Fragment Concerning the Interests of Black Politicians in the 1972 Election, [Aug] 1972

JULIAN BOND — 1972

THE movement called the "civil rights" movement of the early 1960s has developed in the late '60s and early '70s into a political movement. Its practitioners are the new breed of Black politicians and political activists, most basing their '70s activity on lesson learned in the Southern struggle of the '60s.

They include the 'new' Black mayors like Hatcher in Gary

and Gibson in Newark; the 'new' Black Congressmen like Dellums of California, Clay of Missouri, and Conyers of Michigan and Fauntroy of the District of Columbia; the Southern political activists like Charles Evers, Mayor of Fayette, Mississippi and Dr. John Cashin, head of the National Democratic Party of Alabama; and they all adhere to Congressman Clay's maxim that "We have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only permanent interests."

In this presidential election year, these activists found themselves caught between the horns of a dilemma; on the one hand, each desires President Nixon's defeat. On the other, none wants to continually be taken for granted by the Democratic party.

In the past, the slavish allegiance Blacks have had for the Democratic party has been a chief hindrance to any bargaining Blacks could engage in between the two major parties. It's foolish to threaten the Democrats with defections to the Republicans when everyone from Nixon on down knows that Blacks vote 85 to 90% Democratic in Presidential elections.

The Black Republican line in 1972 will be to attack this loyalty, not to suggest that Nixon is "better" than McGovern for Blacks, but that in order to demonstrate independence, Blacks should either not vote at all — a foolish suggestion — or should vote for Nixon to prove we won't be taken for granted.

A proper answer should be: If not being taken for granted means four more years of Richard Nixon, I'd rather be taken for granted than simply taken.