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THE GENERAL PRESIDENT SPEAKS "A Voteless People Is A Hopeless People" [[image]] Alpha men acting out of a critical need many years ago coined the phrase "A Voteless People is A Hopeless People" and used it as a rallying cry to encourage Blacks to register and vote as one way of addressing many of their problems. Throughout the width and breadth of this land Alpha men and Alpha chapters fought in the courts and in the political arenas for the right of franchise and participation in the political process. We organized and directed Voter Registration Campaigns, promoted "Get-Out-The-Vote Rallies," and in every way possible sought a voice in government and governmental processes. The time has come again when Alpha must pull out all stops, reiterate the fact that "A Voteless People is A Hopeless People," organize strong and successful voter campaigns across this nation and otherwise get Blacks qualified to vote in large numbers. It is imperative and critical that Alpha take the lead in increasing the number of registered voters by at least 25 per cent. If "A Voteless People is A Hopeless People," then it follows that "A Voting People is A Hoping People." The election of Harold Washington as Mayor of Chicago and the winning of the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Philadelphia by Black candidate Wilson Goode have vividly demonstrated that Blacks can make a difference if they will register in large numbers and then go to the polls and vote their interest. There is no question but that we can become the balance of power in many or most of the states in the General Election in 1984 and cause to be elected a President, members of Congress, and local officers sensitive to the legitimate hopes and aspirations of Black and poor people. An analysis of the 1980 presidential election by the Joint Center for Political Studies clearly shows the potential power that exists within Black America. There were nine states in which the number of unregistered Blacks exceeded the Republican margin of victory, among them: New York, with nearly 900,000 unregistered Blacks compared to a GOP margin of 166,000; North Carolina, where Reagan won by 39,000 votes, with 505,000 unregistered Blacks; and Massachusetts, where the Republican margin of 2,500 is exceeded by the 64,000 unregistered Blacks in that state. Clearly, a fully mobilized and informed Black electorate can make a difference. Even if you don't feel that full registration is possible, you should know that if only the percentage of registered Blacks reached that of the majority population, the outcome in 1980 might have been changed in five states: Alabama, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Alpha Phi Alpha, through its 650 plus chapters, must take the lead in organizing and directing voter registration campaigns in every state, county, city and community across the nation. If Chicago has any lessons from us, it is the lesson that we have at our disposal and in our hands of our own destiny and our own salvation. All of us remember the story of the parting of the Red Sea. Moses had performed many miracles and finally persuaded the Pharaoh to free the Israelites. However, Pharaoh had a change of heart and sent his army to recapture the Israelites and return them to the slave camps of Egypt. With the Red Sea before them and the onrushing Egyptian Army behind them, the Israelites panicked and complained to Moses, and Moses to God. What did God say to Moses? He instructed Moses to stretch forth his rod. Moses stretched forth his rod; the Red Sea parted; the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea. The waters came back together to drown the Egyptian Army. The moral of this story is that Moses had the means of salvation in his own hands. God didn't give him anything that he did not already have. Black America, too, has its salvation in its hands. It only needs to know that and stretch forth the rod. In this case, the "rod" is the ballot. We must rise up and qualify to vote in numbers yet unseen. Then we must march to the polls in unprecedented numbers and then elect to office those persons who support those issues important to our interest and well-being. For 77 years the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has given leadership to Black America. We have led in voter registration. We have led in political action, legal redress, and in support for education. We have led in developing mechanisms for inspiring our youth and activating Black adults. Now we must come to the forefront again and promote voter registration. We should join with other leaders and other organizations when possible and organize voter registration drives in each of our communities. Where there is no structure for carrying on a campaign... Alpha should form one by convening fraternal, civic, political, and church leaders to promote voter registration. As I said in an earlier article - "Don't Just Stand There, Do Something." "A Voteless People is A Hopeless People," but "A Voting People is A Hoping People." Alpha... stretch forth your rod. Fraternally, Ozell Sutton Ozell Sutton General President The Sphinx/Summer 1983 377
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