The Promise of Democracy

By Jennifer Jacquot-DeVries April 8, 2015
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Photo: Kate Bass/Project Vote

Every now and again, we find hard evidence that voter turnout really, truly matters, that a community in turmoil can find a collective voice and make change.

In an April 7, 2015 city council election, voters in Ferguson, Missouri—a community shaken and thrust into the national spotlight last August when 18 year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer—came out in record-breaking numbers to add two more African-Americans to the six member city council. Now, in this majority Black community, the voters have elected a city council that is beginning to better reflect their community.

We do not yet know whether these new city council members can lead the Ferguson community through the changes that will truly help them heal and address the institutional racism that seemingly led to the death of Michael Brown. That is surely a tremendous challenge for any elected official to tackle. But engaged and active voters who stand up, and make their voices heard, can elect leaders who are willing to work hard for a community that is truly safe for all. That, at very least, is the promise of democracy.

And while this promise of democracy might seem too small given the news out of South Carolina—that another seemingly unarmed Black man was shot dead by a White police officer—it might just be the greatest power we have: to vote and elect leaders who care enough to strive for institutional changes that can finally make these shootings stop, and help us build a police force that is capable of keeping us safe, in our homes and on our streets.