Recently, I recalled for an audience at the U.S. Census Bureau's African American history program the oath which every Member of Congress takes to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. We pledge loyalty to the same statement of governing principles which once declared, as a matter of law, that an African American was only 3/5ths of a person.

I pointed out that constitutional provision because it is important to remember how far we have come. The struggle of African Americans for universal voting rights is one of the most inspiring subjects in history. Throughout the world, "one person, one vote" has become the standard by which democratic legitimacy is judged.

Rights, however, do not automatically translate into the power we need to achieve our goals. The struggle for African American voting power is our present-day challenge, not simply a matter of history.

In both principle and practice, every person's vote can count equally only if every person is counted. As I informed readers of this commentary last summer, that did not happen during the 1990 national census.

According to the U.S. General Accounting Office’s 1992 report, the 1990 census failed to count 4.4% of African Americans nationwide, compared to 0.7% of non-Hispanic white Americans. That difference has reduced the voting power of African Americans, affecting both Congressional and state legislative districts. It has prevented the principle of equal voting rights from being fully realized.

I should note that every major American city has confronted problems in documenting all of its citizens, and Baltimore City's 1990 census effort was better than most. Nevertheless, the available evidence indicates that more than 23,000 Baltimoreans were not counted in 1990.

That failure to count all local residents in the census has not only limited Baltimore-area voting power in Annapolis and Washington, it has cost us money. Baltimore City's federal funds, allocated on the basis of population, were reduced by $65 million during FY 1996 alone.

These are funds we desperately need to hire teachers and police officers, provide health care and stimulate Baltimore's economy. That is why I will continue to vigorously support President Clinton's proposals to correct the undercounting of our citizens by scientific sampling measures.

I must acknowledge, however, that the availability of scientific sampling to correct Baltimore's census problems remains uncertain. We face intense political opposition by many members of the Republican majority in Congress, and a recent Supreme Court decision limited the use of sampling in determining Congressional Districts.

I will continue to argue for scientific corrective measures to reduce the undercounting of our citizens, but it is now clear that Baltimore must begin to mobilize for the 2000 census if we are to achieve our full voting power and receive all of the federal funds which legitimately should be ours.

Baltimore City Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke deserves commendation for his foresight during the early stages of the City's mobilization effort for next year, and the U.S. Census Bureau has assured me that Baltimore's "Complete Count Committee" will receive every cooperation from the federal government.

Currently being coordinated by City Planner Gloria Griffin, the Committee will involve our churches, nonprofit organizations, schools, businesses and other community groups in the local census effort. Anyone who wishes to volunteer for the Committee's ambitious public information and community-outreach campaigns should contact Ms. Griffin at (410) 396-4556.

Baltimore residents who wish to participate in the census as recruiters, crew leaders or general census workers should note that the Census Bureau is currently seeking applicants for those positions. If you wish to have information about these part-time jobs, available now at $10.00-$12.50 per hour, the Bureau offers a toll-free line (1-888-325-7733) for your convenience.

We all feel a great sense of pride about the outpouring of support which allowed Baltimore's voice to be heard during last November's elections. A similar, community-wide effort will allow us to sustain and increase the power of that voice.