I'm working with a project called Hoodie Vote which is a grassroots movement to get people to the polls this Election Day in their hoodies. This is not to disrespect Martin's memory and his horrific murder. Instead, it is to harness the energy that united us after Martin’s murder and to put it towards voting so we can make help create the communities we want and deserve by denouncing destructive policies.
After Trayvon Martin’s murder, we mobilized in our hoodies in solidarity to protest a dangerous mix of police brutality, questionable “Stand Your Ground” laws, and old-fashioned racism. It highlighted how lethal stereotypes and assumptions about young people of color can be. We channeled our energy into protests, educated each other about ALEC, wrote blog posts and had a lot of local and national conversations.
Ten months later, it’s almost Election Day and it’s an opportunity to join together again and make our voices heard. It’s not just about Obama vs. Romney, there are numerous state ballot initiatives in states that will directly affect communities of color and/or young people.
People see young black & brown youth and adults in hoodies (in general) and assume that we are criminals and/or violent and/or uneducated. They don't expect us to be politically engaged or aware. They assume we are poor and apathetic and won’t show up to the polls. Speaker of the House John Boehner said this outright. It’s not just the GOP but people on both sides. By not voting, we are giving up our voices and giving politicians more reasons to ignore us when they make policy decisions.
To help us understand what’s at stake locally and nationally, there are a variety of online resources. One is TheBallot.org created by the League of Young Voters where you can input your address to see not only what’s on your local ballot but also see voter guides created by people in your area. For example, in my Brooklyn district there are a few voter guides where I learned about which candidates oppose stop and frisk or hydro-fracking. You can also make your own voter guide informing other users about which candidates and ballot measures you support (or don’t) and why. Find your representative here and investigate specifically what’s happening in your area.
This is not to be confused with Ballot.org which features a map showing where state ballot measures will affect immigrant rights, reproductive justice, equal opportunity and environmental protection. You can click on your state and see what is on the ballot where you live. For example, Michigan voters can protect the “Working Families Amendment” which allows people to unionize and to collectively bargain for fair wages. Voters in Oklahoma will decide whether or not to ban affirmative action. In Florida, voters will decide if politicians can ban insurance companies from covering a woman who needs to end a pregnancy because of her health. Voters in Maryland will approve or reject the DREAM Act. These all directly affect us, our families, friends and communities.
Forward Together’s “Strong Families Initiative” also put together some useful voting information. “Vote for Us! The Strong Families Guide To Civic Participation,” helps you make informed voting decisions and create conversations within our communities about what elections mean for our families and communities. They also created a 2012 Voter Guide for Californians which explains key ballot measures such as Prop 30 which temporarily increases taxes on the wealthiest 2% to raise money for schools, and Prop 36 which reforms the “Three Strikes” policy by removing life sentences for third strike offenses that are not serious or violent by law.
We cannot complain about laws and policies if we are not voting. It’s easy to internalize ideas that voting is hopeless when poor people are ignored by politicians, widespread voter intimation aims to keep communities of color away from the polls and popular celebrities discourage the utility of voting. It is one critical way we can use our voices within our system. We need to ensure that young people are engaged and stay engaged.
Over 50 college campuses & community organizing groups around the country are already involved in Hoodie Vote. The movement has gotten endorsements from Dick Gregory, Questlove, Russell Simmons, Jasiri X, Van Jones, Amanda Seales and a host of other artists, activists and legislators. Young people are actively spreading the word at their schools and in their communities and using the Internet to spread the word with photos and videos.
I understand that some people may see this as a gimmick. Since a “gimmick” is defined as a trick or device to get people’s attention. Hoodie Vote is not tricking anyone or being deceptive but we do want the attention of young people and communities of color. The people behind this campaign, Trell Thomas and Billy Wimsatt are established organizers and leaders in civic engagement and are not profiting from these shirts (any money made goes to making them and giving them to organizations and celebrities). Though we are selling official “Hoodie Vote” hoodies, we encourage people to wear their own hoodies to the polls. It’s about the message and the shirt is a tool. There are worse things than getting people interested in voting and putting our energy towards something can be transformational.
We are aiming to keep these discussions going through Election Day and beyond. For now, research your candidates and tell us why you’re voting at votinginmyhoodie.tumblr.com. We are collecting stories, photos and videos of people around the country telling us why they’ll be at the polls in their hoodie on Election Day. We want to see it and share it so tweet us (@Hoodie_Vote) with the hashtag #hoodievote.
Images are powerful and they influence the stories that are told and what we see in the media. Election Day is an opportunity to change the conversation from tragedy to triumph.
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