People fearing loss of voting rights need to act rather than merely react.(Originated from)

By Leonard Pitts

Knight Ridder Newspapers

Perhaps you've heard the news that has rocked some segments of black America. If not, be advised: The Voting Rights Act expires in 2007! Unless Congress renews it, black people will lose their precious right to vote!

In this moment of greatest anguish, in the face of this threat to one of our fundamental freedoms, there's only one thing I can say to worried black Americans:

Get a grip.

It's just a stupid rumor, folks. Been ricocheting around the Internet for a year or more. And it's not true, not even a little bit.

In the first place, black voting rights are guaranteed not by the Voting Rights Act of …