AFS Cinema
Are Gay Politicians Targeting African-Americans?
RECEIVED Thu., Jan. 24, 2008
Dear Editor,
Just because a nation adheres to democratic principles does not necessarily mean an equitable distribution of political power. White voters determine who wins political offices in Texas, Travis County, and Austin. Sometimes a democracy is not fair even when it plays by the rules. The state of Texas, Travis County, and Austin realized the political process had evolved into a pseudo-democracy that disallowed political accessibility to African-Americans and Hispanics.
As a result, Austin’s racially diverse leadership and white voters during the Seventies allowed Hispanics and African-Americans to run for political office and win. That agreement was unofficially called the gentlemen’s agreement. These inclusions of African-Americans, as well as others, to political offices have been a necessary component for the betterment of Austin, Travis County, and Texas.
Lee Nichols wrote an excellent article, “Tax Assessor-Collector Race Gets Dirty” [News, Dec. 15, 2007], highlighting incumbent Nelda Wells Spears and Glen Maxey, who are running for Travis County tax assessor-collector. Glen Maxey, who is white and openly gay, is trying to eliminate another minority from political office. Obviously, gay politicians perceive African-American officeholders as vulnerable.
Is it a coincidence that three openly gay politicians have tried or are trying to unseat African-American officeholders? Celia Israel is an openly gay politician who teamed up with Glen Maxey to remove one of Travis County's most productive commissioners, Ron Davis, from office in 2004. Brian Thompson is challenging incumbent state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, who is doing an excellent job in a Republican-controlled House. Moreover, Glen Maxey has his sights set on removing Tax Assessor-Collector Nelda Wells Spears, from office. Nelda’s performance during her long tenure as Travis County tax assessor-collector is outstanding. The African-Americans have a problem.
Just because a nation adheres to democratic principles does not necessarily mean an equitable distribution of political power. White voters determine who wins political offices in Texas, Travis County, and Austin. Sometimes a democracy is not fair even when it plays by the rules. The state of Texas, Travis County, and Austin realized the political process had evolved into a pseudo-democracy that disallowed political accessibility to African-Americans and Hispanics.
As a result, Austin’s racially diverse leadership and white voters during the Seventies allowed Hispanics and African-Americans to run for political office and win. That agreement was unofficially called the gentlemen’s agreement. These inclusions of African-Americans, as well as others, to political offices have been a necessary component for the betterment of Austin, Travis County, and Texas.
Lee Nichols wrote an excellent article, “Tax Assessor-Collector Race Gets Dirty” [News, Dec. 15, 2007], highlighting incumbent Nelda Wells Spears and Glen Maxey, who are running for Travis County tax assessor-collector. Glen Maxey, who is white and openly gay, is trying to eliminate another minority from political office. Obviously, gay politicians perceive African-American officeholders as vulnerable.
Is it a coincidence that three openly gay politicians have tried or are trying to unseat African-American officeholders? Celia Israel is an openly gay politician who teamed up with Glen Maxey to remove one of Travis County's most productive commissioners, Ron Davis, from office in 2004. Brian Thompson is challenging incumbent state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, who is doing an excellent job in a Republican-controlled House. Moreover, Glen Maxey has his sights set on removing Tax Assessor-Collector Nelda Wells Spears, from office. Nelda’s performance during her long tenure as Travis County tax assessor-collector is outstanding. The African-Americans have a problem.
Louis Simms