Why no black political power in Ferguson, Missouri?

WHY NO BLACK POLITICAL POWER IN FERGUSON, MO? A question that keeps nagging me about Ferguson, Missouri , is: "How in the world in 2014 can that city, which is almost 70% black, have so little--negligible--black political power in elective office? What specific electoral mechanisms are triggering this outcome? Is there a real estate ownership requirement? An earned income requirement? An education requirement? A non-criminal record requirement? All of these or something else? What is it? Whatever it is, that mechanism should be an additional focus of the daily demonstrators! They need power; people wise enough to share it, equitably, in every sector of town. I would hate to think that their slave mentalities, laziness, abject stupidity, and lack of initiative are the sole culprits for this power lack. If you know, please let me know?