The black vote

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Jan 20, 2003 7:29 pm

From an AP story on Democrats courting black voters on MLK Day ....The black vote could be a critical factor in determining who wins the Democratic presidential nomination, especially in early primary states like South Carolina and Michigan that have a high percentage of blacks among Democratic voters.*** We've been having quite a discussion in our newsroom on the use of the term "the black vote." One side holds that it's anachronistic, loaded, simplistic and at least benignly prejudicial -- that it assumes that blacks vote as a bloc, and that that all conform to one overriding ideology. Another side holds that it's a valid term in political science -- and that it's demonstrably true that a black majority does tend to vote for candidates and issues which support an old-style liberal ideology. One side says throw the term out of print -- the other says it's fine.Any thoughts?

dasher · **Joined:** Tue Jan 14, 2003 1:01 am **Posts:** 26

Seems that ''black vote'' is acceptable. I can't think of an alternative. It's the nature of politics. Candidates always target blocs of voters, and stories need to address those trends, whether we're talking about blacks, hispanics, females, males, seniors etc. Your view?

dmfugitive · **Posted:** Mon Jan 20, 2003 10:28 pm

Seems to me it would make more sense just to say "Black voters could ... " While we're at it, "could be a critical factor in determining" is just a flabby way of saying "could determine."

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Tue Jan 21, 2003 4:33 am

I made political science my second major when I realized what nonsense it was, and that anyone working for a newsroom was going to spend a lot of time dealing with the ideas and ambitions of many second-rate pre-law and eager-bureaucrat students who majored in it. That the "black vote" is considered a valid term among political scientists means worse than nothing to me. It's almost as bad as referring to the "black community."If black voters in a state tend to vote for Democrats, say so, and back it up with statistics. It's not our job to assume and label.Yes, "Black voters could ... ." Then back it up.[ January 21, 2003: Message edited by: Wayne Countryman ]

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