Another thing is that Democrats don’t worry about Black turnout in places like Chicago because the city and state will vote Democratic. So turnout is abysmal in some communities year after year.
“For decades, the Democratic Party has operated with a concept baked into its electoral strategy: the GOTV voter. Black voters, in this framework, are a turnout problem to be solved every two to four years. The strategy activates Black communities in the final weeks before an election, extracts their votes, and dissolves the infrastructure the moment results come in. No long-term commitment to Black community power that exists independent of any single election cycle.”
Democrats need to highlight current and recent actions by and for young black men so they feel noticed and heard. The Montgomery Advertiser ran a feature for close to 3 years called Community Heroes. At least 2/3rds of those chosen were men, including young men, started nonprofits or took other action to help young black men in recognizing their art, their contributions to the neighborhoods that were predominantly black, and history that has been ignored or pushed into the background. Many young black men (and white men don’t know the stories of people in the Civil Rights movement in the 60s and their accomplishments. Two brothers in Montgomery started a school for young black men starting with grades 1-4, expanding by one of two grades a year. They taught subjects, but also values and faith. They have now reached as high as grade 12 and even fielded a football team. This kind of work needs to expand beyond this community and be highlighted; others need to know.
The previous generations did not, as far as I know, have "infrastructures" to help them be engaged citizens. They believed it was important and they went out and did the work. Perhaps it's not infrastructure or empowerment that is the issue. Perhaps it is something individuals have to seek within themselves and get out and do the work.
I fully support all efforts to ensure the right to vote for Black and other people of color in America (go Marc Elias and Norm Einstein!). I think someone like Ben Wikler heading the DNC can better support sustained contact and education with local communities, which led to success in Wisconsin. I just started his new book: "This is the Plan - How to End America's Meltdown and Save Democracy."
That said, nothing exemplifies more the "transaction model" than AIPAC and its related PACs funding and running ads for Members of Congress, in particular those Democrats who may not have access to as many funding sources.
Yes, yes, yes!! Thank you.
Another thing is that Democrats don’t worry about Black turnout in places like Chicago because the city and state will vote Democratic. So turnout is abysmal in some communities year after year.
“For decades, the Democratic Party has operated with a concept baked into its electoral strategy: the GOTV voter. Black voters, in this framework, are a turnout problem to be solved every two to four years. The strategy activates Black communities in the final weeks before an election, extracts their votes, and dissolves the infrastructure the moment results come in. No long-term commitment to Black community power that exists independent of any single election cycle.”
Democrats need to highlight current and recent actions by and for young black men so they feel noticed and heard. The Montgomery Advertiser ran a feature for close to 3 years called Community Heroes. At least 2/3rds of those chosen were men, including young men, started nonprofits or took other action to help young black men in recognizing their art, their contributions to the neighborhoods that were predominantly black, and history that has been ignored or pushed into the background. Many young black men (and white men don’t know the stories of people in the Civil Rights movement in the 60s and their accomplishments. Two brothers in Montgomery started a school for young black men starting with grades 1-4, expanding by one of two grades a year. They taught subjects, but also values and faith. They have now reached as high as grade 12 and even fielded a football team. This kind of work needs to expand beyond this community and be highlighted; others need to know.
The previous generations did not, as far as I know, have "infrastructures" to help them be engaged citizens. They believed it was important and they went out and did the work. Perhaps it's not infrastructure or empowerment that is the issue. Perhaps it is something individuals have to seek within themselves and get out and do the work.
I fully support all efforts to ensure the right to vote for Black and other people of color in America (go Marc Elias and Norm Einstein!). I think someone like Ben Wikler heading the DNC can better support sustained contact and education with local communities, which led to success in Wisconsin. I just started his new book: "This is the Plan - How to End America's Meltdown and Save Democracy."
That said, nothing exemplifies more the "transaction model" than AIPAC and its related PACs funding and running ads for Members of Congress, in particular those Democrats who may not have access to as many funding sources.