The Gantt Report
By Lucius Gantt
Many academic and social scholars are quick to say, “history repeats itself”.
I am not learned enough to judge the complete history of the world, but I do know the political history that documents America’s major political parties have both solicited the votes of Black citizens in the same ways for more than fifty years.
I also know the “hot news” of May 2024 are college campus protests and the trial of former President Donald Trump is getting all the headlines and most of the opinions in editorial columns.
If you don’t know, Trump is guilty of some type of criminal misconduct and protests are the people’s right, but it is the outsiders provoking most of the violence who have infiltrated the demonstrations.
Anyway, slick talk and little or no money have always been an issue in Black communities during election times.
Prepare yourself for visits to your churches, school, and social, fraternal, and other organizations. No problem with the visits but beware of the bamboozles.
It’s a new Presidential election year but the political approach, political message and the political benefits for Black men, Black women, Black businesses, and Black communities has not changed. Our political history continues to repeat itself.
OK, here we go. About 34 million Black voters in America are expected to vote in the 2024 election. Approximately 90% of Black votes will go to Democratic candidates. Perhaps five to ten percent of Black votes will be cast for Republicans.
Both parties will probably spend a billion or more dollars total in Presidential and other races on all levels including local and statewide contests for votes.
History repeats itself. Historically, major political parties spend 97% of campaign expenditures with people who are non-Black. Black media owners are “inferior” and so are, Black printers, Black caterers, Black pollsters, Black fundraisers, Black videographers, Black photographers, Black copywriters, Black direct-mailers, and other professionals.
History enables you to understand public events, affairs, trends of the past and present. If you don’t understand and consider the world you live in, you are merely history’s sport and history’s victims!
Political history is the best teacher. Politicians work with people they like. They spend money with vendors they like.
If they win an election race, the politicians will hire the office staffs they like.
The idea that you’ll get hired by your favorite politician that you make calls for, sent texts for, and put flyers on cars in church parking lots for will give you a high-paying job in government is an idea that should be avoided and discarded.
Your vote should be for you, your family, and your community. We are our own nurturers, our own comforters, our own protectors, and our own providers. Vote for the politicians that will best serve you and your community.
All candidates promise improvements and protections in voting rights, health care rights, affordable housing, increased employment opportunities, and equal rights and justice for African Americans.
Whatever we want done, we need to get it done, politically or otherwise.
History shows us in politics, we must demand the legislation, the bills, the executive orders, and the Black progress we deserve.
