Charlotte Voters Weigh in on National Black Voter Day
As we draw closer to the 2020 General Election, voters not only have to navigate a plan to get to the polls or to get their ballots in on time by mail, they should now have formed an opinion on the issues on this year’s ballot. In order to inform their opinions and energize a community to get out and vote, BET and the National Urban League created National Black Voter Day, today, September 18th! . I spoke with two highly engaged Charlotte voters about what Black Voter Day means to them and their hope for this year’s election.
Brittany Moore is the 2020-2021 United State of Women Ambassador for NC. Brittany became involved with USOW in 2019, with the sole purpose to connect with women and amplify their stories through activism. In June 2020, Brittany was instrumental in getting the City of Charlotte, Bank of America, Barings Global, and Wells Fargo's Duke Energy Center to light up in honor of Juneteenth - something that had never been done before. In addition to serving as Ambassador for USOW, Brittany is also a Voting Squad Caption for When We All Vote - the sister organization to USOW, founded by First Lady, Mrs. Michelle Obama. Brittany's mission is to ensure all people who are eligible to vote are registered and take their voices to the polls in November.
What does National Black Voter Day mean to you, if anything? What does it mean to have a day dedicated to the Black vote?
National Black Voter Day means a dedicated focus on the Black Community to create a plan to vote. It’s exciting because this is one day that Black People can unite on something positive that can have a lasting impact on our community as a whole.
I know you're a highly engaged person, so I want to know, what is your hope for this election season?
My hope for this election season is for people to show up and use their voice at the polls. Civil Rights giants like John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr literally fought their entire lives for our voting rights and we need to understand that sacrifice and honor them with our votes. We are our ancestors' wildest dreams. Black men weren’t given the right to vote until 1870 with the 15th amendment – and there were challenges faced for this vote. Black women were not part of the 1920 Women’s Amendment to vote – we weren’t ‘Suffragettes’ we didn’t get our right until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. I am doing everything I possibly can to ensure people in my community are informed, prepared, and registered to vote in this year’s election.
Why do you think the call for Black voters has fallen flat in previous years and what can be done to energize voters today?
I think society has told us so many times that our votes don’t matter and ultimately, we don’t matter. I’m encouraged by the constant focus and attention that organizations such as When We All Vote, More Than a Vote, and Power The Polls have given to black people to amplify our voices. I take my hat off to LeBron James for being a model of black excellence by encouraging people on and off the court to vote and become engaged in the political process. Beyond this year’s election, we need to educate ourselves on current and future elected officials and the roles they play in our day to day lives.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I partnered with Cuzzo's Cuisine next Saturday, September 26th from 11am to 2pm to host a covid-safe, volunteer led voter registration event. Come join us for food and get registered or update your current registration. Our volunteers will be wearing masks, social distancing, and providing no-contact options to register directly from your mobile device!
Charnele Brintley is a local project manager in the hospital and healthcare field. She led the development team for I am Not the Media Non Profit organization and recently organized a panel event for her alma mater UNC Greensboro, to discuss voter engagement around the upcoming election, answering key questions for the UNCG Black ALumni Network Facebook Group. She’s also a dynamic Entertainer/MC for local event production company, Ceasefire Productions.
What does National Black Voter Day mean to you, if anything? What does it mean to have a day dedicated to the Black vote?
To me it means the opportunity for Black voters to get our voice's back and to reengage a powerful community! "Knowledge is Power" so this day will help the black community gain the knowledge needed to make informed decisions, get access to the correct resources, and hear from credible people in our communities around this upcoming election and voting.
I know you're a highly engaged person, so I want to know, what is your hope for this election season?
My hope for this upcoming election is to see a high turnout rate for minority voters and to hear more people's perspectives change on the importance of voting. Many black millennials still feel like their vote doesn't count and/or they don't trust the government enough to actually go out and vote. With the option this year to request an absentee ballot without having a reason, in North Carolina specifically, my hope is that more millennials are taking advantage of this opportunity and also making their family and friends aware too. People can even take it a step further by printing out additional absentee ballots for individuals in their communities to complete. Every year people come up with excuses, but this year is different!! If someone thinks of an excuse or reason not to vote, it should be confirmed if the reason is accurate with a local official, public service contact, or refer to the many credible voting websites.
Why do you think the call for Black voters has fallen flat in previous years and what can be done to energize voters today?
The lack of trust many black voters have for the government and people with political power has caused many black voters to lose hope in change resulting in the fall of the calling of black voters. 2020 has been a pivotal year in bringing awareness to the systemic racism that black people overall have been facing for years. With the lack of education in grade school around black issues, problems, or disparities we continue going through life accepting societal norms, because we have been taught to "adapt" to our situation or environment instead of discussing change. Our ancestors fought for the right to vote and as a generation I feel like we have lost this same type of fight due to having better access, privilege, and societal pressures to not bark up the wrong tree. If the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery (just to name a few), the 2020 protest and riots, the political injustices that we have witnessed leading up to this election, and the lack of companies making changes to ensure diversity and inclusion is a priority in the workplace does not energize black voters then we have a lot more work to do. For those still in limbo about voting let me ask you this question: What do you have to lose this year if you vote for candidates that align with your values and beliefs?
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
It is your right to vote! If we want to see change we must be the change and it starts now!