By Damion Boycott
Indianapolis Pastor Joy Thornton of The Greater St. Mark Missionary Church had a controversial sign erected in front of his church. The top portion of the sign reads "Vote". The bottom portion of the sign reads "Is this a reason?" The opposite side of the sign shows the image of enslaved Africans in chains. Pastor Thornton is trying to convey the idea that people died so that you (black people) can have the right to vote.
Thornton told the media the sign is to "let people know there has been a price paid for the privilege of voting". Thornton went on to say "it doesn't matter who residents vote for- as long as they vote in the first place".
Pastor Thorntons' intent is good he is however a little misguided. Voting has never solved the problems of African people in America and it probably never will. African people have been in The Americas for hundreds if not thousands of years and we are still destined to represent the permanent under-class. Voting has done nothing to change that fact. If voting was the answer Africans in America would not still be living in the same deplorable conditions.
Marcus Garvey always taught a philosophy that instructed us to "do for self", perhaps we need to begin to act on those words. There are not many Chinese elected officials in America. However, they do for self and are not destined to represent the permanent under-class. In every major city in America- from New York to San Francisco there are "China Towns". They live in the same communities and do business with each other and couldn't possibly be concerned with electoral politics. This is a good example. Why do Africans in America have so much faith in a system that has never served them?
Besides The Electoral College is not based on the popular vote. If you ask Pastor Thornton or the average person to explain how The Electoral College works- they probably can't. However, those people that have faith in electoral politics will encourage everyone to vote.
The photos that Pastor Thornton posted reminds America of a time most Americans would much rather forget. Lynching and slavery are periods in American history that should be discussed often and never forgotten. It shouldn't be used to provoke African people to vote and participate in elections that don't serve them. Vote if you will, but it seems we can't expect much from it.