Thread by @JHMarble

Every cycle, I see well-intentioned white people decry the Democratic delegate selection process as unfair to their candidate. What they don’t realize is that it is a civil rights vehicle built out of the work of #FannieLouHamer and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.

Prior to 1964, party bosses picked the nominee. White delegates were often selected by party leaders despite black voters being a majority in various Democratic contests. Hamer and other black party members showed up in Atlantic City and insisted on being seated.

Their activism threatened the status quo to the point that President Johnson staged an impromptu press conference in the middle of Hamer’s testimony. When his stunt was made known, it backfired, and news outlets ran her testimony again and again.

Thanks to the work of Hamer & the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, our modern delegate selection process was established. It removed selection by party bosses & pegged delegates to votes of primary voters. Our current Democratic delegate selection process is built on that.

On its surface, it seems complex. This often leads to accusations of the process being “rigged” by some supporters of candidates. In actuality, its complexity (and equal transparency) ensures fairness and that the votes of marginalized groups are not falsely railroaded by others.

It’s a process which requires candidates to spend time with constituent communities - campaigning among them, organizing among them. It weds them to deeper work than simply showing up to a black church the Sunday before the primary (long a complaint of politicians).

It’s a complex system which ensures the votes of primary voters are honored, and which makes candidates organize among various constituencies of them Democratic Party. If they fail to do that, they suffer. To win a majority of voters, of delegates, your work must be deep.

I spent much of my career honoring the work of Hamer & the Mississippi Freedom Democrats by working to make the delegate selection process even more equitable - specifically shaping the rules in 2004 and 2008. It is a transparent process open to everyone. Take advantage of it.

Support your candidate. Vote for your candidate. Campaign for your candidate. Work your rear off for your candidate. Run for delegate. Shake some sh*t up. That’s what the process is there for. That’s what Hamer and others fought for.

I look back on the delegate campaign trainings I did for local advocates starting in 2003. Many were empassioned, but timid, local advocates. Their run for delegate was their first foray into politics. Now, some are state legislators, Members of Congress, and progressive leaders.

I don’t dissuade those working for candidates whom I may not support or favor. I encourage them. Democracy isn’t a passive sport. It is an active engagement.

It’s 2020. Honor Fannie Lou Hamer, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, and all those before you, and get involved.