Your vote matters, but voting is not enough

By Wilmer J. Leon III
The Philadelphia Tribune
https://www.phillytrib.com/

“The political philosophy of Black nationalism only means that the Black man should control the politics and the politicians in his own community. The time when white people can come in our community and get us to vote for them so that they can be our political leaders and tell us what to do and what not to do is long gone. By the same token, the time when that same white man, knowing that your eyes are too far open, can send another negro into the community, get you and me to support him so he can use him to lead us astray, those days are long gone too.” —Malcolm X, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” April 3, 1964

In theory, the fundamental premise of American democracy is “one man (or person), one vote.” Under the original concept of Jeffersonian Democracy, in most states access to the franchise was limited to white males who owned at least a 50-acre plot of land. Towards the end of the 18th century and early into the 19th century, states began lifting the property and education requirements for white males. African Americans were legally granted the right to vote with the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1870. Women were granted the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.