ByRogerCaldwell Whenthisarticleispublished,itmaybetooearlytodeclareapresidentialwinnerintheforthe2020election.OrmaybeitisveryeasytodeclareawinnerbecausetheDemocratsortheRepublicanshavewonbysuchalargeexceedingmargin.Itdefinitelymatters,butsystemicorinstitutionalracismwillstillbeamajorchallengewithveryfewsolutions,andpoliciesaftertheelection. EveryoneinthenewsmediaistalkingaboutvotersuppressionandtheintimidationoftheelectionwithmanyWhitesupremacistorganizationsandgroups.In2020,itwouldappearthattheseegregiousactivitieswouldnottakeplaceafter100yearsofanOcoeeMassacrein1920. TheironicthingaboutAmericain2020,WhitesupremacistorganizationsareintimidatingBlackandminoritiesaroundthecountrywithgunsatcertainballotlocations.ThemorethingschangeinAmerica,themoretheystaythesame. OnNovember2,1920,ElectionDay,aWhitemobattackedandkilled30-50AfricanAmericans’inOcoee,Florida,becausetheyhadworkedandregisteredtovote.“InOrangeCounty,aswellastherestofFloridahadbeenpoliticallydominatedbySouthernWhiteDemocrats,sincetheendofReconstruction.But,intheweeksleadinguptothepresidentialelectionof1920,AfricanAmericansthroughouttheSouthwereregisteringtovoteinrecordnumbers.Duringthisperiod,theKuKluxKlanwashavingarevivalandwarnedtheBlackcommunitythatnotasingleAfricanAmericanwouldbepermittedtovote,”fromWikipediaDictionary. OnElectionDay,AfricanAmericansweremetwithresistance,andsomeBlacksreturnedwithshotguns.TheWhitessurroundedJulius“July”Perry’shomeandhekilledtwoofthedeputizedmembersofthemob.SamSalisburywasapolicechiefinOrlando,whowasinjuredintheattackonJulyPerry’shome,andreinforcementsfromtheKuKluxKlanandotherwhitesinthesurroundingareawerecalledin.ThislargergroupburntdownbusinessesandhomesoftheBlackcommunityinOcoeeFlorida,andlynchedMr.Perry. “AfterWhiteresidentsterrorizedalltheBlackresidentstoleavefollowingtheMassacre,OcoeewouldremainanallWhitesundowntown,adangerousplaceforBlackpeopleafterdark,untilthelate1970,andearly80’s’”saysreporterMonivetteCordeirooftheOrlandoSentinel. SystemicdiscriminationandracismthateveryoneinFloridaactsasthouitdoesnotexist,andnoonewantstotalkaboutit.WhenTrayvonMartinwaskilledinSanfordFloridawalkingdownthestreetin2012,byaneighborhoodwatchvolunteer,hewasfoundinnocentofallchargesofmurder. Thelegacyoflynchingisstillarealityin2020.WhenthepoliceareabletokillaBlackMan,GeorgeFloyd,andthecommunityiswatching,somethingisfundamentallywrongwiththesystem.WhenBreonnaTayloriskilledbypoliceinherLouisvillehome,andonlyoneofficerischargedwithshootinginanotherapartment,somethingiswrong. WhilemoreAfricanAmericansandpeopleofcolorhavebeenelectedinCentralFlorida,andaroundthecountry,racismisstillanissue.OrangeCountyhaselecteditsfirstBlackmayor,MayorJerryDemings,andthingsarechanging,butarethingsmovingtoslow. BlackLivesMatter–BlackVoteMatters–andyourvoteisyourvoice.Butthequestionsinthiselectionare-willtheBlackvotebesuppressed,andwhathappenstoracismaftertheelection? TherearemoreovertWhitesupremacistgroups,whoarepreparingforwar,totaketheircountryback. TodayOcoeelookslikeanysuburbancommunityoutsideofOrlando,andeveryoneisalwayssmiling,andwishingyouagoodday.But50