When people use the phrase "The black vote"

"The black vote" is a term used to describe how some people think black people will vote. Is it fair to group people like this? They might be pressured to vote one way. Is the power exactly equal? Or have they have lost power to white people for just being black. Either way I don't think that this is totally fair. What do you think?
Comments (22)
25 Sep 2020
This is a very important issue to think about, clever_nectarine. I have edited your first sentence slightly so everyone can be clear on the meaning of this term. There was a BBC video made about this that I think anyone reading this post should watch: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-51662971
The point you make about grouping, and being pressured, is also very important. Joe Biden was recently criticised for saying "If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black" - which some found offensive.
25 Sep 2020
Good point clever_nectarine, I don't believe this is fair at all, like you said it will pressure people who are black a lot. It will most likely won't feel welcomed to vote in the election in November which will probably make both candidates lose out on lots of possible chances.
27 Sep 2020
I agree. Everyone should be treated fairly, And if everyone did do that then some people wouldn't feel pressured on who they vote for.
thank you
27 Sep 2020
I don't think it's fair because you're making assumptions about people without any evidence or proof that they will vote this also you're just making them succumb to peer pressure.
This is a very good point, willing_cymbals. The challenge campaigners have is to appeal to as many people as possible and a shortcut for doing that is to stereotype according to ethnicity, gender, age etc. Do you think people do succumb to peer pressure given that voting ballots are confidential?
29 Sep 2020
Black people should not be picked on how there skin colour is and they should be able to vote to.
Yes people shouldn’t pick on others whether they are black or white it doesn’t matter
29 Sep 2020
Black people should be able to vote if they are black or not it doesn't matter it's not nice to be racist about someone's skin colour whether they are black or white
i agree will you fair_library's you should not pick on people with black skin and ya it does not mater
30 Sep 2020
I think the black vote is very mean they shouldn’t be voting differently just because of their skin colour, if I was them I would be upset that they have to vote not with others.
Hi inspired_dove, this is not what the Black vote means. Watch the video that Tom posted at the top of this thread to learn more.
02 Oct 2020
I think the black vote is criticising towards black people they should be able to vote as freely as anybody else.
Do bear in mind, memorable_dove, that using the phrase the "black vote" isn't necessarily trying to stop them voting, but it's a phrase some people use in predicting how black people will vote, and its use is criticised for sounding like a lot of black people will vote the same way.
02 Oct 2020
It isn't that they can't vote it is that they can't vote without being pressured to vote one way
02 Oct 2020
Thank you for editing it!
02 Oct 2020
I love this post. It has drawn my attention because it is a very fascinating topic and I think it is not fair that they have to vote one way because all people are people at the end of the day and all people have votes even if they do have black skin or white skin. And it is (I hope you don't mind me saying) a bit biased. So that is what I think. So if you disagree with that it is fine because that is what I think and what ever you think is what you think.
Remember, this is not suggesting that certain groups of people "have" to vote one way, but the phrase the "black vote" suggests that black people will vote the same way, which is obviously not true as everyone has individual thoughts and decisions.
02 Oct 2020
True Tom and I'll keep that in mind
15 Oct 2020
Hello clever_nectarine, what an interesting post you have done. Here is what I think.
I don’t think it’s fair how they use the term ‘the black vote’. By using this term they think that black people should all vote for the same party and the same party all the time. Black people might feel quite pressurised by this because the might feel pressured to vote how people think they should and are not allowed to make up their own mind. If that was me I would feel quite singled out because it’s that the inequality between black and white people is still there even though it was abolished many years ago. Also they would feel like they’re not allowed to make your own mind up and have to vote how they think they think and all black people should act the same and be the same and aren’t allowed to be different.
Thank you once again for doing this post.
loyal _cymbals
A very mature answer, loyal_cymbals which shows you've listened to other perspectives and considered how other people will feel.
Good comment I agree
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