Receive our newsletter by typing your email address below. Though Black voters play a decisive role in choosing everyone from the school board member to the president, that political power is much less than it seems. African Americans contribute little to political candidates. In the American political system, money equals power. It's a question of fairness and democracy.
Politicians pay attention to voters, but contributors get extra attention.
Given the relative poverty of their precincts, Black candidates have greater need to go outside their districts for most of their campaign money, a situation that encourages divided loyalties. That's why the current congressional debate over campaign finance reform is an important one to Black America. Currently, all Americans are not equal because a wealthy contributor has significantly more power than a voter, and almost all contributors are White. The Atlanta-based organization works to define campaign finance as a civil rights issue. Lacking a magic wand to make all African Americans filthy rich, true campaign election reform is the next best route to a more equitable spread of political power.