True Black Political History

A History of Black Voting Rights

even co-chaired, a Democratic National Convention. Similarly, in the 130 years that Democrats con trolled Texas, only 4 minority individuals served Statewide; in the

and African-American Demo cratic Representatives to Con gress usually are elected only from minority districts (districts with a majority of minority vot ers). Minority

8 years that Re publicans have controlled the State, 6 minority individuals al ready have served Statewide. In fact, Texas just elected three African-Ameri cans to statewide office – all as Republicans, apparently be coming the first State in America’s history to achieve this distinction. Fur

Republicans, on the other hand, are elected statewide in Republican States, or in congressional districts with

large white majorities.

Perhaps this

explains why African-Ameri can abolitionist Frederick

“The Republican Party is the ship, all else is the sea.” Frederick Douglass

Douglass a century ago reminded

thermore, Maryland and Ohio each just elected black Lt. Gover nors – both as Republicans. An important point is illus trated by these recent elections (and by scores before them): in Democratic-controlled States, rarely are African-Americans elected statewide (with the ex ception of US Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun ( il, 1992-1998 ));

blacks: “The Republican Party is the ship, all else is the sea.” The history of African-American voting rights in America proves Douglass was right. (For a footnoted version of this newsletter, or to see previous Black History newsletters, go to www.wallbuilders.com, click on “Newsletters,” then go to the indi vidual Black History newsletters.)

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