The Leader in You
If you woke up one morning and smelled smoke in your home, how would you react? Would you pray about it and roll back over, placing the sheet over your head? Ironically, as a cancer survivor, that’s what I really wanted to do when I learned of my diagnosis. However, I knew that I needed to take some proactive steps to either rid myself of the disease or to minimize the chance of it spreading.
So, again I ask: would you remain in bed, praying for the smoke to dissipate?
Ironically, when it comes to saving democracy in the United States, many of us have felt helpless. In fact, we’ve spent countless hours talking about every nonsensical thing flowing out of the White House. Yes, while it gives us an opportunity to express our frustration, what does it really change? My answer would be absolutely nothing if no action is taken.
Just over the past few days, Donald Trump, our authoritarian leader, is enacting measures to sway the current midterm elections. Here are a few ways Trump is planning on stealing November's midterm:
Elon Musk is planning to spend $100 Million to help Republicans steal the midterm. The Democrats don’t have a donor with such deep pockets.
It was just announced that comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s interview with James Talarico, Texas Democratic nominee for the senate, will not air on ABC, its affiliates and local stations. Trump’s FCC has threatened to pull ABC’s license. Out of fear, ABC has acquiesced.
Trump is going back and forth with America's compromised Supreme Court to eliminate mail in ballots, as we’re just weeks away from Early Voting.
Lastly, Trump has told his base that every American adult will receive $5,000 if the GOP retains both the House and the Senate this November. Is this legal? Of course, not!
While a number of us individually don’t feel as though we're been impacted by Trump and his polices, that's not the case collectively.
How the Black Community is Being Impacted by Trump's Policies
In some form or fashion, you or someone you know has or will be impacted by one of Trump's disastrous policies:
Trump is planning to end tax-exempt status for schools that give aid to minority students. This ruling will not only affect PWIs, but could filter down to HBCUs, too.
And literally every day, there is a new recall released on contaminated food. At some point, we'll all be relying on the Black Farmers Index, a consortium of Black farmers, to source our food.
Measles, Covid and the flu are on the rise. U.S. medical groups urge Americans to get shots in counter to Trump’s guidance.
According to AAA, the national average gas price has risen by $1 a gallon to $4.22 a gallon, when compared to the same period last year. This is all connected to Trump's war.
Must we not forget all the federal workers who were forced out of their jobs, specifically to target the stability and wealth of the Black community.
Pierre Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian Ohio college student with a promising future, died by an apparent suicide, after being forced to wear an ankle monitor.
What about the erasure of Black history? It's no coincidence Lonnie Bunch, the Smithsonian's first Black leader, is resigning later this year after being constantly pressured by the Trump administration to rewrite our history.
Personally, I have been affected by my association with DEI. I mean, my brand rides on DEI. Like the freckles splattered across my light-skin, I can't erase my heritage (nor will I digitally erase my brand from the internet as was the case with BET.com print over the past week). All of the print articles documenting our history on BET.com have been erased from the internet. This is as a direct result of the new owners being allies to the Trump administration.
Beyond Your Individual Vote, Here's How You Can Help Save Democracy:
With that said, I am asking that each of us use our influence over the next few weeks to get engaged in the elections. While I know many of you plan on voting, I am asking that you also consider doing one of the following to combat Trump's effort to steal the election.
Become familiar with Vote.org Learn about the applications the website offers related to voter registration and education.
Check your registration and register a new voter at Vote.org.
Sign up to contact 30 Black registered voters, reminding them to vote via the NAACP link> Volunteer | NAACP (You don't need to reside in a Black neighborhood to call a registered voter).
Sign up to knock on doors. The NAACP will provide a list as well as the training. To sign up click on this link>Volunteer | NAACP
If you live in a Black neighborhood, condominium or an apartment, select one street and/or floor to knock on doors. Assist your neighbors with registering to vote, accessing vote.org. Add other streets and floors based on your schedule and/or enlist other neighbors to join you. And if you don't live in a Black neighborhood, consider driving to an area with a high concentration with Black folks.
If you're a member of a sorority, fraternity or church, canvass a Black neighborhood, barbershop, beauty salon and/or fitness health club. Remind folks of the following: the voter registration deadline, early voting dates, polling places, and the candidates to support. Create a banner with pertinent voting information, less endorsing a candidate in Black barbershops, beauty salons, restaurants and the like. Most owners will accommodate your request.
Use your texts to inform family and friends of how to register and how to check their voting status using vote.org. Remind them to vote during Early Voting.
If you know of a senior or a physically challenged individual who is unable to visit the polls, remind them to order a mail-in ballot now via vote.org. In fact, assist the individual in ordering the ballot. Remind them to drop off completed ballots at an Early Voting designated drop box.
Donate to a Democratic campaign.
Sign up to be a poll worker or watcher in a predominately Black voting precinct.
Consider driving folks to the polls during Early Voting.
Encourage everyone voting for Democracy to early vote.
Don't Be on the Wrong Side of History
We're going to need every vote possible in order to combat the Republicans effort to steal this election. Your efforts in volunteering could be the difference between us racking up enough votes to make Trump a lame duck over his next two years in office.
Please help us save democracy. Your personal income and wealth are not going to be enough to save us collectively. When history is written, what will history say about your contributions?
Did you opt to engage or sit on the sidelines waiting for the Democrats to help get us over the finish line? Like an untamed forest fire spreading through a community, no one is exempt from being affected. None of us are immune to the detrimental polices being instituted by the Trump administration. We are all in this together!
By the way, I am not a member of the NAACP. Yet, I did sign up to make 30 calls. More importantly, I am making plans to knock on some doors and visit some barbershops and beauty salons. Yes, I realize we're going to need more than prayer to push us over the finish line.
1 comment:
This was an excellent article and spot on . We are not collectively voting our true numbers and we are letting the WRONG people seep into the cracks of our government in every single branch. We better be engaged just like we were when we elected our first black president. No excuses , no distractions, no sitting it out. We’ve got business to take care of people 🙏🏽✅✅
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