Most of us know that when President Lincoln freed the slaves in 1863, the stroke of the pen changed the economics of the South and of this nation. This was followed not only by the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the Constitution, but also by mass election of Negroes (Coloreds, Blacks) to public office. Two Black U.S. Senators were elected from the State of Mississippi, and Blacks were elected to the U.S. Congress. The surge in Black political participation led to the creation of the KKK and the development of States’ Rights, allowing the southern states in particular to pass laws restricting the right to vote with the creation of Poll Taxes, ensuring that only landowners could vote.
The fact that freed Black people understood the power of the vote and the need for the right to vote, led to massive Black political participation. By 1901, all Blacks elected to Congress were gone from office until 1921 when Oscar DePreist was elected to Congress from Chicago in 1929.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 ushered in a new wave of Black Political Participation. It helped Fannie Lou Hamer change the Democratic Party in the South; was responsible for the election of local Black elected officials like Mayors, Sheriffs, City Councilmembers, State Legislators and Black members of Congress.
If we fail to vote on November 3, 2026, we will once again turn the clock back by allowing the Trump supporters at all levels of government to retain their control of all three Branches of Government, effectively killing democracy as we know it. The attack on DEI, museums, First Amendment rights, books, and due process, will only increase.
If we as individuals vote, we can end Trump’s abuse of power. We can change the Supreme Court, which is now an instrument of Donald Trump on just about everything.
If we fail to vote, we could find ourselves back in a segregated society. Remember, what happened in Germany before Hitler, or South Africa with apartheid, did not happen overnight. Your failure to vote could become the next step toward Trump’s Authoritarian America.
Once again, the clarion call is for each one to get one to the polls to vote. Remember, this IS the most important vote since Lincoln freed the slaves. Our weapons are: our vote and our dollars. With the two, we can restore and repair that which has been taken. Where do you stand?
