Running While Black

During the final moments of his presidency, President Barack Obama reinforced the importance of civic participation. His words encouraged all Americans to be active citizens. The first Black president said, "If you're disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself." The crowd cheered; I was unmoved. While the sentiment speaks to the nation's democratic ideals, running for office requires far more than signatures. Most notably, it requires money. For several reasons, financial backing plays a major role in candidate viability, allowing racial disparities to extend from economic power to political power. This difficulty is rooted in the racist history of local, state, and federal governments across the nation, but there are, however, opportunities to reduce its impact. One policy recommendation is a robust scheme for public financing of campaigns, a system in which candidates can receive monetary assistance in exchange for following specific rules. Implementing public finance schemes can help Black candidates overcome the financial obstacles to elected office.

Expensive elections advantage white candidates over Black candidates. American politics lacks diversity and has significant economic hurdles to inclusion. Decisions from the Supreme Court of the United States and the realities of economic inequality contribute greatly to the status quo. This trend is detrimental to an inclusive, representative, and responsive democracy. In short, "Our politics are a disgrace, and money is the root of the problem."

While the country is a multiracial melting pot, the government is like a slice of bread, mostly white with brown at the margins. White people represent 63 percent of the population and hold 90 percent of elected offices. This inconsistency is unlikely to change in light of the price tag on campaigns. The average amount raised by House of Representative candidates who won in 2012 was $1,689,580. Funds are used for radio and television ads, campaign literature, and other essentials. Expensive elections link potential for success with access to money, which disproportionately favors white people.

The problem's source is...