Page 9 - 3-13-15 Friday's Edition

Local
Were Their Efforts In Vain 50 Years Ago?:
Readers Discuss Voter Participation Then And Now
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
This past weekend, thou- sands converged on Selma, Alabama for the 50th Anniver- sary of “Bloody Sunday.” The event was one of many where protesters demonstrated for Civil Rights and Voting Rights. Last week, there was a local election for the City of Tampa and the voter turnout was estimated at 12.78% voter participation. Currently, there are 211,158 registered voters in the city limits alone. Of that number only 26,977 people bothered to vote.
The question of the week is: “Was the events of the past all in vain, what do you think it will take to compel regis- tered voters to exercise their right to vote?”
Dr. Samuel Wright, Sr., said, “The events of the past were not all in vain. Only
God knows what will galva- nize and ignite Black Folk!”
Mrs. Ann Jenkins said, “I was so ashamed when I walked into my precinct to vote and only myself and one other lady were voting. It was like a ghost town inside. We have got to find away to make our people understand how important voting is. Because we don't go vote, we are allow- ing the wrong people to get into office and change the rules against us. We are hurt- ing ourselves when we don’t take the time to vote.
Howard Harris said, “Unfortunately Black people don't get it. We react to the momentary, rather than the long term. Here is an exam- ple. A few years ago, there was a rally at Rev. Thomas Scott’s church concerning Trayvon Martin. You could not find a parking space within 3 blocks of the church. A few days later there was a meeting at the C. Blythe An- drews Library to hopefully purchase 8 acres and spend about $8 million to refur- bish/replace the library. Less than 15 people showed up.
“Blacks are being forced out of the Tampa City limits. The removal of the West Tampa projects and the apart- ments on North Boulevard across from the park are the latest examples. So don't vote, lose all.”
“James Ransom said, “The march and other events held in Selma were not in vain. We have an obligation to protect and preserve our right to vote. People were beaten and died for our right to vote on Edmond Pettis Bridge and in other parts of our country. Unfortunately when we do not exercise our right to vote, we do not have representation sensitive to
our needs.
“We must continue to ed-
ucate and motivate registered voters to actually vote. We must continue to stress voting to have elected officials re- spect and value our special in- terest among others.
“We must continue to lift up those who have the least of things or our community will suffer the most. We must vote and hold elected officials ac- countable.
Voting is not just a privi- lege for American people, its “Black Power,” too! Amen.”
Otis Anthony said, “In regards to the low turnout for the city election we should be concerned, but not alarmed. Our fore parents sacrifices in Selma were not in vain. It is important to keep in mind that Black voter participation has in many ways exceeded white voter turnout in na- tional elections.
“This is because they can see a clear relationship be- tween voting and various pro- grams that benefit our people, struggling to survive. It is more difficult to see how city elections help our people in a concrete way. The City does not have a robust job training program, a robust program that changes the lives of chil- dren or the elderly, nor does it
have a program that feeds the hungry or helps people with all of this high rent. So, like most cities, local elections are usually the playground of the well informed, and people who do not have to work for a living.”
Danny Green said, “It’s a shame because people fought for our right to vote. They should not complain about the people in office. Everyone should get out and exercise their right to vote... especially with all the things African Americans are going through these days.”
Mrs. Betty Reed said, “I really believe that we should go back to basic education and teach the history of what happened to us from the be- ginning. This should begin in elementary school and con- tinue through high school. Then, maybe future genera- tions will understand why it is so important to vote.
“And for those who can vote, but refuse to do so, then I think they should take their social media away.”
Ms. Ann Porter said, “The events of the past dur- ing the Civil Rights and Voters Rights era were not in vain. The number of African Americans elected to public office all over this nation and
locally has been a lot of hard work and many sacrifices. We have even elected a Black President.
“Locally, there is much more work to be done. Inter- est in the voting process be- gins at the youth level, first, in our homes by good parents, church, and community. However, it is extremely im- portant that our schools and the entire education sys- tem take a lead role in our learning about our country's democratic process.
“African American history should be taught in our schools from elementary to high school. We learn Ameri- can history, but not African American History. Immi- grants and our Hispanic friends and those from other countries coming to the United States could learn from the experience of the slaves and our fight for Civil and Voters Rights.
“That will also help them to understand without our plight and fight against injus- tice they would not enjoy the freedoms they've had in mi- grating to this country. We must become more passion- ate and determined to edu- cate our youth of all races about the importance of vot- ing.”
FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-A