'We had the energy and we had the guts': How black women in Alabama got out the vote

Story transcript

A few months ago, one might have thought it laughable that Alabama could flip blue on an electoral map. But Tuesday night saw the improbable occur as Doug Jones became the state's first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate in 25 years.

The Democratic former prosecutor defeated the controversial Roy Moore, who for weeks faced mounting allegations of sexual misconduct with teenagers. The scandal dominated headlines and did nothing to discourage Mr. Moore's own supporters in Alabama.

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Sheila Tyson, a councillor for Birmingham City, couldn't help but get emotional when she saw the results pour in.

"You know, when I seen the numbers coming in ... I just started crying," she told As It Happens host Carol Off.

Tyson was part of the state-wide effort to mobilize voters, particularly focusing on getting the female black vote out.

"We are a grassroots organization and we do not have a whole lot of funding. So the only way we can really mobilize our women was to actually knock on doors," Tyson said.

"You know we didn't have fancy materials. We couldn't do commercials. But what we did have [is] the energy, and we had the guts, and the courage, and the want in our heart to knock on doors and go talk to these women in their faces."

Tyson expressed how impressed she was at the motivation of Alabamians she met to get out and vote. One woman's story in particular stood out to her:

"It was Thursday. We was in Wilcox County and we knocked on her door. We talked to her. And I was talking about issues and she was talking about how she worked all her life in a plant, and she never got up to make 15 dollars an hour ... and I said, 'Well you need a ride to the poll.'

"She said, 'Now baby, let me show you something.' She pulled out 20 dollars. 'These twenty dollars right here? I'ma hold onto it 'til Tuesday. You see that truck out there? I'ma put it in that truck and I'ma ride through this county and I'ma pick up people and take them to the poll.'"

Tyson said she knew then that a Senate win for Jones was within reach. "If you're willing to spend your last dime to pick up other people to go to the polls to vote, that is major. That is major."

98% of black women voted for Jones

Jones's upset win couldn't have been done without the state's African-American population. According to exit poll data, 98 per cent of black women, and 93 per cent of black men, voted for Jones.

Jones enjoyed vocal support from African-American Democrats and supporters while on the campaign trail, including Rep. Terry Sewell, Rep. John Lewis and Sen. Cory Booker. Jones' supporters did the ground work to mobilize the vote.

Former NBA star Charles Barkley, an Alabama native who campaigned for Jones, told supporters "we got to stop looking like idiots to the nation" at a campaign rally this week.

While support from white voters was comparatively more split between Moore and Jones, about two-thirds of white women voted for Moore, despite the allegations of sexual misconduct that emerged during the race.

Tyson said she thought that white women's priorities might not be in the right place if they were able to vote for Moore despite the mounting allegations.

"You got to get your heart right," she said. "You got to stay focused and your priorities need to be in the right place."

Open dialogue needed, says Tyson

Despite the stark difference in white and black women's voting patterns this past Tuesday, Tyson thinks the racial divide in the American political discourse can be mended with real dialogue — at least in Alabama.

"I can guarantee you if they'd spend just a little time with us, they will find out that we have more in common than we do apart."

"Let's build a relationship, go out to dinner. Come, let's go to a movie. Can we have lunch together? Can we meet twice a week?"