A small Alabama town whose white former-Mayor holds onto power by shutting off democracy

[70sEraVet]

In the nearly two centuries since the town’s founding, it has retained two aspects of its early days: it has a majority Black population, with, until Braxton, a majority white leadership. Newbern is about 80% Black and 20% white. Until Braxton appointed the four members of his city council, there had only been one Black city councilmember.
Until Braxton decided to throw his hat in the ring, people in Newbern did not realize they had the option to run for mayor or council, or that elections were at all possible. Braxton said he never heard anything about elections in Newbern as a child. Nor did LaQuenna Lewis, who has been supporting Braxton in his efforts to be recognized as mayor.

“We were just told that this is who your mayor is,” Lewis said. “It’s been that – this is like 60 years plus. We’ve been told that this is our mayor and this is how things have been. When you look at the town and the history, years of oppression create a certain condition and a certain way of thinking. It has been accepted.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/26/black-mayor-alabama-town-locked-out

[oregonjen]

1. How many cities like Newbern are there around the US, particularly in the South?

Mayor Braxton needs to have much more media attention to shed light on what is happening. Thanks for posting this article. I could see Rachel Maddow doing some digging and reporting on this.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Hard to believe this blatant abuse of democracy is going on today.

"We were told..."

What needs to be researched is why people are so willing to go along.

[OldBaldy1701E]

4. Dunning Kruger.

Where's my grant?

[NoMoreRepugs]

3. White minority rule capsulized.

[aggiesal]

6. It's called apartheid and I'll bet it's all over the south. n/t

[drray23]

5. why is not it brought up to the feds ?

Surely it's against federal law.

[70sEraVet]

10. Thats what i wondered. Defending civil rights and enforcing free and fair elections.

Sounds like something out of the 1880's.

[erronis]

7. Thanks to the fine reporting by The Guardian

It's amazing how much better they report on things happening in the US than the M$M.

My donations go to them and ProPublica and others.

[Delmette2.0]

11. I noticed that,too.

Thanks for posting your observation.

[llashram]

8. the south

is trying to rise again, but its legs are not strong enough...yet. Desantis is showing the way that many racists scream in glee about his state and his open racism. Amerikkka has shown the world its sickness and hate personified by the Republikkkan frontrunner. Always been always will be. 1619.

[Solly Mack]

9. K&R