Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-09-06
DR.. W. l. Ransome
On
POLITICS
Five Reasons Why Negroes Do Not Vote


The Negro is often seriously adversely criticized for not
exercising right of franchise This article not effort to
encourage the Negro in political azness to excuse his often
civic Indifference We often overlook minimize IN
the white the things that condemn and magnify in the
Negro Every student of political science knows that great many
white people of America do not manifest voting interest in
politics. many critics of the Negro these white men
ground that the white afford this neglect since
is power Again. often minimize the white mans
vice and magnify the Negroes defects
What the Negro needs most and not cen
If the many Negroes who making political fights could
receive fair play at the hands of the that be- would
not long before reasonable percent of the Negro would
distinguish itself in the political realm is said that the Negro
facts about himself though they be ugly facts
Negro would like also for his critics to face the facts the
ugly facts about under which he abors
the many things which may justly be called political hndrances
to the Negroes the following may be classed:
First-There are great number of Negroes who believe
that make any difference what white is in office
assuming that the in office will be white) Negro will
still be Negro or that that The writer thinks that
the Negroes who think thus cannot be laughed out of court They
least be heard The white rule who have acted
favorb toward Negroes have been moved by of good
will character and humanitarian spirit rather than because OF
political pressure The Negroes greatest bneacor have been
and are still moralists, rather than politicians.
Seoond-Faure the Republican Party which the Negro
65 been loyal By failure meant that the party
practically ousted the Negro in recent When this was
done many Negroes interest politics. since they could
bring themselves ally with the Democratic Party The
Negroes regarded the term democrat with slavery
Some few Negroes joined other political parties In in
Richmond Va in 1921 when Jno MITCHELL J candidate
for Governor and Mrs Maggie Walker for Lieutenant Governor
The Negroes had idea of winning but they found their
strength exhibited their PRIDE upheld their civic dignity
and resented the insult of the Republican Party
Third no7N ,, The Negro Sr constitute Institutes
less in voting the class room the teacher
only but he nstructs and commands need be- the
whole Glass; the Judge man. yet without him there
deceves the ignorant but at the ballot box the minority
whether wise or ignorant must take the back seat at the
mand the majority Because of this many Negroes that
makes little difference whether they vote not.
writer is not unmindfu of the fact that in some local.
ties the Negro population the majority that few
instances the Negro vote hold the balance of power
recalls political tight certain which he lived
which the white vote equally divided ISSUE
only IS Negro voters In this the Negroes held
balance of power but they all did think alike Some voted
on de some on another The issue settled by majority
of nine
FourthLae the payment of poll tax The Negro often
late in paying his taxes in time to VOTE No particularly
him. otuen he needs penny he living
and frequently he get off from his occupation in
business hours TO attend to this matter.
Fifth-Faure register when poll tax paid under
who pay poll but have registered The law of Vr-
gn school teachers pay before certificates
teach granted The writer knows Negro women
teachers have paid but registered Some of these
still feel that politics should be left men, Others both
and Women fear the prejudice of registrars such the
in North Carolina who recently denied several high grade Negro
teachers who applied registration advised that they
back home and study some until they could interpret
law to his satisfaction No Interpretation from Negro can
satisfy prejudced registrar
The writer would advise Negroes to vote He advises ali
citizens VOTE but he would have known that voting right
the exercising of which is optional with the voter whether
be white black and that deserves less
fusing to vote than does the Negro
Us 1H~~D- C- DAD-r@- al