com), (cambridge.org)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.