As soon as the news broke that John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his vice presidential nominee, I starting thinking what many others were thinking: this is just a way for McCain to snatch up disgruntled Hilary supporters who are unsure if they want to vote for Obama, and to try to make a case to the disgruntled Hilary supporters who have already decided that they will vote for McCain, that he will do for women what Obama would not. This election has been feeling very Suffrage Movement ever since the democratic nominee race started to tighten between Barack and Hilary. Now women have decided to go against their party completely and to jeopardize what could actually be good for this country, just to prove a point: that Hilary, a woman deserved to be the next president and if not, at least the next vice president. I can't sit here and say that this is a completely wrong way of thinking because just like the Hilary supporters, Barack supporters, specifically black voters, had planned to do the same thing had Hilary taken the nomination without making black voters feel like she was truly working for them. They were willing to vote for McCain just to prove a point: that Hilary could not win without the black vote. When, if ever, will this particular election be about the issues and less about the nominee's place in history? Yes it is important for women to be at the forefront, just as it is important for African American's to be at the forefront and if you just happen to be the first woman or African American to be at the forefront that is a wonderful thing, but as Barack stated in his acceptance speech, "this isn't about me, its about you". What is best for the greater good is what should prevail.

As I thought more about the importance of this election, meaning, not who will be the first, but who will be the one to make the needed change in America, I started to think about the black vote. It is true that people who have never been interested in politics or voting in elections have become interested and will be casting their votes this November, but what about those who's vote could be that extra push for change that the country needs, but they have no idea where their place is in politics and society as a whole? These would be people who would be sort of like an Independent, only they have not taken a side not because they are still trying to figure out who is the better candidate, but because they have been stripped of their right to even have a say so. In case you haven't figured it out, I am referring to all of the people (mainly men) who are either currently in jail or who have done time in jail, but are now free. If you have been classified as a criminal (this could be drugs, murder, any kind of felony) you are denied the right to vote. Prisons are overflowing with black men who could be contributors to the black vote this coming election, but this is not an option.



Or so I thought, before watching a special called Locked Up: Ex-Cons & The Vote on BET the other day. Host Sampson Style shared his own story of being someone who was on the wrong path years ago, did time in a New York jail, and who is now a changed man, but one who is not able to truly function as a full citizen because of his past mistakes. He was on a quest to find out why the law still takes the right to vote from those who have done jail time, just who is effected by these laws and how the laws can be changed so that all votes can be counted. I sat in front of my television amazed when I found out that ex-cons can actually vote. Now, the fact that they can vote is not what amazed me, but the fact that rights can be restored to these men (and women), but they are not informed of this upon release and probably not upon completing parole or probation either. You see, in all of the states, except for two, regaining the right to vote is just a matter of paperwork once the person has completed their parole or probation. Style, a New Yorker was in disbelief upon learning that his vote will now count this November and so was rapper Snoop Dog when Style talked to him about California's laws. Snoop was unaware that the same goes for California and that his vote could count as well. Like I said before, I was completely amazed. Looks like "don't ask, don't tell" isn't just for the military.

If you have family, friends, associates, etc who have made mistakes in their lives that resulted in jail time and they are interested in regaining their right to vote, even if they aren't interested, you should really inform them so that they can get the ball rolling or become more educated about just how important they really are in society. This goes a little beyond just being about selecting someone for office, but becomes more about playing our own individual parts in making sure that everyone has equal rights. There is NOTHING worse than being granted a right that you don't even know you have and then missing out on the opportunity to exercise that right. Think about it.