Black Voters and the Democratic Party: One Family’s Story

In her personal journey, Irma Willburn shares her experiences of segregation and the perilous fight for voting rights during the civil rights era.

Irma Willburn's personal experience with segregation and the fight for voting rights as a young activist

Harsh Realities of Segregation and Jim Crow

Irma Willburn, born in 1948, grew up in Fitzgerald, Georgia, a landscape of harsh segregation under Jim Crow laws. Irma's family toiled for low wages in the fields, harvesting tobacco, collecting resin for turpentine, and picking cotton. In those days, Irma's family, like many Black families, found themselves piled into the back of a white man's pickup truck to begin their grueling work in the fields, a stark reminder of their marginalized socio-economic status.

Irma's early life was imprinted with the realities of racial segregation, an era when Black people were frequently denied the right to vote. Within her family, discussions about racism or their relationships with white people were avoided, presumably out of fear or resignation to the status quo.

The Fight for Voting Rights and Facing Danger

Irma recounts her grim encounters with extreme racism and the imminent threats of violence that loomed over the already daunting task of registering Black voters. On one occasion, she faced off with a white man who, brandishing a shotgun, claimed proprietorial rights over the Black individuals they sought to register. His intimidation was so severe that those potential voters couldn't even muster the courage to look Irma in the eyes as they were too frightened to acknowledge her efforts.

Irma's activism in the civil rights movement ignited as a teenager in the summer of 1964, spurred on by her Aunt Mary, who, after returning from college, inspired Irma and others to demand their rights. Alongside her aunt and fellow activists, Irma ...

In Albany, the Democratic Party has played a crucial role in fostering the rise of Black political power, with Irma's family becoming emblematic of this deeply intertwined relationship.

Irma's family becomes deeply involved in the Democratic Party, seeing it as the vehicle for continued progress

Irma's Aunt Mary runs for and wins a seat on the Albany City Commission, the first Black woman to do so

Following the successes of the civil rights movement, Irma and her community in Albany looked to the Democratic Party as a means to continue their quest for change. The party had become synonymous with significant civil rights achievements, such as voting rights and desegregation, and was seen as a champion for their cause, largely due to leaders like President Lyndon B. Johnson and alliances with civil rights figures like Martin Luther King Jr.

Erma Zent Mary, who had become the first Black female attorney in Albany, decided to leverage her expertise and community standing by entering politics. With the strong backing of her family, she campaigned fervently and was elected in 1975 as one of the first Black city commissioners in Albany, making history as the first Black woman to achieve this feat.

Irma's family, including her son Michael, campaigns extensively for Aunt Mary and other Democratic candidates, seeing the party as the champion of their civil rights goals

Irma's family, including her son Michael, dedicated themselves to campaigning for Aunt Mary and other Democratic candidates. Lynsea Garrison notes how the once bustling neighborhood stands as a testament to the hub of Black democratic politics that it represented, with Aunt Mary's law office once being at the heart of it. Aunt Mary’s own law office, a center for community organizing and activism, exemplified this connection between the family and Albany’s political scene.

As Demetrius Young, a city commissioner and Irma’s cousin, indicates, their family’s participation in politics was comprehensive and collaborativ ...

The Black community in Albany has faced numerous socioeconomic trials, reflecting the greater struggles within urban America. These range from the crack cocaine epidemic to the loss of manufacturing jobs, exacerbated by agreements like NAFTA, and the blow of the 2008 financial crisis.

The crack cocaine epidemic and the loss of manufacturing jobs hit Albany's Black community hard

The crack crisis devastated neighborhoods, leading to increased crime and incarceration rates

Demetrius Young recalls bars on windows in the ‘80s, largely attributing this to Albany's crack epidemic. Break-ins had become common, and the fear that gripped neighborhoods was a direct consequence of the crack wave. Irma Willburn’s son echoes this, noting that crack hit rapidly and wreaked havoc, gutting the heart of the community.

The decline of the city's manufacturing base, exacerbated by NAFTA, left many Black residents struggling economically

The grip of the crack cocaine epidemic converged with the decline of manufacturing jobs. A specific example is given of a man who lost his job at a tire factory that closed down just two years before his planned retirement. This plant closure, worsened by NAFTA, saw him cutting hair for less money, uncertain about his retirement future.

The 2008 financial crisis and housing crash further undermined the economic security of Albany's Black families

The turn of the millennium did not fare much better for Albany's Black residents. Michael, as a teenager, witnessed the aftermath of the crack epidemic morph into economic troubles, which peaked with the 2008 housing crash. The subprime mortgage crisis stripped away homeownership, mainly affecting young Black individuals. Michael’s cousin, alon ...

Younger Black voters, like Irma Willburn's son Michael, are beginning to question the Democratic Party's ability to deliver meaningful change, potentially leading to a shift in their political allegiance.

Younger Black voters, including Irma's son Michael, begin to question the Democratic Party's ability to deliver meaningful change

Irma Willburn's son reflects the uncertainty many young Black voters feel towards the Democratic Party. They are looking for change and questioning whether the traditional organizations and parties can deliver it. There's recognition of high stakes in elections, yet even on voting day, Michael felt conflicted. Discussions among family members reveal an openness to considering the Republican Party. The sentiment especially emanates from young Black males who feel alienated and not engaged by the current Democratic Party, sensing a lack of space for them, whereas young Black women seem to be elevated.

One family member, affected by the 1994 crime bill, feels betrayed and finds the Republican Party's emphasis on conservative values and family unity attractive. Conversations in local barber shops in Albany show openness to the Republican Party and to Donald Trump, with the belief that Trump's run for president could change the narrative around people with criminal records.

This shift in political attitudes has created tensions within the Willburn family, as the younger generation seeks a more transformative vision while the older generation remains staunchly loyal to the Democratic Party

The nomination of Kamala Harris as vice president has become a point of contention. Michael's frustration with having to choose between Harris and the alternative feels like being held hostage. His disagreements with Harris's policies contribute to his decision to potentially vote third party. Accusations of misogyny arise when he refuses to support the Harris campaign, highlighting a broader issue of policy over personality.

Disillusionment extends beyond the current election, with Michael feeling let down by Barack Obama's presidency. He saw Obama's policies as an extension of the Bush era and felt a betrayal when Obama’s actions, like intervening in Libya, aligned with conservative perspectives. Michael and others in his generation, like Demetrius Young, see representation not translating to substantive change for their communities ...