This article is written to the counties of North Hampton, which has 58.1 percent black, 39.8 percent white; Franklin County, Blacks 26.4 percent, Whites 70 percent; Vance County, Blacks 51.5 percent, Whites 45 percent; and Warren County, Blacks 50.4 percent, Whites 38 percent.
“Warren County “The Black Second” Congressional District 1872 - 1901.
North Carolina’s second congressional district, is widely known as the “Black Second” during the late 19th century, because it was the State’s first Black majority district in 1872. As configured by the Democratic controlled general assembly, based on the 1870 census, the second district encompassed many of the state’s Black majority counties in the northeastern region, and it’s Republican voters elected our Black American congressmen to a total of seven (1918). There was a Black man who represented North Carolina’s second district in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1897 to 1901. Ladies and Gentlemen Warren County has a lot of Black History that helped shape this country. So please let’s go out and vote to safeguard our history and legacy.
In 1965, there was a landmark piece of Federal legislation in the States that prohibited racial discrimination in voting. But today this law seems to be non existent when you look at all the redistricting of local voting areas that the Republican legislature has done. Ladies and Gentlemen, this law was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The law was aimed to overcome barriers at the state and local levels that prohibited Black voting efforts. The act became effective on August 6, 1965, and I was 19-years old and in the United States Army stationed in Germany. This act was enacted by the 89th United States Congress. Where has our Congress gone?
In the July 6, 2006 edition of the Carolinian in an article written by Mr. Oscar Smith Jr. entitled “VOTING RIGHTS ACT RENEWAL A MUST”.
“The United States Congress is on the verge of making this an even hotter summer than it would be according to some.”
It has been 14 years since M. Oscar Smith wrote this article. How much has changed?
The 1965 Voting Rights Act continues to languish in the U.S. House of Representatives as Southern Republicans continue to find ways to hold up a vote on the renewal of this important piece of legislation. (And they are still during it in the year 2020).
Many citizens talk about how wrong it is to not renew this important legislation. Some say that is nothing short of blasphemy aimed at all of those who fought so courageously during the Civil Rights struggle.
To not allow this masterpiece that was a part of the Civil Rights struggle would be the icing on the cake for those who continue to strive to turn the clock back on the rights of all Americans.
The bill was on the fast track to being passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, but to the joy of mostly Southern Republican members of that body they were successful in a delaying SNAFU, which came as a result of what were called restrictive rules of debate over some of the most important portions of the bill. However, there are a lot of others who say that was a tactic to find ways to sidetrack the legislation.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is 2020 and they are still trying to destroy the Voting Rights Act, and putting stumbling blocks in place to keep us from voting.
During the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, voting rights activists in the South were subjected to various forms of mistreatment and violence. One event that outraged many Americans occurred on March 7, 1965, when peaceful participants in a Selma to Montgomery march for voting rights were met by Alabama state troopers who attacked them with nightsticks, tear gas, and whips after they refused to turn back.
Ladies and Gentlemen, be mindful of your surroundings during this presidential election, because there are a lot of white supremist out there who will try to deter you from voting. But your vote does count, so use it.
“VOTE - VOTE – VOTE!”