An Opinion By Lynda Kirkpatrick
As we watch the racist behavior of our State Senate, it is appalling that in 2023, Alabama is still proving that we are the best at pushing back on fairness and equality. The Alabama Republicans refused to draw a second majority Black District map, but it is even more disgusting that they have been supported by our Governor and other elected Republicans in our one-party state.
The Republicans flatly refused to redraw a Congressional map with a second majority Black District. This doesn’t just have an effect on the Black population in Alabama, but a slap in the face to all people in Alabama who believe that equal rights carry more weight than their petty politics.
Take a look at our State government. There isn’t one Black person in statewide elected positions. This includes the Alabama Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the State government as a whole. Gov Ivey fired the only Black person who served as Secretary of Early Education. This is the only department in our State government that has reached above its set goals. The Secretary was fired because two people complained about a teacher’s manual that they thought was too “woke” for teachers. Maybe it’s time we all WOKE up!
Terri Sewell is the only Black person out of seven Congressional seats in Alabama. If you keep up with Rep Sewell, you would find that she is the hardest-working representative in our State. She has two things going against her…….she is Black and she is a woman. Rep Sewell, like all Black candidates in Alabama, is at a disadvantage that all Black politicians in Alabama face. They have hurdles to jump that White politicians in Alabama do not face. The old Jim Crow ideas of the Deep South in Alabama still exist. There is nothing fair and equal about judging a person by the color of their skin. These redistricting maps show a clear lack of leeway to grant Black voters of Alabama a fair and unbiased map with 42%. The State House pushed through a voting map that would redraw District 2 with just 38%.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall sent a letter complaining about the Plaintiffs in the case that was brought to redraw the maps. Instead of using his power to ensure fairness and equality for all, he instead takes advantage of holding the Black voters in Alabama hostage to his racist opinions. Gov Ivey signed the map into law before the Federal Courts approved it. Maybe Gov Ivey should start wearing her “black face” again and show Alabama who she really is. It’s not only Black voters who lose, but all of us who stand firm for equality in this State are also losing. We can do better than this. This comes down to us, the voters in this State, to make the changes that need to be made. As long as Democrats remain silent at the polls and do not run for office, we can not expect any better.
Lynda Kirkpatrick
Marion County Democratic Party Chair
SDEC District 17 Rep Alabama Democratic Party