Black Women Saved America Again, So Why Aren't Their Voices Being Heard?

Black Women Saved America Again, So Why Aren't Their Voices Being Heard?

In an election that was too close to comfort, Democrat Doug Jones defeated Republican and accused sexual abuser and child molester, Roy Moore, in the Alabama special election. The two candidates were campaigning for Jeff Sessions' Senate seat.

Despite the accusations against Moore, President Trump and the Republican National Committee decided to back his campaign. Jones was also said to be a "long shot" and only won by 1.5%. But, that wasn't the only aspect about the polling numbers that grabbed our attention.

The Alabama Exit Poll

The exit poll on the Alabama election made it abundantly clear who was voting for Jones versus Moore, regarding race and gender.

72% of white men and a whopping 63% of white women voted for Moore, considering more female Alabama voters thought that the allegations against Moore were true.

93% of black men voted for Jones as well as 98% of black women. 98%. Just let that sink in.

Before The Election

Prior to the election, there were efforts in Alabama to pass new voter identification laws as well as the movement to close DMVs in predominantly black neighborhoods, which would result in fewer votes by the Black community.

However, there was an organized effort by the Black community to not only register people, but to give them rides and ways to get to the polls. And clearly, their efforts paid off.

“93% of black women that voted in the state of Alabama voted for Doug Jones... That’s the power of the sister vote.” - Birmingham City Councilor Sheila Tyson pic.twitter.com/lTgP7saCxx

— Kira Lerner (@kira_lerner) December 13, 2017

Twitter's Reaction To The Election

After news of Jones' victory on Tuesday night, people took it to Twitter to celebrate the first Democrat to ever represent Alabama in the Senate, it wasn't exactly Jones the people were thanking.

People on the internet were thanking Black women and the Black community for their involvement the Alabama election.

This is just one example of the strength & power of black women and men. This is what we mean when we say every vote matters. This is what is possible when you stand up and make your voice heard.
THANK YOU ALABAMA FOR THIS. Now let’s all get ready & mobilized for midterms. pic.twitter.com/u5nyJnMTgD

— Tracee Ellis Ross (@TraceeEllisRoss) December 13, 2017

Roy Moore never conceded, instead saying "what we’ve got to do is wait on God."

Stop waiting. You can find God in the hands of #BlackWomen, who just voted out a child molester.

— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) December 13, 2017

Let me be clear: We won in Alabama and Virginia because #BlackWomen led us to victory. Black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party, and we can’t take that for granted. Period.

— Tom Perez (@TomPerez) December 13, 2017

Black women coming to save Alabama from Roy Moore like.....#AlabamaSenateRace #blackwomen pic.twitter.com/DbYbCk7Qhq

— 20Something & Living (@20SNL_) December 13, 2017

But Is Thanking Black Women Enough?

While it's abundantly clear that Black women and the Black community played a huge part in this win and it's about damn time that they were recognized for their efforts and victories in history, the conversation does not end here. The very fact that we are in awe that Black women had to step up to vote for a progressive candidate, who is also not an accused child molester, says a lot about our society and brings it to our attention that Black women are still kept from obtaining leadership positions.

Dear GOP,
You will not win elections by backing xenophobic, racists, homophobic sexual predators.

Dear Dems,
You need to truly engage w the black & brown electorate, especially #blackwomen in order to win. And once you win you need to work for that electorate.#LessonsLearned

— Paola Mendoza (@paolamendoza) December 13, 2017

Black women gave us this victory and have been on the frontlines of basically every American social movement. Saying "thank you" is one thing. But, people need to begin to act, listen, and invest resources in Black women while recognizing that this does not mean that Black women should be expected to singlehandedly rid of racism and sexism in America. This is not a storm they should be expected to weather alone.

Senator from California, Kamala Harris, said, "We need to do more than congratulate them. Let’s address issues that disproportionately affect Black women—like pay disparity, housing & under-representation in elected office."

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