BlaKK Vote: Reasons African-Americans Need to Vote

The room in CHHS 376 was filled with women and men who came prepared to hear what the Black Student Union and the Kappa Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated had to say about the importance of the "Black Vote." After beginning the program with an intense icebreaker and video on the importance of voting, Aviance Brown introduced speaker Marcelle Vielot who is over the Youth/College Committee of the NAACP Charlotte.

Vielot spoke passiontately about the need to get out into the polls and crafted an argument that made many of the attendees think. After group discussions and questionares, attendees were asked to sign the pledge to vote as well as update their voter registration.

From the entire program, there were many reasons why everyone should get out and vote in the midterm elections, but there were three core reasons in regards to the minorities as to why they should vote.

1. Generations before us fought and died for voting

It took three constitutional amendments, the 14th, 15th and 24th, before all Black Americans could freely vote in the U.S. African Americans weren’t given the right to vote in the U.S. until 1869. Still until this day, Black voters still fight against discriminatory practices that hinder their civic right. In 2011, a record number of voting restrictions that unreasonably affected African Americans were presented in state legislatures nationwide, including photo ID requirements, cuts to early voting and restrictions on voter registration.

2. African American votes do matter, “especially” college students

African Americans should vote in every possible election, every vote that is casted by an African American is important because every vote has value. This is opposing to what many have been brainwashed into believing that their vote does not matter. We are guilty of not being of alert and aware of what is amongst within our communities. There is also a deficiency of issues being publicized and encouragement in our community about voting. If Black voters do not express their needs to elected officials, their needs most likely will not be met. It also has been stated that we are known as African Americans to be at the bottom of the polls economically.

In addition to our votes holding value Students do have the right to vote in the towns and cities where they attend college. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld this right in 1979. However, students have confronted false information and intimidating community members that have tried to prevent them from voting where we attend school.

3. Ferguson

The police shootings in Ferguson and strained police-community relations in Minneapolis have made this a top election issue for Blacks. If any progress in bringing about more police accountability are to happen, Black voters must use their vote to elect officials who will act.

By: Faith Turner

#blakkvote #bsu #aka #voting