The Black vote will not be suppressed if Stacey Abrams has her way
In this week's episode of the 'Dear Culture' podcast, Abrams shares the lessons she learned about voter suppression and how to change it in 2020.
Since Black people were allowed to vote in this nation, voter suppression and disenfranchisement has been a major obstacle our communities have had to navigate through. From political parties, organizations, and individuals with racist interests, voting while Black is both a brave and rightly so a declaration of our personhood.
Regardless of how the past was shaped, it is the future that we so graciously have to look after and forward to. Hence this week on The Dear Culture Podcast, we’re changing speeds again with a very special episode featuring Vice President of Digital Content at theGrio Natasha S. Alford, theGrio’s CEO Byron Allen, and the political darling Stacey Abrams.
The important question on our minds this week is, “Dear Culture, how much do you really know about voter suppression?”
Tuesday, Nov. 3, Black America can’t vote like we’re white. We got to vote like we’re Black. That means voting early. Whether that be physically going to your local election office or mailing in your ballot, says Byron Allen
Read More: Marc Lamont Hill to vote Democrat for first time in 24 years
Though it’s hard to believe there’s anyone who doesn’t know who Stacey Abrams is, her political resume is infallible and record-making. In 2018, she was the first Black woman to become a Gubernatorial nominee for a major political party in the state of Georgia.
Having won more votes than any Democrat in the state’s history, Abrams lost by slim margins to her Republican opponent, Brian Kemp, due to what many believe was and remains to be voter suppression. Currently, Abrams sits as Chair of the Fair Fight Action, teaching and advocating for fair voting and representation in the U.S.
Since 2018, many folks still feel the ache of Abram’s gubernatorial loss. In a nation that purports to champion democracy, Abrams is no stranger to the truth of what’s actually happening behind closed doors. Democracy is “a fight over power” she explains, “in a democracy, the power of voting determines who gets to temporarily own that power.”
“Republicans are losing power because of the rise of Black and Brown growth in several communities. Democrats did this too, along with the Federalists,” says Abrams.
On Dear Culture, Abrams lists the three main things we have to look out for this election season with voting:
- Voter suppression is real. Bill Barr, the country’s Attorney General believes that not all Americans should be entitled to vote by mail as he does. Consider what that truly means for the Black Americans, regardless of social-economic background. Voting early ensures that our voices are heard.
- If you register to vote and did not vote, you’re most likely not on the voting rolls. And if you are on the voting rolls and have voted, make sure to double-check. Mistakes happen in inserting the data, especially when it comes to Black and ethnic names. Moreover, make sure to know your state’s voter ID laws. Make certain you have the correct identification that is required of you.
- And finally, as a citizen, you have the right to know if your ballot has been cast. You have the right to access that knowledge.
Read More: Michael Jordan, Jordan Brand donate millions to groups fighting voter suppression
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