Historically underrepresented populations in North Carolina, as well as newly settled immigrant groups in the state, are seeking fair political representation reflected in redistricting following the 2020 Census.
Rebeca Tippett, director and founder of Carolina Demography at the Carolina Population Center, said during a media session held by Ethnic Media Services, that the 2020 census provided North Carolina with first-class information for future decision-making.
He recalled that the current population of the state is just over 10.4 million residents, a figure that has increased significantly in the last 10 years, when it was 940,000 inhabitants. This growth has been reflected above all in the increase of minority communities.
In this growing diversification, he recalled that in 1990, about 75 percent of the state's population identified themselves as Caucasian or white, 22 percent as African American and a very small portion as other racial groups. However, by the year 2000, there was a significant increase in the Hispanic population "and some growth in all other races due to the introduction of the multiracial option in the question on ethnicity in the census that year."
By 2010, the rise in these minority groups began to be more noticeable, especially for the Latino community, but by 2020 the increase was dizzying. Part of this, he said, was due to some of the changes in the way the Census Bureau measured and quantified race and ethnicity.
Thus according to this Census, North Carolina is made up of 60 percent Caucasian residents, 20 percent African American, 11 percent Latino, 3.0 percent Asian American, and 6.0 percent all other racial groups, including American Indian, other races, and multiracial.
"This work we're doing now is a continuation of hard work and consensus, and it leads to voting and a proper redistricting process," he said.
The above, he stressed, "ensures that people who share interests and values through common sense about concern for environmental justice, or who focus on health equity, extend to the common background process in which those interests meet and come together so that maps can be drawn that incorporate those communities so that they can elect their political representatives."
Fair redistricting without intervention
For this to happen, it is important to have real justice in political terms, free from the "gerrymandering" that damages the roots of democracy itself.
"Racial gerrymandering is illegal for a reason — it hurts voters, it hurts people, and it hurts state institutions," said Kyle Hamilton Brazile, director of civic engagement for the NC Counts Coalition.
The term gerrymandering refers to the practice of drawing electoral district lines to favor one political party, individual, or constituency over another. When used rhetorically by opponents of a particular district map, the term has a negative connotation but does not necessarily address the legality of a contested map.
The term may also be used in legal documents; in this context, the term describes redistricting practices that violate federal or state laws.
Brazile detailed some famous and infamous examples of gerrymandering in the state, including the infamous 12th District, which added an extended time span, from Mecklenburg County to near Durham. “It was a district that was 64 percent majority African-American, and it was so narrow in some parts that it was no wider than a lane of the highway.”
Another example of gerrymandering that's been seen in North Carolina, he said, is when historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and North Carolina A&T State University had a campus split down the middle so that the university's vote would be diluted and not as powerful.
“So, to get to where we want to be and in order to engage people, we are asking them to provide feedback during upcoming public hearings. And we are working to educate communities on the issues that intersect with redistricting,” she said.
It should be noted that public hearings on redistricting in North Carolina are scheduled as follows: September 8 at Caldwell Technical College and Community College; September 14 at Forsyth Technical College and Elizabeth City State University; September 15 at Durham Technical College and one at Nash Community College.
Two additional hearings will be held on Sept. 16, one at Alamance Community College and one at Pitt Community College; Sept. 21 at Western Carolina University; Sept. 22 at Central Piedmont Community College; Sept. 23 at Mitchell Community College – Iredell County Campus; Sept. 28 at UNC-Pembroke; Sept. 29 at UNC-Wilmington; and Sept. 30 at Fayetteville Technical Community College.
Latinos, an overlooked community in North Carolina
Ivan Almonte, from Rapid Response in Durham, said that there have been conversations in the city about the problems that have impacted the Latino community for years, and how politicians and decision-makers have the responsibility to address such situations.
"But because of the political climate we are invisible to the system," he said.
She stressed that the Latino community wants to get involved and be part of the redistricting because the disparities during the pandemic were more visible for this population group.
“Many community members are motivated and willing to advocate for themselves due to the fact that our community is growing and together we can fight for change. The hesitation is always the interaction that this process involves with the government.”
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