Reel Urban News Exclusive
By: Darrell L. Williams, Ph.D.
A Deep Reflection
Over the past year, I ran for the United States Senate. I “truly” took on this endeavor to make a difference in our community, the state and across this nation. I wanted to use my knowledge and skills honed over a lifetime of service to improve the quality of life for all people.
Politics and the People
Politics and African Americans
When it comes to African Americans, the struggle is real. Across this state, in every pulpit and barber shop, the importance of voting is discussed. However, many people appeared conflicted and voiced strong opposition to the voting process. Many people expressed that their vote doesn’t count. They felt the voice of the people was not being heard. They felt that the respective party picked the candidate they wanted and forced that person on the people.
Many African Americans expressed that the Black vote has been taken for granted. They felt that politicians (of all races) only came around when it was time to vote. One constituent said, “After getting elected, you never see them and nothing ever changes for the good in their neighborhoods. However, their pockets are getting fatter.”
More personally disappointing was the fact that many African Americans felt the disrespect (e.g., lack of promised resources, policy changes, programs, etc) to their neighborhoods came from elected officials who looked like them.
Another constituent said to me, “I just don’t vote because of color… all skin folk ain’t kin folk! The people who look like us are doing more damage to our community than anybody else! We get so caught up in having a Black or African American in a position that we forget about them not having any experience.”
Because of such discontent with the overall voting process, I found that as a candidate, I had to give the people a reason to take time out of their day to go vote.
Popularity Over Experience
To an extent, we all know that politics is about the name you know. Name recognition plays a major role. However, knowledge, skills and background should also play a role in selecting quality candidates to represent the people and their interests.
On the campaign trail, many people expressed to me that they felt I was the best candidate because of my experience and background, but I did not have the name recognition and popularity of some other candidates.
In essence, for many political positions, the person who is popular but has little to no experience gets elected. While many constituents are aware of this phenomenon and recognize that this should not be the case, many unfortunately accept it as the norm.
Many people expressed being powerless to change it, especially when you have other influential local, state and national leaders endorsing candidates with little-to-no experience and whom they do not know.
While I understand things like this take place, we must rise above who is popular and elect people with experience in areas that are important to the uplift of all people to key political positions. If not, there is no need to wonder why our community, state and nation continue to be in the same or worse situation. Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes!
Party Over Politics
In almost every candidate forum, in some form, every candidate expressed their belief in the concept of “people over party.” In theory, the interest of the people should take precedence over any political party. In reality and on many occasions, the interest of the party took precedence over the expressed will and interest of the people.
In the most recent election, especially the U.S. Senate race (of which I was a candidate), the voices of the people and their right to be informed to make an educated voting decision were hushed by the media. As the people’s voices were being hushed, many advocates of voter rights remained disturbingly silent.
When asked about the stance of silence, I was told that it was just politics. I then expressed that our silence only benefits the oppressor and does not help the oppressed. Furthermore, I expressed that it was a tragedy to watch the people of Wisconsin, especially in urban and rural areas, get hoodwinked by the media through lack of information while silence remained golden. I was reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King’s statement, “In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.”
Poli-tricks
I quickly learned that it was not politics but “poli-tricks” being used to provide a lack of information to suppress votes and sway current and undecided voters to specific candidates. As a result of such efforts, the media was influencing the votes of thousands of voters.
On the largest platforms for voters to hear from and learn about the candidates for which they were to vote, the media placed barriers to prevent them from being informed. One news station even indicated that to participate in the candidates’ forum, $250,000 in campaign contributions was needed. Such poli-tricks are detrimental and contribute to the lack of trust that many people have in the voting process.
It appears that many of the same people and the media companies control the airways that heavily influence who people vote for while making constituents think that they are making their own voting decisions.
More disturbing was the unwillingness or failure of many candidates to take a stand on behalf of the very people they were campaigning to represent. The silence of some candidates to stand up against the powers that be on behalf of the people they claim to want to represent speaks to the character of the person.
While I understand trying to gain the advantage to win a political race, claiming to stand against voter suppression while watching voters’ voices get suppressed to protect themselves shows a lack of courage. This is the same type of thinking that we are trying to change in our elected political leaders.
In essence, some of their actions supported one of the very forms of voter suppression that they claimed to be against. If they refuse to stand up now, do not expect anything different once they get in office. Too many politicians take the safe route to protect themselves while keeping and placing the people on the frontlines—in the danger zone.
Leadership takes courage and leadership costs. However, many claim to have such courage until the action or issue to be addressed puts their position at risk. At such times, they retreat to their safety zone while leaving the people they represent in harm’s way through their lack of action and advocacy.
Republicans versus Democrats: Breaking the Wall
As we continue to struggle with the past and present impact of race across America, it appears that the division between Democrats and Republicans is more widespread and overt.
As I traveled across the state on the campaign trail, in many cases, the first question constituents asked was, “Are you a Democrat or Republican?” Depending on how I responded “in most cases” determined if they would talk to me. While I ran into many people from all races and party affiliations who would talk to me, there were also many people (from all races) who would not talk to me just because I was on the Democratic ticket.
Initially, I thought it was because I was Black. However, many Black Republicans would not talk to me as well. Many times I would sarcastically say that I am a human being running as a Democrat. In many instances, whether it was a fellow Democrat or Republican, once we discussed the issues, we had more in common than differences.
While I ran for the U.S. Senate to make a difference, many run for more power. Despite the efforts to persuade or bamboozle the people through the expected negative rhetoric seen in political ads, people can see through the propaganda and the individual. In this election, it is clear that many people who may vote do so under protest. A constituent summed it up: “Many people are not voting for one candidate or the other because they are the best candidate, but because we have no other choice.”
Publishers Note: The first two images were taken from the former candidates web-site and do note reflect the attached quote.
