Umthombo: I-Independent Media Institute
I-Commerce Street, kanye nenkaba yedolobha lase-Hawkinsville, e-Georgia, ayinakwa kalula. Isivakashi esilandela uthelawayeka wesifunda sinqamula isihlalo sasePulaski County sasibheka umugqa wamabhilidi asezitini agugile, izindonga zesitolo ezimbozwe ngesisitho selanga kanye namafasitela anothuli. Ukupaka nokuphuma kuzwakala njengokungena ekhadini leposi elidala. Ekukhanyeni kwelanga nasekuthuleni kwasekuseni, ungase ungazi ukuthi amabhizinisi Abamnyama ake avinjwa emgwaqeni. Noma ukuthi i-Ku Klux Klan ibambe eminye yemibuthano yayo emikhulu eMelika eduzane. Noma iqoqo lomgwaqo lamabhizinisi aphethwe ngabaNsundu njengokunqoba kwedolobhana elincane.
Kodwa ukuhlola okusheshayo akuhambisani nesigqi sempilo kanye nesivinini soshintsho lapha. Ngezansi kwezakhiwo ezipendwe ngama-pastel, amalambu esitayela sakudala namabhanela aluhlaza abhalwe ukuthi i-Hawkinsville “Idolobha Lomfula Omlando” kunezindawo zokugunda izinwele ezimbili, indawo yokucima ukoma yaseNingizimu ne-grill, indawo yokudlela yase-Caribbean, izitolo zezingubo nezipho, ifemu encane yamabhuku ezimali kanye nogwayi. isitolo se-vape. Okuthakazelisa kakhulu kukho konke okungaphansi kophawu olukhulu lomgwaqo, "I-Newberry Foundation. "
I-Hawkinsville African American Heritage Centre iyimnyuziyamu yomlando wabaNsundu enebhodi likaphayini elifiphele elithi "COLORED ENTRANCE" ngaphezu komnyango wayo. Eduze kwayo kuneGumbi Lokufundela Igeja kanye Ne-Pew, indawo elingana ne-ballroom enamatafula amakhulu ayishumi nambili namashalofu ezincwadi eziboshwe ngesikhumba. Imiqulu yawo isukela kumagazini we-Jet, kuya ku-Journal of Negro Education, kuya Impi Yokuhlubuka: Ukuhlanganiswa Kwamarekhodi Asemthethweni eNyunyana kanye Namasosha Ahlangene.. Indawo ekude yinkantolo yesifunda kanye netshe lesikhumbuzo layo elikhulu le-Confederate.
NgoMgqibelo wakamuva ngaphambi komnqamulajuqu wokubhalisa wangomhla ziyisi-7 kuZibandlela kanye nokuqala kukaDisemba 14 kokuvota kusenesikhathi, le mpambano yezindawo zasemakhaya zaseGeorgia ezedlule nezamanje bekuyisilungiselelo somkhankaso wokubhalisela ukuvota okhethweni oluzayo lweSenethi ngoJanuwari 5. Lowo mncintiswano uzocacisa ukuthi iyiphi yezepolitiki. Iqembu liphethe iningi leSenethi kanye nalo, isiphetho somthetho ophakanyiswe nguMongameli okhethiwe uJoe Biden. Ngenkathi iningi labavoti beDemokhrasi lizungeze i-Atlanta, amaqembu alwela amalungelo okuvota akholelwa ukuthi imiphakathi yasemakhaya ngemibala ingakwazi ukulinganisa noma iqinise ukunqoba kweDemocratic Alliance, uma ivotile.
Ikharavani encane enemibalabala yahamba yaya enkabeni ye-Pulaski County, lapho imiphumela yangaphambi kwesikhathi engekho emthethweni ibonise ukuthi abavoti bayo ababhalisile abangu-4,081 kwabangu-5,687 bavota okhethweni lwangomhla zi-3 kuNovemba. Iningi bekungabavoti abamhlophe abeseka amaRepublican. Njengama-Freedom Riders, amabhasi awo awela iNingizimu ukuyobhalisa abavoti, umkhankaso wokubhalisa wawunomsebenzi ofanayo: ukubandakanya nokukhipha abavoti.
Ukushayela bekuholwa ngu Fenika Miller, isishoshovu esizolile nesigxilile esisebenze amashumi eminyaka ukuze sinikeze amandla imiphakathi eseduze yemibala nabesifazane. uMiller uyagijima Indaba yabavoti abamnyama ihhovisi eliphakathi nendawo laseGeorgia, iveni yalo enemibala eyayipakwe phambi komnyuziyamu. Ingaphandle layo elikhangayo elibomvu, eliluhlaza kanye nelimnyama limemezele i Sithole i-Power tour, ngamagama athi “Indaba Yabavoti Abamnyama” nelithi “Uthando” anyatheliswe eceleni kweveni. Ngemva kwabo kwakupakwe i-Winnebago ensomi Vota ngokulingana, iqembu elikhuthaza Ukuchitshiyelwa Kwamalungelo Elinganayo. Yayivela eVirginia ukuzothuthukisa ukubonakala kwedrayivu.
Womabili amaqembu, ikakhulukazi abesifazane, abeka amatafula nezihlalo eceleni komgwaqo wezitini. Babeke amafomu okubhalisa, amaflaya namakhadi anemininingwane yokuvota. Babenezipho, njengezikibha nezinye izinto ezithi, “Black Voters Matter,” “It’s About Us” kanye nokuthi “Vote Equality!” ukunikeza noma ngubani obhalisa noma othembise ukukhuluma nabangani nomndeni mayelana nokuvota. Base belinda. Ekuseni ngoMgqibelo bekungelona ihora elimatasatasa likaCommerce Street.
Kwafika isekela likashenda lazenza ocikwa ukuthi akazi ngalo mcimbi. Wakujabulela ukunamathela. Abesifazane abambalwa abaNsundu bathola izihlalo buthule emthunzini ngaphansi kwezisilamo. Babazana, bekhuthele endaweni futhi besekela imbangela. Phakathi nemizuzu engu-15, indoda ende, ebanzi, nenesizotha eneminyaka ephakathi enendlela yoprofesa yaletha ithileyi lekhofi likaMcDonald futhi yazethula. Ube kade UJulius Johnson, umsunguli we-Newberry Foundation, umdali womnyuziyamu, umgcini wegumbi lokufunda kanye nesisebenzi sangaphambili soMnyango Wezwe Lase-U.S. Wabuya phesheya nomndeni wakhe waya e-Hawkinsville, idolobha lakubo kayise, ngemva kokushona kukayise.
Ngesikhathi ngikhuluma noJohnson, wagqama lapho ngithi ngize edolobheni ukuzobona abantu abasebenza ngosizo lwabavoti ukuze kuqhutshekwe nokuvota hhayi nje ukubika ngakho nge-Zoom. “Uyazi, sinezifunda eziyi-159 eGeorgia,” kusho yena. “Futhi isifunda ngasinye sinezibalo zabantu ezihlukene. Futhi uma ubheka imiphumela yokhetho olwedlule, izokutshela indaba mayelana nokubamba iqhaza kwabavoti, futhi lokho kungase kube isiqalo.”
UMiller ukhethe i-Hawkinsville ngenxa yezinombolo zabavoti basePulaski County, wachaza ngenkathi elungisa. "Ngibambe ukuthi abantu abamnyama abangu-1,026… [bebefaneleka ukuvota] kuleli dolobhana, kodwa abangaphezu kuka-800 abangazange bavote," esho, ebhekise okhethweni lukamongameli. “Sinomsebenzi omningi okumele siwenze lapha, emadolobheni amancane.”
Abanye abagqugquzeli ababebheke ukuqhutshelwa kweSenate bafinyelela eziphethweni ezifanayo. Kodwa bakholelwa ukuthi abavoti basemaphandleni abanganakwa kungaba amandla angalindelekile emiqhudelwaneni egijimayo, okuyimijaho elandelwa abantu abambalwa kakhulu. UJohnson, ozethule kafushane ngemuva kokuphuza ikhofi, akazange asho ukuthi ubesanda kungenela iSenate yesifunda saseGeorgia. Uthole amavoti angu-31,000 XNUMX kodwa wangawina. UJohnson ulalele isifinyezo salelisu lokugijima.
“Asikho isikhathi esiningi,” ephendula, esika enhliziyweni yendaba. “Ubenza kanjani labo bavoti basebenze? Esinye sezihluthulelo siwukuncika ezintweni ezishukumisayo ezikhona, njengamasonto, noma lokhu [kushayela], noma eminye imizamo.”
Inselelo wukuphumela obala kwabavoti abebencishwe amathuba phambilini, esho. Besekusele isikhathi eside ukuthi kube nomkhankaso omkhulu wokubhalisa, ikakhulukazi njengoba abefundisi nongqongqoshe bebethula izintshumayelo zangeSonto ku-inthanethi bephendula lo bhubhane. Lokho kwakusho ukuthi bambalwa abantu abazozwa izimemezelo ngokuvota. UJohnson uthe umeme abanye abazali ukuthi balethe izingane zabo zizobhalisa futhi unxuse abantu abasha ukuthi beze nezihlobo ezindala. Lelo qhinga labonakala sengathi liyaklwebha. Ngabe lokho bekuzosebenza? Wabheka phezulu.
Wathi: “Ezindaweni zasemaphandleni zaseGeorgia, amasiko nezinto zigxile kakhulu. “Uma ufika phansi kulezi zifunda ezincane, azikho ngaphansi kwethonya lesizwe sabagqugquzeli. Basenomphakathi. Bathola ulwazi lwabo emaphepheni abo. Ulwazi lwabo bathola kubafundisi babo, komakhelwane basesitolo esikhulu, emaqenjini abakuwo. Bayazi kahle indlela abazovota ngayo.”
Obekusho uJohnson bekubalulekile ukukuqonda, ikakhulukazi kubantu baseMelika abafuna ukusiza ekuqhutshweni kwemidlalo. Abantu baseGeorgia basemaphandleni, ikakhulukazi abavoti bemibala, bekungenakwenzeka ukuba bathembe abantu abangaphandle komndeni wabo, abangani nabaholi bezenkolo. Ukungathembi abantu bangaphandle kuyiqiniso. Uphendule imibuzo eyengeziwe ngesineke, ephendula ngobuqotho nangemininingwane engajwayelekile esimweni lapho kungaba nzima ukudlula ingxoxo emnandi noma anqamule inkulumo lapho isihloko siphendukela kwezombusazwe. Ngacela ukubona imnyuziyamu yakhe, okwaholela engxoxweni eveze ngokungalindelekile lokho izakhamuzi eziningi eziMnyama ezikucabangayo, kodwa azizange zisho ngokuzwakalayo, mayelana nokuvota, uhlanga namandla phakathi kweGeorgia.
Evula Okungakhulunywa
UJohnson wangena emnyuziyamu. Imibukiso yomlando wendawo yayimi eduze nokuphindaphindwa kwezikhathi eziyisithonjana emzabalazweni wamalungelo abantu. Wakha umnyuziyamu kanye negumbi lokufunda ngoba wayengumqoqi kanye nosomlando, engeza ngokuthi usebenza nge-PhD yaseHoward University. Bekunesidingo sokulondoloza umlando wendawo wabaNsundu, ukudala izilungiselelo zemfundo nokuba nezindawo zomphakathi eziphephile “zemicimbi efana nalena,” idrayivu yabavoti.
“Sifuna ukuba yisibonelo kweminye imiphakathi yasemakhaya ngoba emaphandleni aseNingizimu azikho izindawo eziningi zokuxoxisana nomphakathi,” kuchaza uJohnson. “Akufani naseWashington, D.C., noma eMassachusetts lapho unezitolo zekhofi nezitolo zezincwadi. Emaphandleni aseNingizimu, okuwukuphela kwendawo yomphakathi lapho abantu bekhuluma khona ngokuyinhloko kusesontweni noma emakhaya abo. Uma beya endaweni yokudlela, kusuke kuwukudla nje—abekho ngenjongo yokubonisana nokuhlaziya noma okunye okunjalo.”
Ezindaweni zokudlela ezimbalwa ezazivuliwe emigwaqweni eseduze, idlanzana labamhlophe laliphakelwa izisebenzi eziNsundu. UMiller uthe abakhankasi bakhe baphume ngababili — bengabodwa. UJohnson uthe abantu abaningi abaphumi sekuhlwile. "Asikho isivikelo." Ukumelana noshintsho kwakukhona futhi kwaqhubeka.
Ngaphakathi emnyuziyamu, uJohnson wedlula ubhasikidi omkhulu kakotini futhi wama phambi kwesikhumbuzo phezu kwengubo. Wathi igama lakhe eliphelele kwakunguJulius Johnson Newberry nokuthi le nsalela yayiyimpahla yakhe eyigugu kakhulu. Laliyitshe lethuna ububanzi obuyizingalo eziyisishiyagalombili nokuphakama okungamasentimitha ayisishiyagalombili lingenagama kulo. Isisekelo salo sifundeka kanje, “Mnu. UCharley Newberry, 1818-1880. Lona kwakungumkhulu wakhe, izizukulwane eziyisikhombisa ezedlule. Eduze kwesisekelo setshe lethuna kwakukhona amadashi amabili afanekisela amaketanga avela ebugqilini. Phezulu kwakukhona izinkanyezi ezimbili ngaphezu komugqa wamadashi namachashazi, okubonisa amaketanga aphukile nokuthi wafa eyindoda ekhululekile. Ngawo-1870, umndeni wakwaNewberry wathenga umhlaba kubanikazi bawo bangaphambili. "Amahektha angama-300 amabi kakhulu," kusho uJohnson. Basusa inhlabathi enamatshe futhi batshala ukotini. Imindeni emhlophe enezimpande zekhulu le-19 e-Hawkinsville yayiwazi ama-Newberry.
"Kunzima kakhulu," kusho uJohnson, ebhekisa endleleni okwedlule okusithunzi ngayo samanje kuleli dolobhana nasezindaweni zasemakhaya zaseGeorgia. “Kunzima kakhulu ngoba kuningi ukuhlukumezeka. Kukhona ukwesaba okuningi. Futhi ezicini eziningi, kukhona uthando, futhi, phakathi kwamaqembu amakhulu emaphandleni aseNingizimu. Ngikhuluma ngabantu base-Afrika baseMelika… Kodwa futhi sinesibalo esikhulayo sabantu abakhuluma iSpanishi lapha. Bethuswe [iziphathimandla zamanje] futhi bahlala befihliwe. ”
UJohnson wakhuluma ngamafa abantu bangaphandle ababengeke bawazi noma bawaqaphele: Amathuna edolobha ahlukene abantu abamhlophe nabaNsundu; izindaba zomndeni zokuthi abantu AbaMnyama abafudukela eNyakatho babengavunyelwe kanjani ukwehlisa izimoto zabo emigwaqweni yase-Hawkinsville ngeminyaka yawo-1960, funa izakhamuzi zasendaweni zabaNsundu zibone ubumpofu babo; ukuthi abantu abaMnyama babhaxabulwa emapulazini aseduze ngasekupheleni kwawo-1970 kanye nawo-1980; isizathu sokuthi kungani abantu abaningi abaNsundu bengakabhukudi eMfuleni i-Ocmulgee oseduze, njengoba amathambo ehlakazeka ngezikhathi ezithile noma ekhishwa.
"Kunokuhlukumezeka okuningi lapha, futhi abantu bakula madolobha asemakhaya abakaze bafinyelele uhlaka lwamandla endawo ukuze bamele izintshisekelo zabo," kusho uJohnson, ebuyela kwezombusazwe nasokhethweni. “Bahlulwe yiwo wonke amaqhinga asencwadini. Futhi ngenkathi abantu beqinile, bayakhathala. Futhi abantu sebejwayele ukungalingani okuningi okukhona.”
Umsebenzi kaJohnson woMnyango Wezwe wawuhlanganisa nokuzama ukunyakazisa “izinhliziyo nezingqondo” e-Afghanistan. Ukungalingani kusabonakala endaweni, uthe, njengoba izikhundla eziningi zobuholi kuhulumeni wesifunda, abomthetho kanye nezemfundo ziphethwe ngabamhlophe. Ukungakwazi ukufunda nokubhala bekuyinkinga yangempela, esho, ecaphuna omakadebona baseVietnam abangakwazi ukugcwalisa amafomu okuhlomula. Kanjalo nokwesatshiswa ngokwezinhlanga. Lezo zikhathi zamasiko kanye nomnotho wasemakhaya onamathuba alinganiselwe kushiye abantu abaningi bebala bequkethwe, beqaphile futhi beqaphile abantu bangaphandle. Abantu abaningi bebala bahlala emzileni wabo bathula.
“Kufana nokuthi uma usukhonjwe ukuthi wenze okuthile lapha, ikakhulukazi uma umlungu ekunika ithuba, unamathela kulo,” kusho uJohnson. “Nokubambelela kukho kusho ukuthi uhlala endaweni yakho ungazibandakanyi nezinto ezizobeka engcupheni iholo lakho ngoba kunzima ukuthola imisebenzi.”
UJohnson uphume kulesi sikhunta. Izimpande zakhe, imfundo ephakeme, isevisi yenhlangano kanye nemizamo yokuthuthukisa kabusha isikhungo sezentengiselwano sangaphambili sase-Hawkinsville akuzange kugxekwe obala esifundeni esincane esingamakhilomitha angu-25 ukusuka kuthelawayeka ophakathi kwezifunda. Wazitshela ukuthi akanabo abangane abaningi abaseduze bendawo. Ingxoxo yaqhubeka ehhovisi lakhe ebhilidini lezitini lokuqala lase-Hawkinsville elinezitezi ezimbili, lapho kwake kwasebenza khona abameli abamhlophe, abadayisi bezindlu kanye nosomabhizinisi. Yena nabanye abathengisi beCommerce Street bebebhala phansi umkhankaso wokuvota futhi bememe abantu. Wayengalindele ukuthi baningi abazovela. Kodwa izwi lalizwakala.
“Abantu abaningi banezinto okumele bazenze ngoMgqibelo,” kusho uJohnson. “Ukubacela ukuthi beze edolobheni bezokwenza into efana nalena akujwayelekile. Sifinyelele abantu abahlukene futhi sizobona ukuthi ubani ozofika. Kunesisho lapha phansi esithi, ‘Wonke amehlo avaliwe awalali.’ Ngakho, nakuba ungaziboni izinombolo, [lokho] akusho ukuthi izinombolo azikuboni.”
Ukuvuleleka kukaJohnson nokuqonda kwakhe kwakumangaza. Wachaza lokho okwakuqondwa kabanzi kodwa okwakungakhulunywa kakhulu eGeorgia emaphakathi—futhi ikakhulukazi okwakungakhulunywa ngakho ezintathelini ezingaphandle kwedolobha. Ukwehlukanisa kwakhe isiko kwaba nomthelela oqondile ekutheni abavoti bemibala yasemaphandleni bangafinyelelwa kanjani-noma akufanele-bafinyelelwe ekuqhutshweni kweSenate. Okucacile kwakhe ukuthi amaqembu nabantu abaziwayo kuphela, abathembele kumavolontiya endawo noma ukukhokhela abantu bendawo iholo elincane, kungenzeka babe izithunywa ezisebenzayo zokugqugquzela abantu abangahlenga ukuvota.
Njengoba uJohnson ebonisa izivakashi zakhe sonke isakhiwo sakhe ayethemba ukuthi sizoba isikhungo sentando yeningi—isikhungo esesilungele abahleli—insizwa ethile yagijima yakhuphuka izitebhisi yathi, “Mnu. U-Way ungaphandle futhi ufuna ukukubona." UJohnson wamamatheka futhi ngokushesha wehlela kuCommerce Street.
Indlela Phambili
U-Sam Way, oneminyaka engu-95 ubudala, wayegqoke ihembe leflaneli, i-jean ecindezelwe, nemaski yokuhlinzwa futhi ehamba nenduku. Izimpande zakhe zase-Hawkinsville zabuyela ezinsukwini zangaphambi kweMpi Yombango. Umndeni wakhe wasungula amabhange aseduze ayesavuliwe futhi enamapulazi amakhulu namahlathi. UMnu. Way, omhlophe, wayazi osopolitiki abaningi baseGeorgia abahamba phambili ngesikhathi iSouthern Democrats ilawula umbuso, njengoJimmy Carter ngesikhathi engumbusi nomongameli. Futhi osopolitiki baseGeorgia babemazi.
Idlanzana labantu abaNsundu ababehlezi ezihlalweni eceleni komgwaqo bema ukuze babingelele u-Way: UMary Colson, okuwukuphela kwelungu leBhodi Elimnyama Lokhetho; Bernice Banks, owabuyela edolobheni eminyakeni emihlanu edlule futhi lokhu kuwa waba yiphini likasihlalo wesifunda esisanda kuvuselelwa seDemocratic Party; kanye neBlack Voters Matter’s Miller nethimba lakhe.
UJohnson ubingelele u-Way, obehlola iveni yeBlack Voters Matter netafula lokubhalisa kanye neVote Equality's RV kanye netafula layo. "Singasebenzisa okuningi kwalokhu," kusho u-Way, ecindezela isikweletu esigoqiwe se-$ 100 esandleni sikaJohnson.
UJohnson wethule i-Way to the Vote Equality crew “njengomunye wabasunguli baleli dolobha.” Abesifazane abasetafuleni leVote Equality bathi bavela eVirginia ukuzosiza abavoti. UMiller wahlela ngokushesha isithombe seqembu. Ngemuva kwalokho, u-Way wabuzwa ukuthi yini abantu abangayenza ukuze basize imizamo efana nalokhu mkhankaso wokuvota.
“Into enkulu ongayenza wukuhlonza abantu abahlala kuleli dolobha abangabhalisiwe. Bese beyilandela bese beqinisekisa ukuthi bayafika okhethweni ngoSuku Lokhetho,” usho kanje. "Kulula lokho."
"Ingabe kwakunzima ukwenza lapha?" wabuzwa.
"Akunzima, uma umuntu ezinikezele ukuphuma lapho futhi asebenze nayo," ephendula. “Njengoba uStacey [Abrams] enzile. Usanda kuthola wonke umuntu ukuthi ahlele e-Atlanta. Ngoba amaphesenti angama-70 amavoti ngoNovemba 3 abemhlophe kulesi sifunda. Amaphesenti angama-30 kuphela [amavoti] abeNsundu. Futhi nokho inani labantu lilinganiselwa ku-50-50. Ngakho-ke lokho kuyinselelo."
Ngemva kokuthi u-Way ehambile, idrayivu yokubhalisa iqhubekile. UMiller waba nomuzwa wokuthi iqhinga labantu ababema ngokushintshela ekukhankaseni imigwaqo eseduze. Kepha ukuhlolwa kukaJohnson bekukhona. Akekho noyedwa kwabayishumi nambili abaphumele obala ukuze babhalisele ukuvota owaba igama labo eliphelele noma abasho okungaphezu kokuvota "yinto enhle."
Ngaphesheya komgwaqo ngaphakathi kwe-Barber Shop kaBryant, abantu bazizwa bekhululekile ukukhuluma. Bekuyindawo ephephile, ikakhulukazi ngemuva kokwethulwa kukaJohnson. Uncome u-Elgin Bryant “njengomfana othule othinta ikhanda lawo wonke umuntu kuleli dolobha.” Okhokho bakaBryant nabo babeyizigqila eHawkinsville. Uthathe umhlalaphansi emsebenzini esikhungweni sezempi esiseduze futhi wagunda izinwele endaweni yokugunda izinwele endala kayise ngezimpelasonto.
UBryant uthe kumjabulisile ukuthi uJoe Biden ukhethe uKamala Harris njengomlingani wakhe. Ujabulile ukuthi abavoti baseGeorgia bakhethe iBiden. Abantu bebenakile, uthe ikakhulukazi abantu abasha.
“Kuyinto enkulu. Ngicabanga ukuthi kuzokwenza abantu babone ukuthi sidinga ukuphuma siyovota,” kusho yena, enethemba elikhulu. “Ngicabanga ukuthi isizukulwane esisha siyakuthola ngempela. Isizukulwane esidala, sacabanga ukuthi akunandaba… Ngokuhamba kweminyaka, niyazi, abantu abaningi abaNsundu bathole okuncane [kunabamhlophe]. Isikhathi manje. Lokhu kumele kuguqulwe.”
UShawn Nelson, insizwa nomshayeli weloli esihlalweni sikaBryant, wayemagange ukukhuluma. Ubebonakala ejabule ngokweqiniso mayelana nokugijima.
"Umphumela wokhetho lwangoJanuwari 5 uzoba nomthelela e-United States iminyaka," esho. "Sidinga ukufaka lawo maDemocrat amabili bese siqala ukwenza ushintsho. Kwezempilo, imfundo…”
UNelson, naye, wayefuna ukukholelwa ukuthi ukunqoba kukaBiden kusho ukuthi ushintsho lungenzeka.
"Leyo yintuthuko enkulu eGeorgia," esho. “Ngineminyaka engu-40 ubudala futhi ngokukhumbula kwami, iGeorgia yaziwa njengezwe elinobandlululo. Noma kungenzeka ukuthi kusenjalo, ngicabanga ukuthi ngalawa maDemocrat angena ezikhundleni, ngicabanga ukuthi singalangazelela ukubona ushintsho oluthile. ”
Kodwa emuva ngaphandle, ukuhamba kwezinyawo kwase kwehlile njengoba kusondela ntambama. U-Elizabeth Small, obehlezi esihlalweni eduze kwetafula leBlack Voters Matter futhi elungele ukusiza noma ngubani ukuthi abhalise, ubonakale ekhungathekile. Wayeneminyaka engu-79, futhi usengumsebenzi wokuvota. Akazange ajabule ngokuvota kwabamnyama ngoNovemba 3 futhi wayefuna ukubona abantu abaningi bezongenela umkhankaso wokubhalisa.
“Njengoba ubona, abeNsundu abenele lapha ngomcimbi ozayo obaluleke kangaka,” kusho yena. “Abamnyama kumele babambe iqhaza kakhulu. Abekho lapha. Angazi ukuthi bakuphi. Ngoba kufanele babambe iqhaza… Kepha akuvamile ukuthi sicelwe ukuthi sibambe iqhaza.”
USmall wavuma ukuthi ukhungathekile. “Yonke into ofuna ukuba yenzeke ithatha isikhathi eside kakhulu,” kusho yena. “Futhi laba enibabona namuhla yibo [abahlale bekhona, kunoma yini, ikakhulukazi lapho kubhaliswa abavoti. Kuhlala kungabantu abambalwa abafanayo. Kulungile? Bambalwa abanjalo.”
Ngo-3 ntambama. idrayivu yokubhalisa isiphelile. Iphephandaba lendawo alizange lifike. Ithimba le-Black Voters Matter libuyele e-Warner Robins, idolobha elincane eliseduze. Iqembu leVote Equality lilandele uJohnson endlini yakhe. Umdlalo wangoJanuwari 5 wawusele isikhathi esingaphezu kwenyanga. Ukubhalisela ukuvota kuzovalwa ngoDisemba 7. Ukuvota kusenesikhathi kuzoqala ngoDisemba 14.
Ngenkathi abezindaba kazwelonke begxile kubavoti baseBiden base-Atlanta "wabhidliza uthango lwezombangazwe,” kunezinkulungwane nezinkulungwane zabavoti bemibala emaphandleni aseGeorgia abangadlala indima enkulu—uma bevota. Uma uthi nhlá, i-Hawkinsville ibukeka sengathi ayikashintshile emashumini eminyaka. Kodwa isikhungo sayo samabhizinisi esake saba ngabamhlophe manje sesigcwele amabhizinisi aphethwe ngabaNsundu. Uma sibheka ngoJanuwari 5, kunokhetho lapho amazwi alo osekunesikhathi eside ecindezelwe—njengabanye kulo lonke elaseGeorgia—engazwakala esuka ogwini aye ogwini.
Lesi sihloko sakhiwe ngu Indawo yokuvota, a project we-Independent Media Institute.
USteven Rosenfeld ungumhleli kanye nomlobi omkhulu we Indawo yokuvota, a project we-Independent Media Institute. Ubike kwiNational Public Radio, Marketplace, kanye neChristian Science Monitor Radio, kanye nenqwaba yezincwadi ezithuthukayo ezihlanganisa iSalon, AlterNet, American Prospect, nezinye eziningi.
I-ZNetwork ixhaswa kuphela ngokuphana kwabafundi bayo.
Nikela