White, Black or More than Either...

I was sitting in the little Tex-Mex restaurant on the town square in Lancaster the other day and it occurs to me how very relaxing this city can be when you peal the politics and the clandestine plans away and just enjoy a great enchilada dinner. After this great meal I paid, tipped and proceeded to take a walk around the square. Not to shop or look at anything in particular, just to walk off a good meal. On my way out I noticed the couple sitting at the back of the restaurant and recognized Sue Anderson with a gentleman discussing her up and coming campaign. After a brief exchange, mostly about the woes of my past association with Tommy Tompkins, we settled on a very interesting conversation about her current opponent and the need she had for a higher "Black" voter turnout. I believe it was phased as thus... "How do I get the Black vote in Lancaster."

I must admit, falling into that same old mindset, I began to lament on figures. Figures such as the ever increasing Black presence in the city both professional and residential. Figures such as the dismal average of 6% voter turnout and less than 4% "Black" voter turnout. I went on to suggest that, as a great former politician once told me, "To get the Black vote you gotta piss them off about something." A tried and often true adage alluding to the simple fact that many in the African American community simply have more pressing matters on their minds than running to the polls to vote on a local race.

You see, it's hard to motivate yourself, after a long day at work, to go out and stand in line to cast a vote for someone you only know through pictures, name, and maybe words. Why take that time from what little time to rest we often have while trying to (as my dad often says ) keep our noses above the water financially. It's hard to care who holds what office when you're three months behind on your car payment and there's $.74 in the bank account!

Yet I think it's even deeper than that. Why must we label ourselves or allow ourselves to be labeled in matters of representation? I know manny "White" people that have the same financial issues as described above so why is it they seem to show up at the polls more often. However small of a margin it is? I'll tell you why... FAITH

Now before you get mad, realize I'm not talking about our faith in God and His son Jesus Christ. I'm not even talking about ones belief in one of the many false gods out there ( Sorry, my Blog, My Jokes )

What I'm talking about is a lack of faith in the city. Specifically a lack of faith that the city and those voted to represent them in the city really have their best interest at heart. Here's just a few reasons I can remember people telling me they had no business with the city and its elections...

• Code Enforcement seems to "TARGET" our community but we see problems all over!
• Police seem to be pulling only "us" over anymore.
• We never feel welcome to the City Events due to the selection of music, location, and time
• Streets are bad and nobody ever fixes them

Anyone can see that these issues, in many cases may just be misunderstandings. For instance... Lancaster has a 53% African American population with a 12% unemployment rate. Most of the affluent residents of Lancaster happen to be working and therefore gone during the day. Police are simply going to pull over more African Americans regardless of if they are looking to or not simply because of the sheer numbers! In any case, until someone wins the confidence of the people, Black or White, through showing they are more concerned with their issues rather than their demographics the dismal turnout will remain.