General Discussion

upaloopa

(11,417 posts) Fri Mar 20, 2015, 11:29 AM Mar 2015

They died trying to register to vote yet they had nothing on the ballot to vote for.

I watched the movie "Mississippi Burning" last night. It is about the FBI looking for the bodies of three civil rights workers who were murdered in Mississippi in 1964. It is one of my favorite movies even though the story is depressing as hell.

While I watched the movie my brain kept going back to posts on DU where it is said there is nothing on the ballot to vote for so why vote.

In 1964 many people gave their lives for the right to vote and I don't think at the time there was anything on the ballot for them to vote for. I think the hope that some day there would be something to vote for must have been in their hearts.

Today they still are having a hard time trying to vote but my guess is they will overcome what ever is put in their way and vote even if there isn't much in Mississippi for them to vote for.

3 replies

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They died trying to register to vote yet they had nothing on the ballot to vote for. (Original Post) upaloopa Mar 2015 OP

I think it is wrong to say African Americans in Mississippi have nothing to vote for. Skinner Mar 2015 #1

NO ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2015 #2

Good point. I never thought about that back then but the marchers must have realized that on jwirr Mar 2015 #3

Skinner

(63,645 posts)

1. I think it is wrong to say African Americans in Mississippi have nothing to vote for.

Reply to upaloopa (Original post)

Fri Mar 20, 2015, 11:41 AM

Mar 2015

True, they have little chance of electing their preferred candidates statewide. But there are usually plenty of important elections down the ballot that they can win.

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)

2. NO ...

Reply to upaloopa (Original post)

Fri Mar 20, 2015, 11:55 AM

Mar 2015

In 1964 many people gave their lives for the right to vote and I don't think at the time there was anything on the ballot for them to vote for. I think the hope that some day there would be something to vote for must have been in their hearts.

Without the right to vote, there is no way to participate in the electoral process ... including voting for candidates that would reverse jim crow; more importantly, without the right to vote, African-Americans could not run for office.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)

3. Good point. I never thought about that back then but the marchers must have realized that on

Reply to upaloopa (Original post)

Fri Mar 20, 2015, 12:30 PM

Mar 2015

the ballot it would be an all white pro-jim crow offering. They not only were not allowed to vote but more than likely they were not able to run or even nominate someone to run.

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