Voters Need Protection

The election of Barack Obama is a landmark in the civil rights struggle that began in the churches and homes of African-Americans over 40 years ago in the American South. However, it doesn't mean the end of the civil rights movement. While his election is historic and brings our nation closer to realizing the dream of Rev. Martin Luther King, it doesn't mean finality. While millions of Americans were comfortable with breaking down racial barriers at the voting booth by supporting Obama, the struggle is not over. There are still plenty of citizens who are intimidated, threatened and whose civil rights are violated because of their race, including at the voting booth. This is especially true in the South, where Obama did not capture the majority of the white vote.

It's a strange configuration for our country to have its first African-American president but simultaneously continue to fight against the intimidation and disenfranchisement of minority voters. A critical section of Voting Rights Act of 1965, which guaranteed voting rights and access for all American citizens, is currently being challenged by a district in Texas where Obama only received about 1/5 of all the white votes. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case this spring. The potential consequences could erase voting rights gains that generations of Americans have bravely fought to ensure.

The New York Times editorial on Sunday argues that "if Section 5 [of the Voting Rights Act] is struck down, states and localities would have far more freedom to erect barriers for minority voters — and there is little doubt that some would do just that. We have not arrived at the day when special protections like the Voting Rights Act are not needed."

We have gained so much with Obama's election. But, we have much more to achieve. Let's not push ourselves back as we strive towards King's dream of justice for all.

(photo: Theresa Thompson, flickr Creative Commons)