Alabama Politics in
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NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders has written a weekly column for papers in his legislative district for the past twenty years. These rural, weekly papers lack a web presence, and links to the columns are not typically otherwise available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.

Senate Sketches # 1057

By

Senator Hank Sanders

********

“I believe,” she said as she stood before the crowd in the auditorium. The voice, feminine but strong, immediately engaged me. The voice and words transformed the moment. I do not really know what she said, but I want to share what I think I heard.

The city was Mobile. The place was the Mobile County Government Plaza. The day was Saturday, mid-afternoon. The person was Vivian Davis Figures. The words flowed from the heart but were carefully crafted to answer the question, “Can Senator Vivian Davis Figures win the U. S. Senate Seat in Alabama?”

Vivian’s words still ring in my spirit. “When I considered running as a candidate for Democratic Presidential Delegate in the 80s, there were those who did not think that I could win because my husband, Senator Michael Figures, was a high profile candidate for male delegate on the same slate. But I believed. I ran and received more votes than any other candidate, including my husband.”

As Senator Figures stood before the crowd sharing her story, the power of believing permeated her being. The power grew as she continued. “When I considered running for the Mobile City Council, I was told that I could not win because the incumbent was well entrenched. But I believed. I prayed and ran in spite of my husband’s objections and without his help. After I made the run-off, he believed and helped. Others still did not believe. But I believed. I won the run-off in spite of the odds and served well.”

I was being lifted by the power of her belief. “My husband had risen to the position of President Pro Tem of the Alabama Senate, the first African American to hold that high position. In 1996 Michael died suddenly and unexpectedly. People urged me to run for his seat. Many, however, did not believe I could win because a popular and deeply entrenched state legislator chose to run. But I believed. I prayed, ran and made the run-off. My opponent now had the endorsement of every political group but one. But I believed. I ran as hard as I could, and with a lot of help, earthly and otherwise, I won. I now stand before you serving in the Alabama State Senate.”

She shifted gears, still lifting me and the audience. “I have never lost a political race. I am now facing another race where the odds appear to be greatly against me. They say a woman cannot win in Alabama. They say an African American cannot win in Alabama. They say an African American woman certainly cannot win in Alabama. But I believe!”

For those who do not perceive through the prism of belief, it is a tall order. The opponent is White, is male, is an incumbent, and has millions in his campaign war chest. The state is strongly Republican during Presidential elections. However, for those who believe, these are mere challenges to overcome.

I was with Senator Vivian Davis Figures in spirit. All my life, the odds have been against me in most things I have tried to do. It seems like if I didn’t have long odds, I would not have any odds at all. Still I believed, and still I tried, and still I achieved. Therefore my spirit connects with her spirit. I believe.

I was also with her in body. To get there while keeping other commitments, I had traveled 70 miles to Eutaw for the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival, then 175 miles to Mobile and still had 180 miles to get back to Selma. As I drove the last leg of the trip, I thought, “Hope is powerful. Belief is very powerful. Faith is powerful beyond words.”

Senator Figures used the word “believe” repeatedly. In my mind, I supplemented the word “believe” with the words “hope” and “faith” each time. Hope, based simply on possibility, allows us to move. Belief, based on the evidence we perceive, causes us to move. Faith forces us to move in spite of the evidence. Faith is truly powerful.

A number of persons told me that Vivian Davis Figures could not win the U.S. Senate seat. Others asked, “Does she stand a chance?” With her words, she had answered the questions for herself. Still, I had to answer for myself. When a reporter asked me what I thought, I said, “These are unusual times. Conventional wisdom does not apply. She believes, and belief is a powerful thing. I also believe.”

I talked with Senator Figures at her home over a meal she personally prepared. (Yes, the Senator can cook!) I suggested that she adopt the “I believe” concept as her campaign slogan. I like it so much because it is my life slogan. I know from personal experience that hope, belief, and faith can overcome even the longest odds.

Now on to the Daily Diary.

Saturday - I traveled from Selma to Eutaw for the Black Belt Roots Festival. I then traveled to Mobile for Senator Vivian Davis Figures’ announcement for the U. S. Senate. I joined others at Vivian’s home before returning to Selma. In the course of the day, I talked with the following: Senator Vivian Davis Figures; former State Supreme Court Justice Judge John H. England, Jr.; Faya Rose Toure; Garry Mitchell of the Associated Press; John Zippert; Dr. Carol P. Zippert; and others.

Sunday - I did Radio Sunday School, Radio Education, and Sunday Review. I participated in Sunday School and attended Greater Hope Baptist Church where I received a special recognition. I shared dinner with Dr. Fannie McKenzie before making remarks at Deacon Essix Watters’ 51^st Anniversary with the Silver Echoes Gospel Singers. I went to the National Voting Rights Museum and the Slavery Museum trying to catch TV’s Judge Mabeline and worked into the night.

Monday - I was a guest on the radio program Viewpoint. I worked on Sketches and talked to the following: Randy Williams of WHBB Radio; Consultants Rick Heartsill and Bryant Atkeson of Birmingham; Greene County School Superintendent Isaac Atkins; Lowndes County Administrator Jackie Thomas; Lowndes County Commissioner Robert Harris; and Emmaline Louie of Greene County. I shared lunch with Dr. James Mitchell of Wallace Community College Selma and traveled to Lowndes County, where I talked with several leaders. I returned to Selma and worked into the night.

Tuesday - I talked with the following: Dr. Walter Hill of Tuskegee University; Collins Pettaway, Jr. of Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC); Senator Roger Bedford; Congressman Artur Davis; former Judge J. C. Norton; Attorney Joe Espy of Montgomery; Lester Brown and Elzora Fluker of the Greene County Board of Education; Eddie Hill of the State Department of Education; Dr. Paul Hubbert of the Alabama Education Association (AEA); and Senator Zeb Little. I worked on numerous matters including the ANSC Fall Convention by late night conference call.

Wednesday - I talked to the following: Randy Williams of the Selma Post Herald Newspaper; Senator Pat Lindsey; Attorney William Utsey of Choctaw County; J. L. Chestnut, Jr. of Selma; Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard; my assistant, Angela Brown; and Senator Lowell Barron. I hosted the radio program Law Lesson and shared dinner with educators Dr. Vicie Larkin and Dr. Fannie McKenzie. I worked into the night.

Thursday - I talked with the following: Senator Quinton Ross; Dr. James Mitchell; attorney Thomas Figures of Mobile; Godfrey King of Wallace Community College; Lester Brown; Senator Parker Griffith; Greene County Sheriff Isom Thomas; Representative Richard Lindsey; Joyce Bigbee and Norris Green of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO); Representative John Knight; Senate President Pro Tem Hinton Mitchem; Craig Pouncey of the State Department of Education; Ginger Avery Buckner of the Alabama Association for Justice; Dennis Palmer of the Selma Times Journal; and Sharon Wheeler of the Senate President Pro Tem’s office. I shared lunch with Anita Archie of Montgomery and handled many matters as I worked into the evening.

Friday - I worked on Sketches, substituted as host of the morning radio program Faya’s Fire, and talked to the following: Rocking Geeter of Selma; Trey Fortier of Z105.3 Radio Station; Tom Tsekura of General Electric; Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom, Jr.; Rick Graham of Birmingham; former Dallas County Probate Judge Johnny Jones; and Dr. Carol P. Zippert of the Greene County Democrat, and Arzula Johnson of Lowndes County. I traveled to Greene County and stopped in Uniontown as I returned to Selma to work deep into the night.

EPILOGUE - We never know what we can do until we embrace the challenge of overcoming great odds. When we do our best, we always receive special help. In fact, every miracle starts with our embracing the nearly impossible.

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