The Rev. Jesse Jackson marked August 6th as the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act which led to the change of people of color being able to vote. As Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks on how far people of color have come to have the right to vote, this opens the discussion if America have forgotten about the hard work and martyr’s of the civil rights movement to help people vote.
Back in 1965, there had been over a dozen murders of people who put their lives on the line to help others to register to vote. Before passing the act, President Lyndon B. Johnson described minorities not being able to vote as a “clear and simple wrong.” After the act was passed, people flocked to the polls to vote with appreciation of the people who helped them to be able to voice who they wanted in office. Now fast forward to November 2008 with the Presidential election. According to projectvote.org, 49% of 3,7 million 18 year old citizens were registered to vote, a rate lower than 22 points than the general population.
Have America forgotten about the blood, sweat, and tears of the those before them who fought hard to get them to vote? The answer is yes and no. While others have the opportunity to vote, there are still people who think because they are convicted felons or not US citizens they cannot vote. While others who have the privilege to vote would rather not vote because they feel their votes will not be counted for. Can you blame those who feel that their votes will not be counted for when Republicans created laws to restrict people to vote?
As the law 1965 Voting Rights Act is considered to be the most important law of the 20th century, the jury is still out on whether the law is even important to the young people who are descendants of those martyr’s?
– Ballah-moni Kollie (@Gottadream87)
photo credit: theurbanpolitico.com
