Mid-Terms: Where Are Black Voters?

At primaries across the country this year, fewer and fewer Black voters showed up to the polls. In Memphis, Tennessee — a city where 63% of the population is Black — an estimated low of 8% of African Americans cast a ballot.

[National: Op-Ed]

The African American community faces a real and serious crisis this November.

At primaries across the country this year, fewer and fewer Black voters showed up to the polls. In Memphis, Tennessee — a city where 63% of the population is Black — an estimated low of 8% of African Americans cast a ballot. Even in areas of Chicago with high African American populations, voter turnout was down 20%.

When we fail to vote, we fail to garner the support, and earn the respect, of our elected officials. We fail to matter when it comes time to pass laws that affect our jobs, our children, and our civil rights.

We fail ourselves, and we fail our democracy. That is why we need your help to get out the vote this election. Pick up the phone and call 10 people who live in areas less likely to vote and tell them why their voice matters: http://action.naacp.org/GOTV

As we confront this crisis, our challenges are growing. Funding is difficult during this tough economy, and we are mobilizing our supporters with fewer resources than before.

Fortunately, grassroots campaigning is nothing new to the African American community — we have been uniting together to strengthen our voices for centuries. And today the NAACP is rolling out a tool on our website that makes calling voters simple.

Take a minute to find out for yourself. Make a few calls to people in the states that risk losing their voice, and explain to them why voting matters — the script has already been written for you.

This movement is about working from the ground up and starting a conversation among neighbors. We know that our supporters are our biggest strength.

Ben Jealous is President and CEO, NAACP

“Speaking Truth To Empower.”

 

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