Your vote matters.
The year of 1869 witnessed the enactment of Florida’s very first legislative act, which was specifically designed to disenfranchise individuals with felony convictions. The protections guaranteed by the 15th Amendment were systematically undermined, and various forces actively worked to suppress voting rights, disenfranchising many. Loitering without employment could lead to your arrest. Convicted felons like the 2024 President-elect, having served their sentences, may still lose their right to vote.
A jury found the 2024 president-elect guilty of over 30 felony crimes, but the court has not yet sentenced him. For example, in 1869, Florida passed legislation that disenfranchised felons, which directly contradicted the 15th Amendment. Consequently, authorities suppressed voting rights, and actions like loitering without employment resulted in arrest. Even after serving their sentences, convicted felons in Florida may still lose their right to vote.
A striking feature of the American democracy is its permanent revocation of voting rights for convicted individuals, a practice not seen in other democracies.
Mississippi’s Black Codes aimed to prevent Black people from voting. White Americans actively worked to exclude Black people from any form of self-governance.
Systemic oppression implemented the poll tax and a literacy test for voter registration to disenfranchise Black Americans. Racial segregation and disenfranchisement characterized this period of American history, known as the Jim Crow era. From 1890 to 1950, there were approximately 4000 people lynched (hanged by the neck), and the vast majority were black with white sympathizers! To suppress the right to vote among Black people, these terrorists employed brutal and murderous methods designed to spread fear and intimidation.
For example, they would burn down homes, churches, and schools in predominantly Black neighborhoods, leaving behind messages of hate and threats. They would also physically assault and even murder Black individuals who dared to exercise their right to vote or take part in political activities. These acts of violence created a climate of fear and discouraged Black people from engaging in the democratic process, even those of us who have served in the military.
Macro Snipes, a Black military veteran, proudly returned to his home in Taylor County, Georgia, after bravely fighting against the hateful Nazi racism he had witnessed during World War II. Undeterred by the threats made against any Black person who dared to vote—that voting would be their final act—he cast his ballot. On July 20, 1946, a firing squad comprised white men executed him on the front porch of his own home, a brutal and unjust end to his life. Because of the racial segregation of blood that lasted over 50 years, the hospital did not have any black blood left to save him. Upon returning home, a war veteran who bravely fought for his country was tragically murdered, a victim of the very hatred he had risked his life to combat overseas which somehow contradicts “Make America Great Again.”
The subjective greatness of America is undeniable, yet its imperfections demand constant effort from its people to push it towards its most noble aspirations and ensure it lives up to its founding ideals. I would be hard-pressed to explain to you when this country is great for Native Americans (before Europeans,) or minorities like us. People steal black colloquial expressions, like “stay woke,” and repurpose them into anti-black initiatives. The commercialization of our cultural expressions in speech, dance, song, and art is frequently driven by mainstream media and commercial interests. Perhaps we can start a trend by boycotting and by using our money to support Black-owned businesses in our community.
The preceding statement highlights the lack of a specific timeframe in which the country is “successful” for Native Americans and minorities. It draws a parallel between the appropriation of black colloquial expressions and the historical displacement of Native Americans by European settlers. Both instances involve the taking and repurposing of something that initially belonged to a marginalized group for the benefit of a more dominant group.
The President-elect’s Chief of Staff Deputy, Stephen Miller, is a prime example of a White Right Wing supremacist who is actively involved in leading efforts to undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives through segregation. Radical white extremists will hijack “They (Not Like Us)” and use it for nefarious rhetoric without knowing its true meaning. I know you will grow up to enjoy sports, but please remind yourself that black and minority ownership in sports pales compared to the minority gladiators who toil in athletic combat for white majority ownership profit despite superstar contracts.
Don’t let the large contracts and endorsements signed by athletes fool you; these mask the even greater profits made from their exploits because athletes’ careers are short, and taxes burden their hefty contracts. According to CBSsports.com, “the league made $12.873 billion in national revenue, a 7.5% increase from the previous year.” The contract of star players raise the average salary for an NFL player in 2024 is about $2.8 million, but many receive far less.
The NFL players’ association reported that 0.2% of high school football players make it to the NFL. Meanwhile, less than 1% of high school football players make it to the NFL. While affirmative action is being dismantled, DEI opportunities are being rolled back, and threats of the education department’s closure persist. Consequently, an education remains an important passport to improve your situation even with the obstacles that are placed by the GOP government. Use these obstacles as challenges to overcome.
However my dears, it is important to acknowledge that not everyone has the same level of access to educational opportunities and resources, especially marginalized communities who are disproportionately affected by the dismantling of affirmative action and DEI initiatives. The argument that individuals can use these obstacles as stepping stones to overcome may overlook the systemic barriers that make it significantly harder for certain groups to succeed.
While perseverance and determination are important qualities, it is equally important to address and dismantle the structural inequalities that hinder equal access to education for all individuals. Every time we take a single step forward as a people and community, they push back twice as hard. Why is that?
I suppose voter suppression, gerrymandering, and economic isolation are their way of challenging us and keeping their children ahead of you. However, you are not a victim. You live in a society that is built on institutional and systemic racism, but succeed you must and succeed you will.
Despite our gifts, others often cannot recognize or equally compensate us fairly. In particular, as young black females, you may experience this pay difference attributed to your skin color and gender. However, your value and worth are in your control; it’s essential to recognize, value, and motivate the person you see in the mirror each day and dig down deep and find your faith and moral base.
Malibu Most Wanted is a parody on black culture.
Black female actresses, artists, and athletes are paid for their work subject to constant grievances against the industry at large. Although progress toward gender equality in some sectors has occurred, black female actresses, artists, and athletes still face significant wage disparities compared to men. Maintaining an open mind while contemplating all information is crucial; however, it is just as important to critically assess and filter out the contradictory and disruptive noise that is certain to be present.
Many studies and reports have consistently shown that black women in these fields are consistently paid less than their male counterparts, even when factors such as experience and talent are considered. This wage gap not only limits their economic opportunities but also perpetuates systemic inequalities and reinforces stereotypes that devalue the contributions of black women in the entertainment and sports industries. Therefore, it is crucial to acknowledge and address the existing pay disparities that black female artists, athletes, and actresses face in order to truly achieve gender and racial equality.
Being a responsible citizen entails not only voting in elections but also actively encouraging and motivating others to take part and fulfill their civic duty of voting. Given the immense sacrifice and bloodshed throughout history to secure the right to vote, it is unconscionable to trivialize or dismiss its significance. To summarize, it is of vital importance to recognize and value your self-worth and to engage in daily self-motivation practices. Besides fulfilling your civic duty by voting in the upcoming election, it is also your responsibility to actively promote and assist others in exercising their fundamental right to take part in the democratic process. To disregard the significance of voting, especially when one considers the sacrifices made to secure this basic right, is an unacceptable and egregious oversight. You only need to remind yourself of our history by looking at my library of books on my bookshelf.
The truth is that we earn everything. The Civil Rights era emerged from the necessity for equal rights, inspiring leaders like Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, Fred Hampton, and Angela Davis to fight for the right to vote and for Black citizens to achieve self-respect and pride. Their stories live on my bookshelf and within my spoken and verbal communication.
My hopes and inspiration lay rested within you for a better future. However, let the present teach you the enormous amount of energy, sacrifice, and resilience necessary to fight and protect your rights for yourself, your children, and their future. Despite walls built to separate, people can dig tunnels for passage, and build bridges symbolizing connection, even while facing the threat of destruction.
Our community comprehends the harsh realities of burned ashes, the scars of rope burns around our necks, and the injuries from broken tree limbs resulting from the toxic fruits from our violated bodies. Some people will encourage you to let go of America’s sinful past to make themselves comfortable, but remember, their comfort is not your concern. This generation wants to hide the painful truth of how they mistreated Ruby Bridges, a little black child who had to be protected while going to school because of racist beliefs. They fear the shame and guilt associated with acknowledging the discrimination faced by black people at that time even small black children.
Their faces caught on the news camera could not mask the sheer venomous hate towards Ruby but yet they were there and watched stones, insults, and spittle hurled towards. Imagine how scared little Ruby must have been, but because she is black, that did not seem to matter, making it even more important to terrorize sending a discriminatory message to all black girls and boys - you aren’t like us. Ruby and many others have taught us those same white faces filled with hatred while frightening reveals a disgraceful truth about them and showcases our strength to persevere through tragedies.
We have lived through tragedies in Tulsa, Selma, Alabama, Mississippi back roads, Rosewood, South Carolina, Oakland, Watts, Los Angeles, California, and Louisiana. Example: We have lived through tragedies in Tulsa, Selma, Alabama, Mississippi back roads, Rosewood, South Carolina, Oakland, Watts, Los Angeles, California, and Louisiana. For instance, the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 saw the destruction of the prosperous African American neighborhood of Greenwood, often referred to as the Black Wall Street, resulting in the loss of countless lives and businesses.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the systemic racism and violence that Black communities have endured throughout history. Despite fierce opposition, dedicated individuals have worked to conceal and distort our rich heritage. We persist in our pursuit of knowledge, admiration, and dissemination of the stories of our heroic figures and influential voices. From the iconic Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, to the trailblazing Fannie Lou Hammer and Shirley Chisholm, we continue to learn, appreciate, and share their remarkable contributions to our history.
Let no one minimize you and undermine your self-esteem because they will, as you have heard from my experiences. We all have our sins and faults, but you are a human being more than skin color and muscle tissue; you have emotion, intelligence, and the capacity to love and forgive. Show people your gratitude, while expecting nothing in return. You are a lamplighter sent to illuminate the future through the darkness to follow.
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