Current-BM2

Recently, and email hoax was disseminated concerning the voting rights of African Americans. It read as follows:

//"Below you will find a speech that Bill Cosby's wife gave at a function. Everyone please read this and pass it on to as many African Americans you come in contact with.// //Camille Cosby just made a reference about the Voting Rights Act in her most recent open letter on racism. This is extremely important.// //We are quickly approaching the 21st Century and we were wondering, and when I say 'we', I mean others of us out there who wonder if everyone else out there knows what the significance of the year 2007 is to Black America?// //Did you know that our right to VOTE will expire in the year 2007? Seriously! The Voters Rights Act signed in 1965 by Lyndon B. Johnson was just an ACT. It was not made a law.// //In 1982, Ronald Reagan amended the Voters Rights Act for another 25 years. Which means that in the year 2007 we could lose the Right to vote!// //Does anyone realize that African Americans are the only group of people who require PERMISSION under the United States Constitution to vote! In the year 2007, Congress will once again convene to decide whether or not Blacks should retain the rights to vote (crazy but true).// //In order for this to be passed, 38 states will have to approve an extension. This is ludicrous! Not only should the extension be approved, but also the ACT must be made a law. Our right to vote should no longer be up for discussion, review and/or evaluation.// //We must contact our Congress-persons, Senators, Alderpersons, etc., to put a stop to this! As bona fide Citizens of the United States, we cannot "drop the ball" on this one! We have come too far to let government make us take such a huge step backward. So please, let us push forward to continue to build the momentum towards gaining equality.// //Please pass this onto others, as we are sure that many more individuals are not aware of this. I urge all of you that are able, to contact those in government that have your vote and make them aware of our combined concern for this issue.// //One voice!...... One Vote! You cannot complain, if you do not participate.....local, State, & national.....// //When I received this one I had no choice but to pass it on. Please do the same." //

While the content of the message is untrue, it decieved many Americans, (African American and otherwise) into thinking that as of 2007 there was a possibility for African Americans to be disenfranchised. This shows that many African Americans still feel that there are many prejudiced people who would rather that they didn't vote. In addition, the original perpetrator of the hoax, as well as at least some of the people who passed it on knew it was a hoax. While not inherently racist, this act displays a certain maliciousness towards the African American population. Regardless, this hoax shows that voting rights are still an issue which many people, especially African Americans are not convinced is resolved. Mark Twain's commentary is still as valid as ever.

Recently, Florida ordered the use of a so-called "purge list", or list which prevents people ineligible (because of criminal status) from voting. However, thousands of the people on this list were innocent of any crime and completely eligible to vote. Not surprisingly, a large percentage of these people were African Americans. Again, the issue of voting rights is unresolved, and again, Twain's social commentery remains relevent.