Kimberly Clark, a former state government social worker who is now unemployed, started canvassing for the Russ and Robin Carnahan campaigns in March, she said.
Clark has a scar on her leg. When she was 14, she was at an activist rally riding a motorcycle and the pipe burned her. Her grandmother told her that every time she looks at that scar, she should remember the countless people who were beaten and attacked by dogs just to give her the right to vote.
African-American Democratic voters in the St. Louis area proved their power in several races on Nov. 2, including those of St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley and U.S. Reps. Wm. Lacy Clay and Russ Carnahan.
Clark was one of many people who hit the streets to get Democratic voters energized in the black base. From union workers to religious and nonprofit leaders, hundreds were on the ground election day and the weeks before.
Overall voter turnout was 55 percent in St. Louis County and 49 percent in St. Louis city.
In North St. Louis city, more than 70 volunteers targeted the wards with the lowest voter turnouts through A Call to Oneness, a nonviolent community organizing effort for uplifting African-American males. It’s the same group that in June 2008 brought 50,000 people together to march through North St. Louis as a symbol of reclaiming their communities.
The Rev. Dr. Freddy James Clark, pastor of the Shalom Church, and entertainment executive Eric Rhone founded the group.
“Voting is a key component in solving the challenges we face in our community,” said Rhone.
“If we vote, we will get respect. If we get respect, we will get our share of opportunity for our community. That’s what we would like: our portion of tax dollars.”
Jacque Land helped to coordinate A Call to Oneness’ “Did You Know?” campaign. Land and other volunteers distributed e-newsletters, participated in a panel discussion at Harris-Stowe State University, sent public service announcements via media outlets and social media encouraging voter registration and participation, and handed out voter education materials reminding citizens to vote on election day.
“It is important to educate our community and create awareness on the issues at a grass-roots level, so they are prepared to make informed decisions at the polls and get excited to cast their vote,” Land said.
“Spending millions of dollars in TV ads is not the most effective way to get it done. The solution is taking it directly to the people.”
This election is by no means the end of the story, said Cedric Clarkson, president-elect of A Call to Oneness. Clarkson said the group plans to continue organizing town hall meetings and public forums.
Opposing forces are relying on the African-American community going back to sleep,” Clarkson said. “Our attempts in the next 26 months will be to change that.”
North County for Dooley
On Oct. 25, the North County Citizens Group brought 200 community leaders – including mayors, state senators, pastors and residents – together for a “Get Out the Vote” rally at St. Mark Family Church.
Shonte Young, president of the Moline Acres Board of Aldermen, said that North County leaders worked together to bring their people to the polls.
“If you galvanize those people, they have a better way to galvanize their people,” Young said. “I believe that’s what happened.”
That’s what happened in Moline Acres. Young said the mayor and aldermen of Moline Acres hand-delivered a letter to residents, endorsing County Executive Charlie A. Dooley and U.S. senatorial candidate Robin Carnahan. Young printed the letters at home.
“We feel that if you are not excited about what you are doing, no one is going to get excited,” Young said.
She saw many residents with the letter in hand at the polls, she said. Many elected officials, including Young, picked up residents to take them to the polls, she said.
On Nov. 1, state Rep.-elect Clem Smith got off work as a Boeing journeyman at 11:30 p.m. and by midnight he was putting up signs at the 18 polling locations in the 71st District he will soon represent.
The district, which neighbors Dooley’s home district, was essential in giving the incumbent the victory.
“I got a quick nap in, and then I was right up when the polls opened,” Smith said.
At the polls, he answered questions about the candidates and the propositions on the ballot.
“Charlie helped a lot with my campaign,” Smith said. “I learned a lot from talking with him, and I was proud to return the favor. I was trying to get all the people who voted for me to vote for Charlie Dooley.”
Lew Moye, president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, was also at the polls all day. He said the lines were heavier than he’d seen in a long time, especially among young African Americans.
Clark said she went knocking on doors because she wanted to change the perception that African Americans only come out to vote in presidential elections.
“Power is organized money and organized people,” Clark said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of money, but we do have a lot of people.”
