Black Voters IN DALLAS Demand Safety and Opportunity, Not Lip Service

• 3 in 4 Black voters support school choice and educational freedom.

• 72% of Black voters oppose “defund the police”

• Unfortunately, City Council Members who claim to represent us, block charter schools and public safety funding.

• Why do local politicians refuse to listen to Black voters?

It’s disheartening to see the disconnect between what Black voters want and what our so-called representatives are willing to offer us in Dallas. The numbers don’t lie: 3 in 4 Black voters support school choice and educational freedom, and a resounding 72% actually opposed the “defund the police” movement. Yet, City Council Members, who claim to represent our interests, are doing the exact opposite— whether it is blocking charter schools, promoting a largely negative image of how vouchers can serve our communities or cutting into public safety by not hiring enough officers for adequate law enforcement. The question that looms large is: why do local politicians refuse to listen to Black voters?

While we represent 25% of the population here, whenever if anyone is murdered, it is most likely someone from our community/background. We are sick from being the consistent targets of crime due to the circumstance of adjacency.

Let’s talk about community-driven charter schools. These institutions are not just alternatives to traditional public schools; they are lifelines for communities that have been systematically underserved. Charter schools offer tailored curriculums, smaller class sizes, and more parental involvement, all of which contribute to closing the learning gap in our communities. Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) could further this cause, allowing parents to allocate funds for educational services that best suit their children’s needs, be it tutoring, special courses, or extracurricular activities.

It also opens the market to alternative service providers like tutors as well as microschool environments that address the crucial need of the younger generation, the need for mentorship and connectedness with their educators away from a computer screen. This is where the public school model is falling short, in part due to covid, and also due to the administrative class taking advantage of contracting specialized services where the families have little to no say in how their children are taught and tutored.

When we bring this to their attention, they blame the situation on lack of funding, when in fact between local, State and Federal revenue, there has never been a time in US history when the public school system had access to such large amounts of capital, and for opponents of school choice, this is due to a crisis of protecting a system versus providing optimal outcomes for children whose parents often feel they are trapped within a school system that is not equipped to see their child as an individual with specific needs. Instead the child is more often than not associate with a case file and hurried through an educational circumstance that renders them ill equipped to manage the opportunities that exist after they complete their education.

It’s crucial to acknowledge that many of the best Black educators and community leaders don’t fit within the rigid framework of the Dallas Independent School District. Yet, they offer services that are invaluable in addressing the unique needs of our youth. These educators understand the cultural nuances and challenges that our children face, providing not just academic education but also life lessons that are critical for personal development. If they are providing these services to our communities and helping struggling families, then they should have access to that public tax money that are in the form of ESAs as well. If this public money is

On the issue of public safety, the message from Black voters is clear: we do not support defunding the police. What we demand is responsible policing that ensures our neighborhoods are safe spaces for our families. Cutting public safety funding is not just irresponsible; it’s a direct affront to a community that already feels underserved and unprotected. But let’s be clear: we don’t just want any police; we want police who serve our community rather than impose their will and profile us.

The ideal situation is for new police recruits to come from our own neighborhoods, individuals who understand the community’s unique dynamics and challenges. This is why we advocate for programs that identify young people with aptitude and guide them through internship opportunities. These programs can serve as a pipeline for our youth to enter into dignified roles that not only provide a livelihood but also allow them to serve their community in a meaningful and beneficial way. We need to realize a return to the vantage point of the police serving their community first and foremost, regardless of how we are governed.

The Dallas City Council’s actions—or lack thereof—speak volumes about their disconnect with the Black community. While they are quick to virtue signal, their policy decisions reveal a glaring lack of understanding and respect for what we truly need: educational freedom and safety. It’s high time our local politicians stopped treating the Black community as a monolithic voting bloc to be pandered to during election cycles. We are a diverse, informed, and engaged community, and we demand policies that reflect our actual needs and aspirations.

In conclusion, the Black community in Dallas is not asking for handouts; we are demanding opportunities—opportunities for quality education, for safety, and for a future where our voices are not just heard but acted upon. City Council Members are left to decide whether or not they can read the writing on the wall. We know what we want, and we will hold you accountable.

The Dallas City Council’s actions—or lack thereof—speak volumes about their disconnect with the Black community. While they are quick to virtue signal, their policy decisions reveal a glaring lack of understanding and respect for what we truly need: educational freedom and safety. It’s high time our local politicians stopped treating the Black community as a monolithic voting bloc to be pandered to during election cycles. We are a diverse, informed, and engaged community, and we demand policies that reflect our actual needs and aspirations.