As the elections come upon us, much attention has turned towards them. People are discussing and debating whether to vote, to remain “uncommitted,” to vote for a third party candidate, or to vote for the Democratic candidate in a statement of history and hope for change.
I have heard people declare that they are tired of voting for a Republican or a Democrat in this two-party system. They state that they are tired of voting for “the lesser of two evils.” I have heard much of the discussion, and such sentiments have come from my friends, comrades, and fellow warriors in the struggle. To each of these statements I share some perspective.
I have not really witnessed a third party building and organizing itself effectively and aggressively except when it is time for an election. I don’t see how a third party becomes a viable alternative without the persistence, passion, militancy, and drive to organize it outside election season. I am not against a third party, but I have not seen a serious attempt to build one in this country.
The “Uncommitted” is a serious vehicle of protest, but only if there is a significant number of “Uncommitted” voters. As a protest, the threat of not being counted on to vote for a particular candidate can amount to a serious and threatening protest. However, in this electoral season, now that the primaries are in the past, I am afraid, as a Black person born and raised in America, that it gives rise to someone like Donald Trump.
Trump in himself is not the fear, but the minions of racists, nativists, and white supremacists that surround him are. Trump is their cheerleader. The attacks upon the Black community during “Red Summer” is a historical image that should not be forgotten and should remind us what happens when these racist forces are encouraged, embraced, and advanced.
I find it interesting to hear people say that they are tired of voting for “the lesser of two evils.” This suggests that the system was not evil at some point but is evil now. That is strange because even when our so-called friends were elected, we have had to fight them for basic rights. Voting rights, public accommodation protections, open housing, the challenge to covenanted neighborhoods, and overturning exclusion from economic resources and infrastructure—all came about because of persistent fights. This country had to even fight a Civil War over slavery, and even then, more than 100 years of de-facto enslavement persisted.
Having said this, I am saying that we are going to need to fight the new administration over issues like voting rights, affirmative action, justice in Palestine, Haiti, Congo, reparations, college and university admissions, justice in Central and Latin America and throughout Africa. We will have to fight this administration for justice and dignity for much of the world of color.
It is more strategic and historically correct in this moment to defeat Trump and push Harris than to essentially drop out of the process by being “uncommitted” or voting for a third party that is not viable.
We need to realize that defeating Trump is not enough, though, because if we let Harris have a honeymoon without significant change to her agenda, we will have abdicated our responsibility as agents of change and justice. So simply put, vote and fight, elect and continue to fight, and fight on until justice is won!
“We who believe in justice cannot rest…”
As with all op-eds published by People’s World, this article reflects the views of its author.
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