Constitutional history
Just a recap of the constitution and how rights were given to women and minorities:
Emancipation of slaves, January 1, 1863
Amendment XIV - Citizenship rights. Ratified 7/9/1868.
The 14th was designed to ensure that all former slaves were granted automatic United States citizenship.
Amendment XV - Race no bar to vote. Ratified 2/3/1870.
Though a noble idea, it had little practical effect for quite some time, as the Southern states found myriad ways to intimidate blacks to keep them from voting.
Amendment XIX - Women's suffrage. Ratified 8/18/1920.
While the right to vote was not constitutionally barred for blacks, it was for Women. By using the wording male in the 3rd provision of the 14th amendment, ensuring the vote for men, it implied that the vote was not constitutionally ensured for women. This is why women who tried to vote in NY were arrested. Would they have been beaten up like blacks who tried to vote once the poll tax was barred? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, it's a shame our country had to pass constitutional privileges instead of just recognizing the right.
Amendment XXIV - Poll tax barred. Ratified 1/23/1964
So the blacks got the vote, but the cunning southerners (and I'm sure a few in the North as well) wanted to keep them from voting. So now we have to ask them to play nice in the sandbox again.
Giving Blacks the unbarred right to vote was the last barrier, at least for the men. Whites in power knew that with the vote, blacks could correct laws that were discriminatory and they could vote out the politicians who hurt their community. They could also vote in candidates who would fight to better their community and provide them with economic freedoms. They are a population that should not be messed with. ...unless they don't exercise their right to vote.
That doesn't mean the fight was over though. Countless cases had to be brought before the supreme court and the regional courts to interpret the constitution to the thick headed old boy network. They just don't get it.
In 1973, Roe v. Wade also took away the last barrier to power for women. But again, if we don't vote, we will lose that right and lose our power.
Both blacks and women have equal rights on paper. But in reality, the fight still continues.
Emancipation of slaves, January 1, 1863
Amendment XIV - Citizenship rights. Ratified 7/9/1868.
The 14th was designed to ensure that all former slaves were granted automatic United States citizenship.
Amendment XV - Race no bar to vote. Ratified 2/3/1870.
Though a noble idea, it had little practical effect for quite some time, as the Southern states found myriad ways to intimidate blacks to keep them from voting.
Amendment XIX - Women's suffrage. Ratified 8/18/1920.
While the right to vote was not constitutionally barred for blacks, it was for Women. By using the wording male in the 3rd provision of the 14th amendment, ensuring the vote for men, it implied that the vote was not constitutionally ensured for women. This is why women who tried to vote in NY were arrested. Would they have been beaten up like blacks who tried to vote once the poll tax was barred? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, it's a shame our country had to pass constitutional privileges instead of just recognizing the right.
Amendment XXIV - Poll tax barred. Ratified 1/23/1964
So the blacks got the vote, but the cunning southerners (and I'm sure a few in the North as well) wanted to keep them from voting. So now we have to ask them to play nice in the sandbox again.
Giving Blacks the unbarred right to vote was the last barrier, at least for the men. Whites in power knew that with the vote, blacks could correct laws that were discriminatory and they could vote out the politicians who hurt their community. They could also vote in candidates who would fight to better their community and provide them with economic freedoms. They are a population that should not be messed with. ...unless they don't exercise their right to vote.
That doesn't mean the fight was over though. Countless cases had to be brought before the supreme court and the regional courts to interpret the constitution to the thick headed old boy network. They just don't get it.
In 1973, Roe v. Wade also took away the last barrier to power for women. But again, if we don't vote, we will lose that right and lose our power.
Both blacks and women have equal rights on paper. But in reality, the fight still continues.
posted by dsimom @ 8:52 AM
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