Let's Vote

I was listening to the radio on my way to the office this morning. Today presidential primaries in both Indiana and North Carolina are being held. The radio show’s phone lines were busy with potential voters calling to complain about voting improprieties.

Apparently polling places have been moved, incorrect information was given to voters regarding requirements to vote, names were missing from lists, and so on. "They" are out to get “us” – again.

These calls led to conversations about the recommendation that people be required to show identification in order to vote. According to the radio program and the callers – there is a calculated, strategic conspiracy to prevent Blacks from voting.

For me, this is getting really old and tired. Racism absolutely exists, Black people still have a long way to go to achieve true equality and there are those who would be happy to ship us back to Africa – but must we truly be paranoid about everything? I just don’t believe that everything is racially motivated.

I am all for having to provide identification in order to vote. We have to provide identification to write a check, rent a video, board a plane, make a credit card purchase, and hundreds of other things. Why not show identification for something as significant as voting?

Who are all these people who do not have identification? Why don’t they have identification? And why are “we” OK with them not having identification? Forget about voting – how are they getting through life?

We are focusing on the wrong thing. Let’s not cry about the hardship that requiring identification will cause for people without ID. Instead, along with the campaign to get people registered to vote should be a campaign to assist people in obtaining government issued identification cards.

Why would we want to make it easier for people to remain ID-less? Why would we want to keep people in a position that prevents them from doing the things that average Americans can do – like write checks at the market?

Let’s make sure that all of “us” have what we need instead of making it easier for us to remain without. Without identification -- doors remain shut. With identification -- doors open. As far as I’m concerned – this is how we truly empower Black folks.