The Quiet Crackdown on Local Black Political Power

A chill is settling over the nation’s urban centers, a sense of foreboding that has little to do with economic indicators or mass shootings. It’s about something insidious: the steady erosion of local black political power.

In cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Baltimore, there’s been a noticeable shift in recent years. Black candidates have run for office in greater numbers than ever before, yet their chances of winning have decreased just as precipitously. They’re being pushed out by more palatable alternatives – white progressive Democrats who tout themselves as allies to the black community but prove hollow.

The civil rights movement was built on local activism and electoral victories, which paved the way for federal legislation like the Voting Rights Act. But what we’re witnessing now is a different kind of backlash – one that’s less overtly racist but no less effective.

Since Barack Obama’s presidency, state legislatures have passed voter ID laws, gerrymandering schemes, and other measures aimed at disenfranchising black communities. In 2016, Donald Trump captured the White House on a platform that exploited racial tensions and dismissed urban black voters’ concerns as “identity politics.”

In Atlanta, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms fights an uphill battle against a Republican-controlled state legislature eager to roll back voting rights. Baltimore’s Democratic mayor, Brandon Scott, faces similar challenges from his own party as well as the state’s GOP. Los Angeles sees growing disillusionment among black voters who feel betrayed by their elected officials.

The tactics employed are often subtle but insidious. Charter schools and voucher programs aim to siphon off public funding for education – a staple of urban black communities. These initiatives may be sold as “choices” for parents, but they disproportionately benefit white suburbanites who can afford them.

Both Democrats and Republicans lead the quiet crackdown on local black political power, often in coordination with each other. It’s a classic case of divide and conquer – pitting progressive whites against their perceived enemies within the black community while maintaining a veneer of racial unity.

One consequence is a steady decline in voter turnout among black voters. According to recent data from the Pew Research Center, roughly 40% of eligible black voters remain unregistered – compared to just 10% of white voters. In some urban areas, that number is even higher, with over half of all registered black voters failing to cast ballots in local elections.

The stakes are high, as they always are when it comes to power and representation. Local black leaders argue their communities require dedicated, accountable officials who can navigate the complexities of urban governance – rather than pie-in-the-sky promises from outsiders. But with each passing election cycle, it’s becoming clear that this vision is under siege.

Grassroots movements like Black Lives Matter and the Movement for Black Lives are finding ways to mobilize and organize around local issues – using tactics ranging from civil disobedience to community land trusts. These efforts may not have achieved the scale or visibility of some national movements, but they’re helping build a sense of collective resistance among black voters who feel abandoned by their elected officials.

As long as black voters remain a powerful force in urban centers, there will always be those who seek to undermine their voices and their vision for their communities.