Importance of Black Youth Voting
By Darrell Coles - Black Youth Vote Staff
It's important for the black youth to vote because past generations have fought and died insuring African Americans have the right to vote. The Civil Rights Movement paved the way for African Americans so we have to continue to exercise this right, for the countless lives lost won't go in vein. To this day Blacks are still fighting discriminatory voting practices that hinder their civil and human rights. According to the United States Census data, over sixty-six percent of registered voters who were black went to the polls and voted in the 2012 presidential election. That's two percent higher than registered white voters, and almost six percent higher than U.S voters overall. It's important for African Americans to vote because this is the only way our voices will be heard and issues will get addressed, together we can change policy and hold elected officials accountable. If Black voters don't express our needs to elected officials by voting our interests, then more than likely they won't be addressed. Every vote counts, all elections matter, #blacklivesmatter. #BlackYouthVote - Our Politics! Is NOW!
Black Youth Vote! is holding our 12th Annual Civic Leadership & Organizers Training Conference on November 5-7, 2015 in DC to organize to connect protest, policy and the power the youth vote will have in who gets elected the next president in the 2016 Election Cycle. BYV seeks to educate young African-American adults on the connection between voting and public policy, and how it affects their lives today and their future opportunities. BYV is a national grassroots movement committed to increasing political and civic engagement among black youth and young adults between the ages of 18-35. BYV convenes, organize, and lead at both the national and local level in 2015 by anchoring its youth civic engagement, leadership development, mentoring, community & voter empowerment work. Join the BYV Movement @blackyouthvote.