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BLACKVOTER.ORG #113
Empowering Awareness: Stay Grounded With Blackvoter.org Newsletter!Empowering voices, driving change. 🗳️ Advocate for justice, equity, and representation at BlackVoter.org. Join us as we harness the power of the ballot to shape a future that reflects our values and aspirations. #BlackVoter #EmpowerChange Publish Time
BlackVoter.org
August 07, 2024
In this article, Thomas B. Edsall discusses how the rise of Donald Trump and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement have had a significant impact on American politics.
One key factor is the growing disparity between the views of Democrats and Republicans on various groups, as observed through surveys conducted by the American National Election Studies. These surveys asked voters to rate different groups on a thermometer scale ranging from 0 to 100.
The results showed that Democrats' ratings of "feminists" and "Black Lives Matter" increased over time, while Republicans' ratings of these groups decreased. Additionally, Democrats' ratings of "Christian fundamentalists" decreased, while Republicans' ratings slightly increased.
This growing polarization between the two parties has fundamentally changed the political landscape in America.
In an effort to gain support from black voters in Milwaukee, the Republican Party is focusing on the economy and cost of living. Many black voters in urban areas feel that the Biden-Harris administration has not brought them economic prosperity.
Conservative activist Chris Lawrence suggests that Republicans highlight the promises made by Democrats that have not been fulfilled. A CBS News/YouGov poll found that Vice President Kamala Harris has gained about 8% more of the black vote than Joe Biden had in July.
However, Lawrence believes that Republicans can still make an impact by addressing the economic concerns of black voters. Some black-owned businesses have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many families of color have faced rent increases and stagnant wages.
Some black voters feel that they haven't been inspired to vote in a long time and want Republicans to engage with their community more consistently. Republican outreach efforts have been a priority for the Trump campaign, and State Senator Julian Bradley believes that Democrats may face a political reckoning from black voters who feel that they have been taken for granted.
Overall, Republicans are seeking to highlight the economic challenges faced by black voters in an attempt to sway their support.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been selected as Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate for the 2024 presidential election. The announcement was made during a rally at Temple University in Philadelphia, where the duo spoke in front of an audience of 12,000 people.
Harris praised Walz for his Midwest roots and his experience as a teacher, veteran, congressman, and governor. In his speech, Walz expressed his excitement for the campaign and attacked Republican candidate JD Vance, calling him "weird as hell".
Walz's selection has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising his progressive policies and others questioning his experience and popularity.
A trial has begun in Mississippi regarding a lawsuit that seeks to increase the number of Black justices on the state's highest court. Currently, Mississippi has the largest percentage of Black residents in the U.
S., but only one Black justice serves on the Supreme Court.
The lawsuit argues that the current district lines, which have remained unchanged since 1987, dilute the voting strength of Black Mississippians. While 38% of the state's residents are Black, eight of the nine current Supreme Court justices are white.
The lawsuit is being brought by four Black residents of Mississippi, with the support of organizations like the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The trial comes after a recent ruling ordering legislators to redraw legislative districts where Black voting power is currently diluted.
Vice President Kamala Harris has officially announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, but many Americans are unfamiliar with him, according to a recent PBS News/NPR/Marist poll. About 70 percent of Americans say they don't know enough about Walz to have a positive or negative opinion of him.
Walz, who has served in the military and as an educator, is best known nationally for calling former President Donald Trump "weird." The poll also revealed that 31 percent of Americans have a favorable impression of Sen.
Mark Kelly, while 52 percent said they are unsure who he is or have never heard of him. Additionally, 25 percent of Americans have a favorable impression of Pennsylvania Gov.
Josh Shapiro, while 53 percent are unsure or do not recognize his name. Harris' favorability has increased 6 percentage points since late July, with 46 percent of Americans saying they have a favorable impression of her.
The article discusses the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Freedom Summer Project and how young people played a pivotal role in shaping civil rights history. The project was a response to the violent oppression faced by Black Mississippians who were striving to exercise their right to vote.
Despite the Ku Klux Klan committing a murder a month to suppress voter registration efforts, the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) recruited student volunteers to assist civil rights workers in Mississippi. The volunteers worked to register as many Black Mississippians to vote as possible and establish Freedom schools to educate young individuals about literacy, history, and organizing skills.
While Mississippi faces a lack of investment and encouragement for new leadership, young people have the potential to bring about significant change in the community, just as they did during the Freedom Summer Project. The article concludes by honoring the memory of the activists who were killed during Freedom Summer and expressing hope for a surge of young leaders in Mississippi.
Senate Republicans blocked the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in a vote on Wednesday. The Act aimed to restore parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013, and would have reinstated Justice Department review of changes in election law in states with a history of discrimination.
The bill did not receive the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster, with only one Republican, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, supporting the legislation. Democrats have been pushing for new voting rights legislation in response to new restrictions imposed by states following the 2020 election.
A USA TODAY analysis found that approximately 55 million eligible voters live in states with changes that will limit their access to voting.
Memes featuring Kamala Harris may actually help her win the election, according to historical analysis. The article highlights the case of Victoria Woodhull, the first female presidential candidate in 1872, who was portrayed negatively by the media due to her transgressions of gender norms.
Woodhull's lack of a platform to counter these negative portrayals ultimately doomed her campaign. In contrast, Harris has the advantage of social media and a team that can reframe negative attacks into positive messages.
By using memes and other forms of social media, Harris can define her public image before her opponents and their media allies, potentially reaching a broader audience and maintaining control over her narrative. The article argues that the success of these memes relies on their authenticity and potential for virality, allowing Harris to make her case on her own terms in a way that Woodhull never had the chance to do.
Episode 4 of The Black Ballot delves into the impact of Richard Nixon and George Wallace on African American voters during the 1960s. The episode begins by discussing the Republican Party's decision to distance itself from African American voters in the 1950s and 1960s, solidifying their stance on white supremacy.
This led to the eviction of African Americans from the Republican Party. The rise of segregationist George Wallace and his racist rhetoric is also explored, highlighting a legacy of isolating politics.
The episode then examines Richard Nixon's political comeback and his strategic use of appeals to the "silent majority," a term for disaffected white voters, using "dog whistles" instead of overtly racist language. The episode offers a compelling look at how these historical decisions and political strategies have shaped current political dynamics for Black voters.
The article discusses the 59th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act, which was a significant legislation in dismantling racial discrimination and ensuring voting opportunities for communities of color. However, in recent years, the Supreme Court has made rulings that undermine the achievements of the civil rights movement.
The 2013 Shelby County v. Holder ruling, in particular, weakened the Voting Rights Act by removing the preclearance provision, which allowed states to enact racially discriminatory policies.
In response, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act was introduced in Congress in 2021 to restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act. However, it did not pass due to the Senate filibuster.
As a result, restrictive voting laws have been enacted in at least 31 states since the Shelby decision, leaving minority voters vulnerable to discrimination. The article emphasizes the urgent need for legislation to protect voting rights and highlights the work of organizations like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Brennan Center for Justice in advocating for such legislation.
North Carolina's soft voter ID laws are causing concern leading up to the November election. While the state requires photo identification to vote, there are many different forms that are acceptable, including specific student or employee IDs.
Andy Jackson of the Civitas Center for Public Integrity at the John Locke Foundation argues that this is problematic because it creates loopholes that could be exploited. Additionally, the State Board of Elections allows people without voter IDs to vote after signing an affidavit, even if the county board suspects the affidavit is false.
Jackson believes there is a lack of oversight from the Elections Board in removing duplicate voter registrations and addressing citizen groups' concerns. The state's General Assembly recently passed laws to tighten election regulations, but concerns remain about the motivation and partisanship of the Board of Elections.
Despite these concerns, Jackson believes the elections are reasonably secure, and the state has made strides toward election security since 2020.
In this article, the author discusses how Donald Trump has returned to his "birther" tactics as he tries to win a third term as President of the United States, this time against a nonwhite opponent, Kamala Harris. The author notes that birtherism, the conspiracy theory that Barack Obama was not born in the United States and therefore not eligible to be president, was a central part of Trump's political career and propelled him to the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
Now, Trump is using a different form of birtherism against Harris, questioning her racial identity and insinuating that she is not African American. The author argues that this charge is both false and offensive, as Harris has always identified with both her Jamaican and Indian heritage.
The article highlights the importance of recognizing and fact-checking these types of attacks, which have proven to be effective in rallying Trump's base in the past.
Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, has been selected as Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate in the upcoming presidential election. Although not a household name, Walz's political star has been rising recently, with several viral cable news appearances.
He is credited with launching the "weird" movement among Democrats, which has put Republicans on the defensive. During his time as governor, Walz has faced both praise and criticism for his progressive policies.
He has been criticized for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the violent uprising following the murder of George Floyd, but he has also achieved legislative successes in areas such as abortion rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, gun control, paid family leave, and the legalization of recreational marijuana. Despite facing setbacks, Walz's role as Harris's running mate is seen as an asset due to his attack dog skills and his potential to secure key states in the Upper Midwest.
Vice President Kamala Harris has surged ahead of Donald Trump in the latest CBS News Poll, marking a significant change in the presidential race dynamics. While Harris leads nationally, the battleground states remain evenly split between the two candidates.
Increased voter enthusiasm has been seen among Democrats, with the percentage of people who say they will definitely vote rising from 58% to 74%. There has also been a notable rise in Black voters showing intentions to vote, showcasing Harris's ability to engage demographics that were previously less motivated.
Interestingly, the poll also highlights the importance of marginal-turnout voters, with Harris currently leading among this group. The introduction of Harris as a candidate has brought excitement and engagement among voters, and if this momentum continues, she has a strong chance of becoming the next President of the United States.
