When the framers of the Constitution designed our system of government, they specifically intended the House of Representatives to be the “people’s house” to reflect the broadest spectrum of Americans.
Unlike the Senate, the House was designed to be the lower congressional chamber of government where the electorate was represented in a more contemporary way by having the minimum age of 25 for a member of the House (versus 30 for a Senator) and by having a Member of House stand for re-election every two years.
The framers also envisioned a more intimate relationship between House members and their constituents by having members represent smaller congressional districts instead of the comparable statewide offices held by senators in the upper chamber. The framers also wrote into the constitution that a census would be completed every 10 years to ensure congressional districts were reflective of demographic changes across the states, and based upon the census data congressional districts would be redrawn based upon the migration trends of Americans.
WATCH MSNBC COVERAGE OF THE BLACK CAUCUS JOBS TOUR:
[MSNBCMSN video=”http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640″ w=”592″ h=”346″ launch_id=”44175058^1000^353600″ id=”msnbc27dc74″]
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Up until the early 1970s, the overwhelming majority of members of the House of Representatives were white. For years, millions of African-Americans were not adequately represented in Congress due to very few number of members of Congress who were also African-Americans.
Now, I do not believe in quotas. I’ve always believed that in order to bring someone into an organization or to hire them in a particular workplace because they are white, black, Hispanic, or from any other racial group, is flat out wrong. Minorities of all stripes and backgrounds should be selected or hired because they are the most qualified individual for a particular job opening or position.
I recognize my thinking to be idealistic, and that human nature and, sadly, our country’s history, all give us all reason for pause on this topic. The unfortunate truth is that we know this is not always the case. This is why the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was needed which mandates the creation of “minority majority districts where racial minorities constitute a majority of constituents within a particular district.
Proponents make the rightful argument that minority majority districts are needed to ensure that voices in Washington are there to represent the unique concerns of African-Americans and for the communities within which they live and work. I agree. Without minority majority districts we would never have seen the establishment of the Congressional Black Caucus, or the passage of so much legislation that directly affects in a positive way the African-American experience
We know that lawmakers who look like the people they represent are more likely to influence policy, to make decisions with the concerns of their communities in mind and to offer a fresh perspective.
Take, for example, the recent debate on raising the debt ceiling. Many black lawmakers made the unique argument that to not raise the debt limit would wreak havoc on urban communities that often have significant African-Americans and lower income populations and are already experiencing an unemployment rate as high as 25 percent. They argued that a sudden spike in interest rates would affect the credit cards used by many to purchase basic household necessities.
Sadly, minority majority districts have always been controversial (critics argue that these districts are outdated or unnecessary), and this time around will be no different.
An example of this is the Michigan district that is currently held by Representative John Conyers. Conyers, a Democrat, may see his district redrawn by partisans who may force him into retirement. It’s one thing to redraw his district based on constituents moving out.
However, it’s quite another to see this happening because one political party thinks this is a way to score political points. The losers, unfortunately, are always those who need help and representation the most.
To be clear, I believe minority majority districts should be looked at and examined to determine whether or not they are still doing what they are intended to do: to represent the people in the best possible way that encompasses the political, social, and economic interests of minorities.
If they’re not, then they should be redrawn and then the people in that district should decide who would best represent them in the next Congress. I believe minority majority districts are needed and should be protected. Shame on those who want to achieve political gain by having these districts redrawn just to eliminate minority incumbents.