Neither major political party a help for people of color

The recent election shows the divide of the United States. One side looks to the patriarchal, white-controlled view of the Founding Fathers that continues today. The other side looks to the expansive human rights vision of the United States contained in the Declaration of Independence but ignores what is needed to get there.

The Republicans, mostly white with an increasing number of people of color, subscribe to the U.S. Constitution’s structure favoring white patriarchy, which originally denied people of color the rights of white citizens. The Republican Party is aligned with the view of white control of power and keeping “the others” out.

The Democrats claim a broader view. A view driven by the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, the Democratic leadership seems only willing to do for people of color and balks at working with them to achieve these goals.

There is a gap between the white control of the party and their dependence upon people of color to win elections. Party and congressional centers of power remain white while dependence on people of color for votes increases.

There is no welcoming home for people of color in our national institutions. A revolution envisioned by Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Du Bois, Malcolm X and others is moving forward under

strong leadership of people of color at the local level. These local leaders won the election for President-elect Joe Biden, not the white party leaders.

If the aged whites of the party continue the exclusion of their base, the Democrats will disappear. Good riddance, too. Renate Reeves-ellington

Delmar