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The Maroon Page 114 Monday, November 4,11996 Black Votes and the Upcoming Presidential Election: Some Observations dr. abraham davis Special to the maroon Black people have always faced a di lemma in the electoral arena. Their first problem involved an enduring struggle to simply vote. Once this fundamental right was won, they faced ingenious schemes that diluted their voting strength. Presently, they are confronted with the struggle of ensuring that their vote really counts vis a vis genuine po litical outcomes. Given the persistent struggle by blacks to overcome seem ingly intractable problems in almost every conceivable facet of American life gives validity to the prophetic conclu sion that Reinhold Niebuhr reached in 1932. He said: It is hopeless for the Negro to ex pect complete Emancipation from the menial social and economic po sition into which the white man has forced him merely by trusting in the moral sense of the white race However large the number of indi vidual white men who do and who will identify themselves completely with the Negro cause, the white race in America will not admit the Negro to equal rights if it is not forced to do so. Upon that point one may speak with a dogmatism which all history justifies. The dilemma that blacks face in the upcoming presidential election is equivalent to attempting to synthesize opposites, merge antitheses and recon cile the irreconcilable. By this I mean that blacks have been given the classic choice of voting for the lesser of two evils if they are to see their personal hopes, aspirations and dreams come to fruition. Since Dole is bent on abolish ing all affirmative action programs, Clintion's ambivalent position will re sult in the vast majority of Black Ameri cans casting their vote for him. Black America would rather pledge a blind, yet unequivocal and unwavering support for meaningless ambivalency then raise their considerable collective voices to demand a stronger stance by the Democratic nominee. Why does this happen? Derrick Bell has accurately de lineated the answer in these words, "Sig nificant progress for blacks is achieved when the goals of blacks coincide with the perceived needs of whites." Presi dent Clinton cannot alienate white vot ers who generally perceive affirmative action as antithetical to their interest. For example, a 1991 Gallup poll asked, "Do you believe that because of past dis crimination against black people, quali fied blacks should receive preference Black America would rather pledge a blind, yet unequivocal and unwavering support for meaningless ambivalency than raise their considerable collec tive voice ... over equally qualified whites in such matters as getting into college or getting jobs." Fourty-eight percent of Blacks an swered "yes" to the above question while only nineteen percent of whites agreed with the statement. Black Ameri cans should learn the art of utilizing those strategies that will maximize their chances of having their policy aspira tions taken seriously. Abraham Davis is a Professor of Politi cal Science at Morehouse College where he was the first recipient of the college's Teacher of Excellence award. A graduate of Morehouse, he recieved his Master's from The University of Wisconsin at Madison where he has also served as a distinguished visiting professor. Professor Davis recieved his doctorate from Ohio State University. MEDU Bookstore specializes in book b lives of people of African descent. • Postcards • Gift Certificates • Audio/Video Tapes rook try, about or relevant to the We also sell: • Greet Ring Cards Children Religion Business CEO/President. Nia Damali (404) 346-3263 History Ficlion Psychology Health Philosophy Art 2841 Greenbriar Parkway. SVV Atlanta, GA 30331