(ThyBlackMan.com) We all know that voting in our local elections is necessary to effect our day to day lives. Voting is very important, however we must be knowledgeable and honest about why we do it…locally and nationally. Let’s be honest…we as African-Americans vote because it’s our right, because it’s our duty, because our community depends on it and because our ancestors died for this right. When election time rolls around our elders get serious about us taking advantage of our right to vote. It’s hammered into our heads that it’s our duty, and right. The problem is too many are wondering if their vote truly counts.
This generation has unlimited access to Google so they can research the facts regarding local elections verses national elections…they can find out what the electoral college is about. We must begin not only to tell young people there is a power in the vote, but that voting equates to one form of voice in this country. We must also be real about which elections are truly effected by the popular vote.
There are young people that noticed the President-Elect is often 
announced before the popular vote is completely counted. There are those that know there are President’s that have been elected without the popular vote; these things must be explained so that people are not turned off to voting. Please know that your vote is loud locally. Vote for your representatives, judges, city council members, state leadership…these votes don’t need an electoral college, and these people will make day to day decisions that will effect your community immediately.
One of the biggest silent motivators to vote for African-Americans is how our right to vote came about. We were denied this right, and as a people we had to wage a fight for it. We lost lives and had scarred community members because our rights were important. Our ancestors were willing to fight a system that would deny obvious rights based on skin color. Our right to vote was paid for with blood, sweat and tears. When we go to the polls we honor the sacrifice of those that came before us. Truthfully we know this system is not perfect, and maybe the voice of the people in presidential elections doesn’t carry the weight it should, but voting for African-Americans should be personal. Maybe, more of the younger generation would vote if they truly understood the price of our rights in this country. Our elders are transitioning and it is up to us not to lose nor take for granted everything their generations worked so hard to achieve.
The Voting Rights Act is one of the crowning achievements of the Civil Rights Movement. We must Honor it. The baton was passed to us, and now we must continue the fight against voter disenfranchisement. We don’t live in a post racial society, and even today some places make you feel as though you are literally seeing a setting out of a history book. There are many positive reasons to vote…let the cost of the right be one of them. Our voice in this country, and right to it, was bought in blood. Let’s never forget where we come from, or the method by which our rights have come. If for no other reason we should vote to honor the dead. If we stand their deaths and sacrifices would not have been in vain.
Staff Writer; Christian Starr
May connect with this sister over at Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/christian.pierre.9809 and also Twitter; http://twitter.com/MrzZeta.
