I was 13 in 1955 when Rosa Parks took a seat on the Montgomery, Alabama bus, in the “colored section”. As the bus filled she was required by law to yield her seat to a white passenger. She refused and was arrested. As a result a young Baptist minister was selected to organize a boycott of public transportation.

People got around any way they could to support the boycott which lasted 381 days, and became an international cause. The busses were integrated. One must remember this occurred in the Jim Crow south. The power of a united purpose could not be better illustrated. The entire country took notice.

This victory spurred freedom rides in 1961. Black and white students from northern cities bought tickets to ride Greyhound into the south to challenge those Jim Crow laws. In 1963, 100,000 citizens, both black and white, marched in Washington, D.C. for jobs and civil freedoms. 1964 was witness to the “Summer of Freedom”. Hundreds of our black and white citizens, went to the deepest part of Mississippi to register voters.

While doing this, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner and James Chaney were murdered. Dr. King gave his life in 1968. Dr. King’s most fervent pursuit was for our voting rights.

Given these sacrifices it must be noted that in past elections as few as 7 percent of people of color voted. Our will to vote seems to have deteriorated. Let’s look at a more recent happening. The incident in Ferguson, Missouri brought troubling issues to light.

For instance, the population of Ferguson was nearly 70 percent persons of color while the governance, including law enforcement, is more than 90 percent white. This in itself is not necessarily a bad thing; however, it isn’t hard to see how such an environment could lead to tragedy. These circumstances more than likely existed because the majority of people of color in Ferguson did not vote.

Another recent incident in Virginia demonstrates the power of the vote. We all remember the second most powerful man in the House of Representatives was defeated. He was endorsed by powerful people, backed by millions of dollars. He was projected to win by 35 points. He lost by 10, and it wasn’t close. Let us be reminded that dollars do not vote, citizens vote.

Millions of citizens don’t vote because they somehow feel “my vote doesn’t count”. They are correct, their vote doesn’t count because they don’t cast it. People of color represent more than 20 percent of the voting population; as such, we could easily control local, state and federal elections.

If voting at the polls seems inconvenient in any way, you can vote absentee ballot. It’s very easy. I’ll personally send you an absentee ballot application, instructions, the name and location of your clerk even an envelope to send it in. Please, call (269) 445-1651; if no answer, leave your contact information. Thank you and please vote!

Kendall Allen

Three Rivers