An important lesson learned from the last two years in American politics is that every vote counts. That’s why it’s critical to mobilize and engage voters—not just in presidential elections, but all the time. Black women know this well. It’s why we consistently turn out for elections and how we helped Democrats win important victories in the South in 2017. And it’s why black women are once again focused there for the midterms.
A coalition of local, state, and national black women’s groups are planning get-out-the vote campaigns targeting black voters in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi. The coalition includes the organizations Black Voters Matter, the Black Women’s Roundtable, and Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative. Next month, they will meet in Alabama to further plan their strategy.
But not all of them are waiting until September to get started. Black Voters Matter has already begun their work by launching “The South is Rising” tour last Wednesday. The group is specifically reaching out to black rural voters who are often marginalized and ignored. In addition to registering voters, they hold forums on the history of voting rights in each state. The bus tour first stopped in Georgia and Mississippi before traveling on to Florida. They will target Alabama and Tennessee in the coming months.
Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown believes that with the right outreach and engagement, it is possible for black voters to play a critical role in upcoming elections in the South, just like they did in Virginia and Alabama last year. She says it’s just a matter of getting them activated. “If you activate (African Americans in) Alabama they vote. It’s not even a question. In Mississippi, if you activate and put the resources in, they vote.”
Not only are the midterms a critical opportunity for black voters in the South, there are also a number of black candidates in those states running for statewide office. Mississippi has a black candidate on the ballot for Senate. Mike Espy, a former Democratic congressman, is running to replace retiring Republican Sen. Thad Cochran. And in Florida, Democrat Andrew Gillum is looking to become the state’s first black governor. And, of course, Daily Kos-endorsed candidate Stacey Abrams is vying to become Georgia’s—and America’s—first black woman governor.
It’s incredibly exciting to see a coalition of black women’s groups pool their time, resources, and talent to support black voters and candidates—particularly in the South. For years, Democrats have thought the South was too red, too rural, and too racist to win. But the South is changing. And if the national Democratic Party doesn’t embrace a strategy of black voter mobilization, particularly in Southern states, black women will do what we’ve always done: Take to the streets, talk to folks, organize, and win. With record levels of black voter engagement and candidates running for office, 2018 is poised to be a groundbreaking year in American politics. As we’ve learned from the last few elections, if you want to get something done, trust a black woman to do it.
Wondering how you can help? Please donate $3 today to help elect Stacey Abrams as Georgia’s first black woman governor and turn the state blue!