Our Voices Matter, Our Votes Count

By Stephen Miller-Pitts

Alright, chat, let's get real. Generation Z and Millennials are fired up about this election, and many organizations are ready to jump into the fray. We've all heard the phrase "most consequential election" more times than we can count. It's like Sunshine Anderson's hit song "Heard It All Before" - promises made, promises broken. Sound familiar?

For many Black voters across the Commonwealth, the question often is, "Where have you been?" Or, "Oh, you need us now, but nothing will change, right?" This skepticism isn't unfounded. Historically, the money and resources meant for our communities often end up elsewhere. Civic engagement? More like civic neglect.

As the Civic Engagement Director, I've had the privilege of working with organizations and individuals who genuinely believe in engaging, educating, and mobilizing Black voters. Our program in Virginia has given me a front-row seat to the challenges and triumphs of our community. My job is to talk, inform, correct, assist, and be a resource for our most vulnerable voting populations. History has a way of repeating itself, and there's a concentrated effort to distract, disengage, and disenfranchise Black voters. But we're not going back. We're all in, ensuring our communities have the resources to uphold their civic duty.

Black voters are not a monolith. From barbershops to churches to homecoming events, the discussions range from issues on the ballot to who can best address those issues. We just want to be heard just like everyone else. Black Men, Black Women, Black Voters those who come from a resilience people that have fought and given their lives for this process to include our voices. Economy, Health, Security, Shelter, Food, Opportunity and Equity for all people. But remember you still have to pay what you owe, and black people are owed some decorum, some respect and access.

Since the 2000 election, we've been living through historical moments.

In 2004, my unit was in Iraq fighting for freedoms, but we couldn't cast ballots during that Presidential election in America. Ironically, we helped eight million people vote in elections for a Transitional National Assembly, touted as the first free democratic elections since the removal of Saddam. Talk about a plot twist!

Fast forward to 2008, during my second tour in Iraq, I made sure our unit and I participated in the Presidential election by casting absentee ballots. Nothing like voting from a war zone to make you appreciate democracy.

In 2016, I was a law school student. Around 8pm that evening, I turned to my friend Beez and said, "What are we going to do if these results remain?" Spoiler alert: they did.

By 2020, fresh into the new normal of the pandemic, I remember the divide and apathy that plagued so many in the community. It was a tough time, but it also highlighted the importance of staying engaged and making our voices heard.

In this age of instant information, the challenge isn't just access to knowledge but how we process and connect the dots.

Last week, I volunteered at a high school voter registration drive. The apathy was palpable. One student, eligible to vote, didn't see the point. I asked the students what they wanted. The answer? "Get the bag" - money. But they didn't know how much or what they'd do with it. I used a student's job to illustrate how elections impact their pay, housing costs, medical expenses, and store prices. By the end, the student registered to vote and committed to voting early. It was a lightbulb moment.

We all want more time - not money, but time to educate ourselves and have those kitchen table discussions. But life's stresses often leave little room for this. That's why I love what I do. It's about making sure our voices are heard and our votes count. I'm a leave it all out on the field because the alternative isn't option.

Stephen Miller-Pitts is a State Director in Virginia, working with the NAACP to mobilize Black voters.