Recently, this writer referenced the little-known and suppressed speech prepared by then-SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) leader (now U.S. Congressman) John Lewis. Lewis was urged by civil rights leaders to "tone down" his speech, and he did so.
At around the same time, another Black leader, fiery Black nationalist (and former Nation of Islam Minister) Malcolm X, was giving his own biting analysis and commentary on the duplicity of Democrats when it came to Blacks.
In his historic 1964 "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech, Malcolm made crystal clear his view of Democratic betrayal of Black interests:
"In the present administration they have in the House of Representatives 257 Democrats to only 177 Republicans. They control two-thirds of the House vote. ... In the Senate there are 67 Senators who are of the Democratic Party. Only 33 of them are Republicans. Why, the Democrats have got the government sewed up, and you're the one who sewed it up for them. And what have they given you for it? Four years in office, and just now getting around to some civil-rights legislation. Just now, after everything else is gone, out of the way, they're going to sit down and play with you all summer long--the same old giant con game that they call filibuster. ...
"They get all the Negro vote, and after they get it, the Negro gets nothing in return. All they did when they got to Washington was give a few big Negroes big jobs. Those big Negroes didn't need big jobs, they already had jobs. That's camouflage, that's trickery, that's treachery, window-dressing. I'm not trying to knock out the Democrats for the Republicans, we'll get to them in a minute. But it's true--you put the Democrats first and the Democrats put you last. ...
"The Democrats have never kicked the Dixiecrats out of the party. The Dixiecrats bolted themselves once [in 1948], but the Democrats didn't get them out. Imagine, these lowdown Southern segregationists put the Northern Democrats down. ... They have got a con game going on, a political con game, and you and I are in the middle. It's time for you and me to wake up and start looking at it like it is."
Malcolm X reminds us all of the ongoing war at home.
He reminds us that voting is but one (and that a minor) part of politics. That it is important to speak truth to power. That it is important, indeed vital, to dissent. That it is necessary, sometimes, to step outside of a thing to see it clearly. And that political organizations have different interests from those who vote for them.
It has been exactly 40 years since Malcolm delivered his powerful speech, and, if it be admitted that--yes--things HAVE changed, we must also admit that some things have stood the test of time.
The present Democratic Party "tolerates" Blacks, but is virtually racing to the right. It tried to out-Bush Bush, by posing as the "real war" party. This despite the fact that, according to polls, Blacks were the most anti-war segment of the population. It wasn't anti-war because of any soft, cottony reasons, but knew that young people would bear the brunt of a war, for a cause that certainly is questionable.
It's been 40 years. How well have we learned Malcolm's lessons? Or have we been conned, once again, into thinking that the ballot box is the doorway to our true freedom?
How long have we voted for people who have not voted for us?
In virtually every state of the so-called Union, there are tens (if not hundreds!) of thousands of folks who have had their votes disregarded, trashed, uncounted, "lost," and even stolen! What kind of "democracy" tolerates such a thing?
In truth, this isn't a democracy--it's a kleptocracy: a government of thieves. For who else profits from stolen items? In truth, democracy itself has been stolen by computerized paperless voting machines; by ambitious party functionaries; by a political process that has grown fat by feeding on social discontent.
Let us learn from Malcolm's insights, and build political power independent of the two, major corporate parties.
Poster Comment:
"How long have we voted for people who have not voted for us?" I'm not all that familiar with Malcom X. I notice Hollywood types like to wear a trucker cap with an X on it.. same as some like the Che Guevara shirt.. communicating something or other to someone or another.. Still, that quote is a good question for us all................... Why do we vote for those who don't vote for us? I say, toss out all the incumbents... all of them.