An ACORN Mother's Special

It’s not a complicated concept:  the concerns of many mothers reflect the struggles of low- and moderate-income communities.  America’s mothers care about whatever could affect their children negatively.  So, they care about the mortgage meltdown, the recession, America’s health care crisis, improving education, and the rising cost of gas, all issues that presidential candidates should be discussing in this election.

“They should be discussing these issues,” said ACORN national board member and Pine Bluff, Ark., resident Maxine Nelson, “but they’re not talking about them.  They’re talking about each other.”

Nelson comes from a line of women with roots in the American Delta region, one of the poorest parts of the country.  She comes from women who chose to work for social justice and progress in this country while facing racism and personal hardship.  Her mother and grandmother decided to vote even under poll taxes in the south.  The women in Nelson’s family led by example and so influenced her choice to register to vote as soon as she came of age. 

“It was just understood that I would vote,” she said.

Nelson is not alone in being influenced by the mother figures in her life to vote and to become politically active.  ACORN has talked with members and bloggers who recall their mothers voting and working to improve the lives of others.

• Read memories from bloggers
• Read memories from ACORN members