美国国家公共电台 NPR--For the first time in about 70 years, Detroit won't have a Black Democrat in Congress

For the first time in about 70 years, Detroit won't have a Black Democrat¹ in Congress

Transcript²

DETROIT — For the first time in almost 70 years, this traditionally blue city, home to one of the largest African American populations in the nation, will not have a Black Democrat in Congress.

Detroiters could elect a Black Republican to the U.S. House.

But GOP candidates face a skeptical³ voting bloc⁴ in this Democratic stronghold.

Losing a "voice" in Congress

It's the first general election since an independent commission redrew Michigan's legislative⁵ boundaries, breaking the district covering Detroit into two pieces and adding several suburban⁶ areas, split between blue-collar and more affluent⁷ communities.

Shortly after redistricting, Michigan's only Black member of Congress, Democrat Brenda Lawrence, decided⁸ to retire.

That left an open seat to represent much of the Motor City.

And the candidate who emerged from the district's crowded Democratic primary in August as Lawrence's possible successor is not an African American.

At a recent get-out-the-vote rally inside a Detroit high school, Lawrence worried that the city could pay a price if no Black Democrat replaced her.

"I'm the vice⁹ chair of the Congressional Black Caucus," she said. "And I know there are often issues that directly impact us left off the table. If you don't have the Black representation, you don't get a voice."

Lawrence said some GOP colleagues on Capitol Hill simply avoid her concerns. She noted¹¹ one recent argument in particular over student debt and income inequality with a U.S. House member who is both Republican and Black.

"And he dismissed it all," she said. "He said, 'Oh that's not an issue. I made it. If anybody wants it they can make it in America.' Just ignoring the fact that there are inherent barriers that the Black community experiences. And as a Black man he just foo-fooed it and walked away."

Democrats¹² hope to get Black voters, often a backbone¹³ of the party, especially in urban areas, engaged in those issues — and headed to the polls on Election Day.

The party has in recent days deployed¹⁴ former President Barack Obama to headline rallies in several cities with significant African American populations. His event in Detroit attracted thousands of people.

But Detroit's city clerk predicts only about one-third of the Motor City electorate¹⁵ will actually turn out to vote this year. That would be about 6 percentage points less than in the 2018 midterm election.

A personal connection to voters

The Republican running to represent Detroit in Congress says he can overcome apathy¹⁶ among Black voters because, as an African American himself, he walks in their shoes.

Martell Bivings is offering a GOP agenda targeting crime and taxes that he maintains Detroiters respond to. He says they just have to overcome being raised in a politically blue city.

"Growing up in a Black family it's kind of like you grow into it, you're born into it," he said. "'You're a Democrat. Shut up.' "

Bivings said it's a different story when he hears Detroiters' concerns over gun violence or rising inflation.

"And some of the things that they would say, I'd say, 'You're saying that and you're a Black man or a Black woman.' And I'd say, 'You're a Republican.' And they'd say, 'Maybe I am.' "

But Bivings likely faces a steep climb translating that into support at the ballot¹⁷ box.

More than 90% of Detroit voters cast ballots¹⁸ for Democratic candidates for Congress in 2020 alone.

And the Democrat now seeking Detroit's open congressional seat says he, too, connects with the economic fears pervading¹⁹ the community.

State Rep. Shri Thanedar has been a ubiquitous presence along the campaign trail, appearing at everything from political fundraisers to modest events at city parks.

Thanedar was a poor Indian immigrant who became wealthy by starting a chemical business. He spent millions of dollars of his own money on the primary campaign and defeated eight other contenders, all of them African Americans.

Thanedar has a backstory he claims resonates with Detroit voters.

"I grew up in dire¹⁰ poverty," he said. "My district is 20 to 30% at or below poverty level. Economic prosperity is very, very key. We need to bring in good-paying jobs."

"Bring somebody in here that's gonna help us"

Thanedar's message had traction²⁰ among some waiting in line at the Detroit high school rally.

The idea of economic empowerment attracts voters like Carmen Lewis far more than Bivings' assertion that it takes a Black candidate to understand Detroit.

"We gonna vote for him because he's Black? That ain't got nothing to do with it," Lewis said. "We want people that are gonna work for our city, that's gonna help us grow. Because we're already struggling. We're already hurting. Stuff is high. Children are failing because of the school system. We need help. So, bring somebody in here that's gonna help us, whether they're Black, White, Chinese, Puerto Rican, it doesn't matter."

That sentiment echoes with Detroit voter Willie Wyatt, who says the colors he's mostly concerned about are red versus²¹ blue.

The 83-year-old said he felt eternally disenfranchised growing up in the Deep South. That is, Wyatt said, until he watched the Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law by a Democratic president.

"I don't vote for Republicans. Period," Wyatt said. "And I shouldn't be that hard on people but that's the way I feel. I don't know anything the Republicans ever done for a Black person. Or for that matter anybody else [who's] poor."

An analysis by the Pew Research Center found about a quarter of the members of Congress identify as an ethnic²² or racial minority. And the overwhelming majority of them are Democrats.

But some African Americans fear Democrats simply take the Black vote for granted. The GOP is investing in Black candidates nationwide — including three running for the U.S. House in Michigan.

When all the votes are counted after this midterm election, Michigan's only Black representation in Congress could come solely²³ from the Republican Party.

1 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

4 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

5 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

6 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

7 affluent   

adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的

参考例句：

• He hails from an affluent background.他出身于一个富有的家庭。
• His parents were very affluent.他的父母很富裕。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

10 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

12 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

14 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

15 electorate   

n.全体选民；选区

参考例句：

• The government was responsible to the electorate.政府对全体选民负责。
• He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.他得到了几乎1/4选民的支持。

16 apathy   

n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡

参考例句：

• He was sunk in apathy after his failure.他失败后心恢意冷。
• She heard the story with apathy.她听了这个故事无动于衷。

17 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

18 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 pervading   

v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• an all-pervading sense of gloom 无处不在的沮丧感
• a pervading mood of fear 普遍的恐惧情绪

20 traction   

n.牵引；附着摩擦力

参考例句：

• I'll show you how the traction is applied.我会让你看如何做这种牵引。
• She's injured her back and is in traction for a month.她背部受伤，正在作一个月的牵引治疗。

21 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

22 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

23 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。