Race and politics at center of election.

The great civics lesson of November 7 is not finished

The rest of the nation may have put our most recent presidential election behind them, but not me. Sorry, America.

This is an ongoing saga that cries out for more analysis and commentary.

As an African-American opinion writer who happens to live in South Florida, I can assure you that the great civics lesson of November 7 is far from finished. How do I know this? I have readers.

"Doug," one reader began in what was a typical tone throughout Indecision 2000. "Time to stand up and smell the garbage. Blacks have been duped again to puffing the big 'D' handle. After the paid marchers in the street repeat the phrases they were given (but really don't believe), they will go home. And then what?

"Same ol, Same old."

"In your column of 11/25/00, you state, 'The civil rights organization heard testimony about police intimidating black voters and poll workers who asked black voters for a driver's license and voter registration card before turning away those hapless individuals who failed to produce both sets of identification.' WHOOPEE!

"Is this a big deal? I am a 76-year-old white guy who ALSO had to produce these same two pieces of identification. Does this mean that I have a legal complaint against my government? Does this mean that I have been discriminated against?"

And another:

"Dear Mr. Lyons: Several months ago, I wrote to you and accused you of apathy in helping to get out the black vote. Upon reading your article entitled 'Column on Voting Problems Strikes a Nerve,' I wish to say hooray! I look forward to more fire and brimstone articles.

"Before the next election, I would like to help educate black voters as to our confusing ballots. If you write about that, please let your readers know where they can do this."

Indecision 2000 uncovered a lot of ignorance from blacks and whites about a time-honored right most of us take for granted. (I'm referring to those individuals who even bother. Half of the nation's eligible voters didn't.)

For starters, blacks weren't duped. They didn't think George W. Bush would look out for their interests.

Second, you don't need two pieces of identification to vote in Florida. The law asks only for a photo ID.

And yes, more Americans -- whatever race, creed, or color -- could use help in understanding voting and the electoral process.

I have the privilege of writing editorials and a regular column for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, a newspaper that covers a diverse and vibrant community in Broward and parts of Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Being a paid griot becomes a bit dicey when you delve into the two volatile subjects of race and politics.

Race and politics, however, happened to be the essence of this election story.

Prior to the election, many of the pundits worried about white males, sought out the soccer moms, and anguished over independents. But there was one clear constant in my mind and those of other knowledgeable African Americans: The hands that once picked cotton would pick the 43rd president of the United States.

Big Labor, Black Democrats, the NAACP, and the Tom Joyner Morning Show spent time and a sizeable amount of money on voter registration drives and get-out-the-vote efforts to spur African-American participation in the November 7 elections.

Many black voters in the Sunshine State didn't need much coaxing. They were already angry at Florida governor Jeb Bush for ending the state's affirmative action programs, and they planned to take out their frustrations on the governor's brother, George W., in the presidential election.

So, imagine their frustration on November 8 when the Republican from Texas held a razorthin 1,800-vote lead over the man many blacks had hoped would be the next commander-in-chief.

Bad enough to lose to a guy who pays homage to Clarence Thomas, the death penalty, and a fuzzy concept called affirmative access. What was worse to many black Americans was the way they lost the election, and the numbing realization that their votes may not have counted.

Most of the spoiled "butterfly ballots" in Palm Beach County were cast by black residents of West Palm Beach and the nearby city of Riveria Beach. It was just as bad in the Jacksonville area, where confusing instructions appear to have played a role in the invalidation of 22,000 ballots -- about 9,000 from black voting precincts.

What followed next was a series of allegations of voting intimidation and irregularities from frustrated voters to the NAACP. The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating those allegations, and the NAACP has gone to court to seek legal redress.

Next came the front-page stories from a slew of newspapers' articles that found that presidential ballots cast in black neighborhoods in Florida and in other parts of the country were invalidated at higher rates than those cast in white neighborhoods.

The truth is that many black Americans aren't quite ready to let this election slip quietly into the history books. They voted, and ample evidence shows that their ballots didn't quite count. They, too, hope this debacle doesn't repeat itself.

The media, particularly opinion writers, pay close attention to what happens next regarding the reforms and the lawsuits and comment forcefully.

I will. I owe it to my readers.

NCEW member Doug Lyons is an editorial writer for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. He heads the Diversity Committee.