Think Black: “So What the Fuss?”

You remember the Stevie Wonder song “So What the Fuss”? Well maybe you don’t, it wasn’t one of his biggest hits, but a song with a curious and ambiguous meaning.  It might be time to play it again if you are watching the redistricting map dispute playing out.  

The quick background is that the NC state legislature redraws congressional and state legislative districts every ten years.  As you might surmise, the party in the majority during that tenth year draws those maps based on the most recent census data.  NC has more court lawsuits and hearings for a longer period over these maps than any other state.  

The legislature has drawn the maps with a probable 11 to 4 congressional seat Republican majority.  Likewise, the state legislative house and senate seat maps provide a large Republican majority.   Some long for the days when Democrats last drew maps and there were Democratic majorities that resulted in more competition for and engagement with all voters in a district.  

With the new ‘win and maintain power at all costs’ ideals, competition of ideas and engagement for most voters has been abandoned.  Guaranteed victory is the goal no matter what the cost, be it voter confidence, functional government, needed programs, or civility.  With this prevailing attitude, the extremes are emerging in public policy and the infrastructure of supporting how we govern ourselves.

New maps used to have to undergo preclearance in states that had histories of racial gerrymandering after the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.  Of course, you might guess, we were one of those states and had extensive court suits about it in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and 2010s.  In those court cases, the issue was RACIAL bias, but the result was the unfair pursuit of power.  The Supreme Court struck down the requirement of preclearance and now the only way to fight against unfair maps is to go to court after the maps have been drawn while the election continues.   

So here we are now contesting POLITICAL/PARTISAN bias that has the same effect as RACIAL bias but a different name.  So what’s the Fuss all about?  The answer, its power, total and absolute power.  

So how are we affected and how do we respond?  

We’re affected because the maps determine who your representatives in Congress and the state legislature will be.  Who you can vote for clearly determines who gets elected and represents you.  The loss of the real opportunity to choose has the same effect as not being able to vote. This is a contest for not only meaningful participation in the next election, additionally, but it will also determine whether your vote matters in US House and state legislative races for the next ten years.  

What can you do to support respect for your vote in view of these numerous obstacles?  

Just as voting, redistricting, and elections all work together, action in either or all three of these areas can have effect:  

• Irrespective of the lines of the district, registering to vote and voting are critical because all elections aren’t just for the US House or the legislature.  
• Great voter turnout will ensure local officials (County Commissioners, School Boards, Mayors & City Councils) who put the community first.  
• Engaging in voter education by leading your community organizations in discussions and understanding redistricting.  
• Finally, volunteering for the critical positions of local boards of elections, poll workers, and other staff in the election process makes you a real hero.  Being an elections volunteer is where you can make some of the clearest impacts and guard the integrity of the process. 

With 58% of those surveyed saying democracy was on the verge of collapse, more folks have to be involved to see and believe in the process.  

Your marching orders for your community’s future are: 

• Register, 
• Vote, and 
• Volunteer.  

Issue those challenges to your family, friends, and neighbors.  So, make a fuss so everyone knows “what the fuss” is all about.