(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The story of American democracy has been the expansion of voting rights to more and more citizens. Yet now, conservatives linked to the Republican Party are systematically seeking to constrict the vote.

We can’t let them get away with this.

In the early republic, voting was often reserved for white male landowners. Over time, the vote was extended to working people, to women, to those 18 and older. The passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act was one of the transformative victories of the civil rights movement. Progressive movements have pushed reforms to make voting easier — same-day voter registration, extended voting days and hours, voting by mail.

Now, however, across the country, we see a systematic effort to suppress the vote. Tactics include:

Voter ID laws: According to a study by the Brennan Center, more than a half-dozen Republican-dominated states have passed legislation requiring an official state photo ID to vote. This makes voting harder for those without a driver’s license: the poor, students, urban dwellers, seniors and minorities. Brennan estimates that 5 million people could be hit by the laws. In 30 states, legislators have received “voter fraud” legislation from the American Legislative Exchange Council, the notorious right-wing network funded by the Koch brothers and others.

Voter purges: Ohio has purged some 1,100,000 voters from its rolls since 2010. Cuyahoga County, which includes Democratic-rich Cleveland, led with 267,071 voters removed from the rolls. Franklin County, including Ohio’s capital, Columbus, removed 93,578 voters. Those purged came disproportionately from counties with high minority populations. Similarly, in Florida, another key state, voter officials seem to gearing up an effort to purge the lists, with a focus on Latino voters.

Intimidating voter-registration groups: The majority of those signed up in registration drives tend to be low-income or minority voters likely to support Democratic candidates. So conservatives have moved legislation to threaten voter-registration groups. In Florida, a new law imposing harsh penalties for registration mistakes led the League of Women Voters to discontinue its program altogether.

Eliminating same-day registration; curtailing early voting: In Maine and Ohio, conservatives sought to eliminate same-day voter registration (a citizen uprising blocked them in Maine). Five states — again including the key swing states Florida and Ohio — have passed laws rolling back early voting options.

Targeted tricks: Negative ads disgust and discourage voters. Now, with unaccountable SuperPACs that don’t have to identify their donors, it will get uglier. We’ll witness phone calls designed to confuse African Americans about when Election Day occurs or direct mail warning Hispanics that failure to carry proof of citizenship will lead to arrest.

We’ve seen this before. In 2006, the Republican National Committee paid for fliers in Virginia telling African Americans to “skip this vote.”

SuperPACs can do this with no accountability. They can be created a month before the election and dissolved the day after. Their donors can be anonymous. They disavow any connection with any campaign.

This is ugly stuff. These are the tactics of a minority party seeking to use money, power and dirty tricks to distort the vote. It has already started. We must reclaim our democracy from those who would traduce it.

By Michelle Thornhill

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Research suggests that African-Americans are more likely than the general population to have small business aspirations. But I’m sure this is no surprise to you! Many of us grew up with dreams of “being our own boss” and becoming the next neighborhood success story. Owning a successful business can be a realistic goal for many, but it requires dedication, preparation, discipline and knowledge.

At several points during my career, I pursued entrepreneurial endeavors. When I first graduated from college, the job market was challenging – similar to what we are experiencing today. I decided then that if I couldn’t find a job I would create one.

First, I took the time to consider the skills I acquired in college to determine how best to capitalize on them. Given my studies in finance, I decided that I would start a tax service business. I knew that the field was competitive, so I created a niche for my new business by offering pick-up and delivery services.

I was very excited to become a small business owner, but not so eager that I didn’t take the time to deliberately plan and prepare for success. Before pursuing my first client, I made certain to develop a long-term business plan. Having a solid plan allowed me to define my business, outline my products and services, create my marketing strategy (including target audience and geography) and develop a financial plan. It also helped me look serious to potential clients, investors and lenders.

I learned that it is equally important to seek guidance from subject matter experts who specialize in small business. Most states have small business development centers or branches of the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) office that offer free business counseling and services for both startups and established businesses.

Having a relationship with a banker is also essential. You’d be amazed at what your bank has to offer. Whether your business is large or small, a banker can help provide general consultation on ways to help grow your business. While some new businesses don’t initially qualify for lending because of lack of collateral or poor credit history, most banks do offer other business products (like checking accounts), services (like overdraft protection) and tools (like online banking) to help new business owners better run their business.

My local bank became a great resource and provided me free tools and information to help me manage my business. For instance, my bank connected me with community agencies specializing in small business development. In fact, this led to a full-time employment opportunity with the NAACP Community Development Resource Center in Richmond, Va., where I was able to pursue my passion for helping individuals and families achieve financial success.

Some of the best advice I ever received was to make sure I never comingle my personal and business finances. When you’re just getting started, it’s typical to use your personal accounts for business expenses. However, establishing accounts in the name of your business creates a clearer financial picture, allowing you to more easily track and manage business expenses. It also helps lenders and investors when making decisions regarding financing and investments.

Last but certainly not least, make it official. African-Americans are infamous for “side hustles,” and finding ways to earn extra income beyond your regular nine-to-five is generally encouraged.  If you find yourself with a profitable business venture that is marketable and has the potential for long-term success, go ahead and file the appropriate paperwork to legally establish your business. This could create opportunities to grow your business and increase revenue by providing access to bank and government financing options, as well as other resources.

Long story short, over several years my business grew to serve over 100 clients and I was able to sell it and move on to other career aspirations. I know that this success came from careful planning and management and a willingness to seek advice. I also gained quite a few gems of wisdom as a small business owner that continue to benefit me today:

• Good service breaks down barriers.
• Follow through on what you promise.
• Deliver your best.
• Network and seek guidance – no matter how much you think you know, there is always something new to learn.
• Regardless of whether you work for a company or are self-employed, leverage the skills you have to capitalize on opportunities.

For free tips, tools and resources to help you reach your entrepreneurial dreams, visit the Wells Fargo Business Insights Resource Center at wellsfargobusinessinsights.com. This site offers an extensive library of expert advice, videos, podcasts, articles and more to help manage and grow your business – regardless of the stage.

Michelle Thornhill is senior vice president, Diverse Segments for Wells Fargo & Company. Visit www.wellsfargo.com/aspirations for more information.

This article has been prepared for informational purposes only. The accuracy and completeness of this information is not guaranteed and is subject to change. Since each individual’s financial situation is unique, you need to review your financial objectives to determine which approaches might work best for you.

By Hazel Trice Edney

(TriceEdneyWire.com) – First Lady Michelle Obama, having recalled the vehement protests, including sit-ins, for racial equality, told a group of HBCU graduates that it’s now their turn to “protect the ground” that’s been won.

“We’re not weighed down by the kind of baggage that folks had back then. We do live in a country that’s more supportive, more open, more inclusive than ever before. We've got rights and freedoms and possibilities that they would have given anything to have for themselves. But with all of those advantages comes a set of responsibilities,” the First Lady told the graduating class at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, according to prepared remarks. “We’ve got a responsibility to protect the ground that’s already been won, because it can just as easily be lost,” she said to applause. “It can be gone. We’ve got a responsibility to live up to the legacy of those who came before us by doing all that we can to help those who come after us. That’s how we’ve always made progress -- each generation doing its part to lift up the next.”

She continued, “Each generation does its part to perfect our union. Each generation looks at the world around them and decides that it’s time to wake up and change the situation. And we’ve always looked to our young people to lead the way. We always have.”

She asked the class of graduates to ask themselves three questions: Who do I want to be? What’s going on in the world around me?  How can I help?

Then she implored them to take their turn like their predecessors at N.C. A&T.

“You have produced some of our nation’s finest leaders in business, government, and our military.  The first African-American Justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court was an Aggie. So was the second African American astronaut. And so were those four young men who sat down at a lunch counter 52 years ago and will stand forever in bronze in front of the Dudley building,” she said.

Ultimately, the lunch counter protests spread across the South. They led to the desegregation of public facilities.

The First Lady implored the graduates to pursue more than just money. She told how she set her goals for and initially went to work for a “fat check”, a nice car and a plush law office.

She had them all when she experienced two tragedies – the death of her best friend from cancer and the death of her father from multiple sclerosis. Feeling unfulfilled in her career, she asked herself probing questions about her life; quit the job and went into public service.

“I had everything I was told I should want, but it still wasn’t enough. And I realized that no matter how long I stayed on that job, no matter how many years I pursued someone else’s definition of success, I was never going to have a life that felt like my own,” she said. “And so, to the surprise of my family and friends, I quit that high-paying job and I took a job in the mayor’s office. That hurt. Then, as the Chancellor said, I became the executive director of Public Allies, a nonprofit organization that trained young people to pursue careers in public service.

After the May 12 commencement address, A&T Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. awarded her with the doctorate of humanities honorary degree for her commitment to public service.

“So graduates, now it’s your turn. It’s time for you to take that baton,” she said in her conclusion. “Take it. It’s time for you to carry the banner forward. It’s time for you to wake the rest of us up and show us everything you’ve got.”