My Thoughts On the November 7th Election
I entered the new polling place in my neighborhood on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at exactly 3:00 p.m. I was the 27th voter at this time. I hope that more people came later in the day to vote. As I was walking into the building was thinking about Fannie Lou Hamer and all of the Black civil rights leaders like her and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and hundreds of others who, in some cases, gave their lives so that we could vote.
Fannie Lou Hamer was beaten, jailed, and lost her job because of her activism in Mississippi trying to get the right to vote for the Blacks in that state. She headed the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and spoke out for the basic right to vote. Dr. Martin King, Jr. was jailed over 100 times in the struggle for civil rights.
I was wondering if our young people really knew their history or if adults really care. There is still a lot of work to do to make voting a priority. I know that voting rights are being curtailed across the country with new legislation in many places. However, we must continue to fight and vote when the opportunity is there.
There were some other issues that bothered me as I went to vote. There were two proposals on the ballot for people to vote on. The question is: How many people knew about them or their meaning? We don’t really hear about these propositions until it is time to vote. These need to be discussed throughout the community and how they might impact citizens. Voters should be informed about these issues as much as possible.
As I was looking over the candidates on the ballots, I did not know any of the judicial candidates. Their names were unfamiliar. They were running for ten-year terms. In this day of crime and justice, the judicial candidates are very important. One of the programs I really miss is the Community Hour that aired on WUFO radio every Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. The hosts of the program included businessman Willie Warren, George Alexander, and Roscoe C. Henderson. They would always have judicial candidates on the program. I know that those running for judge have limits on campaigning. However, the Community Hour gave the listeners an opportunity to meet the candidates and learn something about them. At least we knew their names and their place on the ballot.
As a radio program host of my own radio show for 14 years on WUFO, I had some of the judicial candidates on my own show. As they talked, you could get a feel of their community involvement. I was very disappointed when I voted to see so many names that I have not heard of before running for judge. I think it is things like this that turn people off from voting.
I can think of some of the best judges that we have had in our community. The names of the following judges come immediately to mind: Judge Barbara Sims, the first African American judge to sit on the City Court, and who made many contributions that opened the door for Black judges who came after her. Judge Sims was a guest on my Eye On History Radio Show, where she talked about her life growing up as a member of the Merriweather family.
Judge Debra Givens and Judge Barbara Johnson Lee, both of these women were well known and active in our community. Judge Kevin Carter, who serves on the Family Court, was also a guest on the Community Hour Radio Show. I can think of Judge Samuel L. Green, who I invited to Campus West while I was teaching. He spoke to an assembly of 7th and 8th graders telling them to stay in school and get an education.
I can think of the late Judge Hugh Scott. I invited him also to speak to my 6th grade students when I taught at School 67 in South Buffalo. I can of think of Judge Rose Sconiers, now retired from the State Supreme Court. I can think of Judge E. Jeannette Ogden, now on the State Supreme Court. I honored both women with the Roses for Outstanding Woman Award. They were active in the community and people knew who they were. I can also think of now retired Judge RobertRussell. I invited him to come to Campus West for my annual Community Leader Day. I can also think of now retired Judge James McLeod, who was a guest on my radio show several times.
These were people who made a difference not only on the bench, but also in the general community. At least we knew their names. It is my hope going forward that we remember our history and the people who made great contributions to our community!!