Minority groups neglected in 'chaotic' midterm elections

Special: Commentary

By John Lee

(ECNS) -- A CNN report said political analysts worry that some Black men will stay home on Nov. 8 due to politicians ignoring the issues of African Americans.

For a long time, colored Americans have been ignored in many aspects, and even their political rights have been violated. The higher death rate of COVID-19 than whites, being used for human experiments, and the frequent deaths of African Americans caused by police brutality, etc. have hit their confidence in American democracy, decreasing their willingness to vote.

According to a report released by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in September, Black men believe racism, inflation, and police brutality are the most important issues. The survey also concluded that 41 percent of Black men disapproved of the job the current U.S. government is doing for the Black community.

Most said they vote in elections but rarely see lawmakers making decisions that help Black people or their communities.

Candidates make promises in order to gain votes from U.S. ethnic minorities, but ignore their demands after election. Both insider trading by members of Congress or money-manipulated President and Congress member elections mean winning elections simply benefit participants and the interest groups behind them. Elections are like business while campaign promises remain insignificant.

The U.S. electoral system has long neglected the interests of minority groups. It not only fails to solve their issues but also tries to hinder their political participation.

In 2021, 20 states redrew the congressional map, which has deprived the voting rights of African Americans and other minority communities, as reported by the National Urban League in its annual report on the State of Black America published in April. Meanwhile, legislation in some states makes it ever more difficult for African Americans and other minorities to vote.

In addition, a report from The Sentencing Project found that state-level voting bans have a disproportionate impact on Black and Latino voters. According to the report, "One in 19 African Americans of voting age is disenfranchised, a rate 3.5 times that of non-African Americans."

Although the U.S. boasts that every American is equal to live, enjoy liberty and pursue happiness, and keeps telling the world it is inclusive and open, the shadow of racial discrimination continues to loom.

Politicians fail to bridge the racial divide, but use minority groups as a tool for their elections, which fails to realize true democracy. On the contrary, it will only worsen social problems like racial discrimination and aggravate the division of American society.