Normally I’m not a political person, scratch that, I’m not really political in my blog. I will however talk politics with you face to face all day if you like. Anyway, since we are on the eve of the most historic election in U.S. history, I felt compelled to let you know why I vote.

Now I’m not here to tell you who to vote for or why you should vote for one candidate over the other, but if you’d like to know I’m voting for and why you’re more than welcome to email me or hit me up on facebook. Now while I want tell you who to vote for, if you’re still undecided or on the fence, I’ve compiled a list of candidate websites(local and national), as well as state and federal voting info sites as well the candidates sites on social networking site at the end of this post.

Now back to my original thought as to why I vote. First off, because I have the right to vote. Simple in nature but my right as an African American came at a heavy price to many. Now I know what some of you are thinking, “He’s about to get on his soap box…“ and you’re right. (So for those that don’t want to read my entire spill, scroll to the bottom and check out some of those sites so you can make and informed decision tomorrow.)
I heard someone say earlier this year, that most blacks didn’t know or care about why Martin Luther King Jr. birthday is a federal holiday. Obviously he thought I missed his comment and the other party in the room quickly ushered the conversation to another topic as I made my way into the room.

Contrary to that statement I do know why and understand and it’s large part of why I do vote. He and many others like him were beaten and hosed and denied rights given to them by the 14th and 15th amendments to the US Constitution. Rights that because of America’s violent and racist history were being trampled on. NO I’M NOT PLAYING THE RACE CARD!!!! Only stated the facts about the denial of blacks the right to vote and other civil liberties throughout America’s history. If it was racist what was it?

If there weren’t a race problem, there wouldn’t have been a need for four Civil Rights Acts to be passed as legislation in 11 years. Yes four started with the 1957 Civil Rights Act which created the Civil Rights Division within the Department of Justice and the Commission on Civil Rights and gave the Attorney General was given authority to intervene in and institute lawsuits seeking injunctive relief against violations of the 15th Amendment.

Then there’s the 1964 Civil Rights Act - It prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. Then the one that ensured that I have the right to vote was the 1965 Voting Rights act. (No explanation needed)And finally the 1968 Civil Rights Act which is basically the fair housing act.

Ok so I just grazed over these acts, but if you want to see what all of them did visit the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division page.

But the 1965 Voting Rights, that’s the coup de gras for me. That’s the reason I vote and take my vote seriously. The scores of people black and white who marched and protested and bucked the system so I could exercise a right that was already given to me by the constitution is why I take voting seriously.
People like Medgar Evers who was gunned down in his driveway. People like Andrew Goodman, Michael Shwerner and James Chaney who were shot, burned and then dumped in while working to register black voters in Mississippi. People like Viola Liuzzo who was killed in what was basically a drive by while transporting people back and forth during the Selma to Montgomery March. People like Denise McNair, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Addie Mae Collins who died in the 1963 bombing of 16th Baptist Street Church.

People like my uncle and mother-in-law and scores of kids like them that were arrested and held for staging and participating in a massive walk out. People like the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, who survived several attacks on his life.

People like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy who were all gunned down because of their roles in the Civil Rights Movement.

That’s why I vote, because somebody was willing to lay down their life for me to have the right to say who I think should or should be president, vice-president, mayor, governor, city council person, etc… Because somebody thought I was important enough to have all the rights that are bestowed a natural born citizen of the United States.

That’s why I vote, because if it was that important to them I would be dishonoring their memory by not voting. NOW THAT’S WHY I VOTE!
Like I said earlier, we’re on the eve of the most important and historic election in my fairly brief lifetime and I hope, now I implore you to go out and exercise your right to decided who’s going to lead the country the for the next four years. Again I’m not telling you to vote for JUST VOTE!

Site to see where to go and vote and get a sample ballot:

alabamavotes.gov

voteforchange.com

johnmccain.com/gotv

Presidential Candidates Sites:

John McCain

Barack Obama

Senate

Jeff Sessions/a>

Vivian Davis Figures

US Congress Representative 3rd District

Joshua Segall

Mike Rogers

US Congress Representative 2nd District

Bobby Bright

Jay Love

Social Networking

Alabama SOS on Facebook

Barack Obama on Facebook

John McCain on Facebook