Disenfranchisement In American Blackout

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A country without a government is like a seed without water, the seed or the country does not grow to show its full potential. A government protects citizens from enemies that deprive them of their rights. Thomas Jefferson said, “among there are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, government are instituted among men.” There comes a time where the government makes decisions that have a negative outcome on citizens. For example the start of claiming humans as property, a time in history known as slavery. In times like these, people started to question the government and even hold it accountable when mistakes are made. Till this day, people still question the government and the film American Blackout shows an example how a group of minorities question the government on the right to vote. The film, American Blackout it discuss the issue of disenfranchisement African Americans faced in Florida, 2001. Disenfranchisement is denying someone the right to vote. In the film …show more content…

In the film, Attorney, Cliff Arnebeck, mentions that, voting lines were longer than in the suburbs. He believes someone intended this to happen because African Americans are more likely to vote for democrats rather than for Republicans. If the residence of Ohio are handling their citizen responsibilities and their “laborious task” (American Blackout), then they deserve something in return. This is Ohio’s way of questioning their government and holding them accountable. In January 2005, The House of Representatives, “object to the electoral votes, of the state of Ohio” (American Blackout). US Senator Barbara Boxer, stood up and held the government accountable for what happened in Ohio. She mentions, “Under our great constitution of the United States of America… that guarantees our right to vote, that we must ask certain questions” (American

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