Meeting the Moment, Part 1 – Listen to Women of Color
Sisters,
Yesterday, President Biden dropped out of the race for a second term as President of the United States, transforming the face of the 2024 election. While I am personally excited about the prospect of a sister leading our nation, I want to encourage us to focus on how important it is to leverage our power for good in the voting booth AND after when real decisions are made that impact our daily lives.
A recent poll conducted by a coalition of women of color organizations revealed that voting is extremely important to women of color, and we see it as extremely important to creating the change we want to see. Women of color, specifically Black women, have registered to vote and have voted in large numbers, handing wins to candidates at all levels of government.
This election cycle is no different. There is no pathway to the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the presidency without women of color, Black women specifically.
Source: https://www.270towin.com
But polling and pundits have warned that women of color and young adults of all races are not as enthusiastic about voting as they have been in the past and don’t necessarily like the choices on the ballot. That means we still have work to do to increase enthusiasm among all those planning to sit out this election. The stakes are too high for anyone to stay at home!
We have known for years that when women hold elected office, they change government for the better. Bottom line? We need to work hard to get more women elected to all offices to help improve outcomes for us, our families, and our communities!
“Women legislators are more likely to introduce legislation that specifically benefits women. They’re better at bringing funding back to their home districts. And, to put it bluntly, they just get more shit done: A woman legislator, on average, passed twice as many bills as a male legislator in one recent session of Congress.”
Source: Vox, https://www.vox.com/2016/7/27/12266378/electing-women-congress-hillary-clinton
So, continue celebrating this historic moment, prepare to raise your voice, and demand policies and systems that address our needs. Demand to be heard in City Hall, County Council meetings, your State Capitol, the U.S. Congress, and the White House. We can no longer be silent in between elections.
What can you do today? Join or create a WE CAN Action Team to receive training and other support to help you organize sisters in your community. Click the button below to ACT and raise your voice leading up to the November election and beyond!
In solidarity,
Stephanie McGencey, WE CAN President and Founder