This Affects Us All... Why We Vote!

The first episode of NCBW's new podcast: "THIS AFFECTS US ALL... Why We Vote. This episode dives into the importance of informed voting and how your vote impacts not just the upcoming election, but future generations. NCBW's goal is to empower listeners to feel motivated to vote in the Presidential election, regardless of past feelings about voting or candidates. We’re excited to have Honorable Judge Glenda Hatchett join us!

NCBW Presents "This Affects Us All"

Transcript

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Serenity Bryce: 0:04

This podcast isn't about the left, it isn't about the right. It's about our rights. You're listening to this affects us all the why we vote episode, this broadcast is presented by the National Coalition of 100 black women. My name is serenity Bryce, and I am the national program associate for ncbw, HQ. I'm also a recent graduate of Clark, Atlanta University who is passionate about helping people realize their power through their vote. This podcast is about our voice and how we shape our democracy. I'm not alone in this effort. Joining me today is Kayla Ruffin, an ncbw member from Florida and a former public school educator. She taught civics to middle schoolers and brings research and analysis to today's conversation. Hey Kayla, hi serenity.

Kaillah Ruffen: 0:56

Thank you and hello everyone. I'm here because I share a strong passion for ensuring that everyone, regardless of their decision, makes an informed choice when they decide to vote. I'm really looking forward to our conversation here today. We're excited

Serenity Bryce: 1:13

to also have with us a name you all will recognize judge Glenda a hatchet is not only a world renowned judge who had her own televised court show, but she also volunteers her time to serve on the President's Advisory Council for ncbw HQ. Currently, Judge hatchet is on the Council of a law firm of Stuart Miller Simmons, based in Atlanta, Georgia, handling cases throughout the nation. Hello, Judge hatchet.

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 1:37

Thank you so happy to be with you all today. What an important conversation we're going to have, and everybody's been thanking me since I came into the building. But let me be very clear, this is my responsibility, and it is my privilege to sit with you two young women today.

Kaillah Ruffen: 1:57

We appreciate that. In our time together, we're going to discuss the following topics, mail in ballots, what it means to be an informed voter. Research published on why people don't vote. Does your vote matter, and how has voting shaped and impacted the black community?

Serenity Bryce: 2:16

That's a lot. Kayla, so let's talk about it. So according to the census, 33% of eligible Americans did not cast their vote in the last election. This was the highest voter turnout we've seen in the 21st century, but that still amounts to over 80 million votes that did not get counted. Some of these reasons include not being registered to vote, not being interested in politics, not liking the candidates, and feeling like their vote wouldn't have made a difference. We all know this year, a major election is coming up in November, so I want to ask you all, what makes you want to vote? Judge hashe, I'll let you answer that. First,

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 2:51

I'm old enough to have seen this nation go through a lot. I am old enough to remember when the little girls died in the bombing in the church that Sunday morning, and really crying and telling my parents that I was afraid to go to Sunday school. And so I've seen the struggles of a civil rights movement. I've seen the work that has gone particularly for the Voting Rights Act. I knew John Lewis, and so I have seen the country go through so many different changes, but I have never, ever in my life, seen this nation so polarized and so much demonstration of hate. We're seeing churches bomb. We're seeing synagogues bomb. We're seeing hatred against Asian Americans. We're seeing hatred against black Americans. We're seeing so much hatred and so much division now in this country. And so for me, the bottom line, democracy is on the ballot. I don't know how else to say that democracy is on the ballot. And for me, if there is not a direction of hope and positivity that is all inclusive of people, regardless of your race or your gender or your preference or your religion or your zip code, then we are going to see a very different nation. And I don't want that to happen. I don't want it to happen for my sons. I don't want it to happen for my grandchildren. I don't want it to happen for anybody. And this is critical, in my opinion, this year, November 2024 is the most critical time of voting that we've ever seen. Wow.

Serenity Bryce: 5:00

Wow, that speaks volumes, especially because you remember the bombing of the church. So for you to go from that experience to saying this election is still just as critical as what was happening back then, that almost makes me think, How far have we really come? Kayla, I also want to give you a chance to answer this question, because I know you're a young educator. What makes you want to vote?

Kaillah Ruffen: 5:24

You know, Judge hatchet. You mentioned something. You said democracy is on the ballot, and that's what it's about people having an opportunity to have their voice heard. It's not okay for me to spend my days complaining about the issues that I see happening, but not take the opportunity to have my voice heard, and that's what voting means for me. It's about not just complaining, but doing something about it.

Serenity Bryce: 5:49

So when we talk about popular vote, do we say, even if they're going to vote crazy, it's their vote, their choice. Let them vote how they want to. Yes,

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 5:58

that is what democracy is. If that person gets the votes, then that is the will of the people.

Serenity Bryce: 6:07

That's an interesting way to put it, because when it comes to democracy, like you said, it's the people being able to voice their power. And I think right now, we're in a kind of climate, in my opinion, where I feel like the people don't really know their voice. They don't know that they can affect politics just as much as it affects them too. But even when we talk about voting, I think a lot of people lack the information, because in the last election, there were a lot of talks about, how secure is the votes, how legitimate are the votes? So we know you have to be registered to vote, that's a given, but after you're registered, people don't even know that they can vote by mail. I know there's been a lot of talks about if those votes are secured, so judge hatchet. What are your thoughts about the security of mail in ballots? I

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 6:49

must be very clear, no system is perfect, but I'm a big advocate of different choices to be able to vote, and so there are people who need the option to cast their ballot by mail. There are people who are housebound, for instance, because of sickness, whatever, and they can't go physically to a polling place to vote. And so I think that the mail option is a very important option, but let me stress that we have to make sure that people get their ballots in sufficient time so that they can cast them, get them postmarked, get them back. Because depending on where you live, the rules are different, unfortunately, and in some places, if they have to be received by the election day, sometimes it just has to be by postmark. And so my instructions to everybody is, do it well, well, well, in advance. The other piece of this for young people, since we are having this conversation about young people, is that there are students who are registered, and for instance, and we're sitting right here near the Atlanta University Center, and there are some students who have registered in Oklahoma or California or Florida or wherever, and they need to have that option to be able to vote absentee and to return those ballots by mail. But make sure you know the rules, make sure you get the ballot in plenty of time and make sure that we encourage people to use that option. Is it 100,000% secure? Nothing is but the alternative, for me is to not have that option, and I think that's

Kaillah Ruffen: 8:33

a problem. And there actually is a way to look up to see if your ballot was counted. You can visit vote.org/ballot tracker, and you will see all of the states come up. You click on your state, input your information, and that's how you can track whether or not your ballot was counted. Let's say that again,

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 8:53

really seriously, this is so important, because if you sent it and you don't have a way to track it, but if it doesn't come up, then you have enough time to try to correct the situation. So please, will you repeat that? Visit vote.org/ballot

Kaillah Ruffen: 9:09

tracker, click on your state, input the information that it's requesting of you, and track your ballot.

Serenity Bryce: 9:16

And then, just to mention what Judge hatch said, do it way in advance. So because there's mail delays, there's, you know, everything's going to go on with the holidays, so just do it in advance and make sure that your vote is counted. And another thing about this election, we hear a lot of Democrats, Republicans, left, right, conservative, some of these titles and some of these identities. Not everybody relates to some people may feel like I don't identify as a Democrat or a Republican, and I don't like this person and I don't like this person, so just if I don't like this person because of what he views and I don't like my other options, I don't want to vote. So if someone doesn't like their choices, if they don't want to vote for either candidate, why should they still vote and how? Should they vote? Well,

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 10:01

it's a personal decision, but I will tell you that not voting is a vote. I don't know how else to say it. Not voting is a vote, and sometimes it really may come down to the person that you can least tolerate right in terms of their policies, their approach, how they described you and your community, what are they proposing? And I'm hearing this a lot that I still think that there is a need to look at this election in the totality that it is a vote for democracy, because, in my opinion, and I know that we have to be balanced in this conversation, but in my opinion, it is a real clear distinction, and vote for me for democracy, As opposed to something that could be very different in terms of autoCrat and for things to be done now, this project 2025, we don't have time to get into today, but that's real, and that's what's in writing. And if that's what's in writing, what else is being discussed, right? And so to sit home, then my response is that not voting is a vote.

Kaillah Ruffen: 11:27

One of the things that I mentioned in the intro, I'm all about people being an informed voter. All right, so you have to choose, like judge hatchet stated, who can I tolerate most? How do I get that information? If you don't want to hear it straight from the candidates. You can go to sites and get information from nonpartisan places such as the League of Women Voters. Vote for one one.org. Just facts.org. Vote smart.org. All of those are places where you can receive non biased information, again, nonpartisan, so that you can still participate without feeling like I just chose somebody, just to choose now you made an informed decision on what was going to be best to represent you your interest and the issues in your community.

Serenity Bryce: 12:17

So my question to you, Judge hatchet is voting independent, a throwaway vote? My candid

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 12:22

answer, I don't think it helps the situation. And in certain situations, we have seen a third party candidate which has detracted from the person I thought was the most progressive and the one who was most suited to deal with a diverse nation, and so I don't think we're going to see that this year, because the most noted one has withdrawn. But I think that until there is a multi party system in this country, because we see it in other nations, that there are just two parties, until there is a multi party system in this nation, I think that that's a throwaway vote. Quite candidly, I think you've got to decide. And you may say, I don't want this person in this party. I don't want this person in this party, but who of those will be of the best interest, not just for you, but for your family, for your city, for your nation. Actually, we're talking about somebody who's going to be good for the world, because this country plays such an important piece in the global community.

Serenity Bryce: 13:32

And I think that goes back to what you were saying, Kayla, you can't complain if you're not even aware of the issues that are being set right before you. So people need to do their due diligence to know what issues are on the ballot, who are the people that are running, and how do these people think about my community, my issues?

Kaillah Ruffen: 13:49

I think we need to know the ease of having conversations around voting, even in that example you just used, if I've you know, done some research, the same way we debate about everything else. Who's better in basketball, Kobe or, you know, LeBron or Jordan? We research the facts. We come to the table. We have those discussions. The same thing can happen when we talk about the area of politics. It's a matter of understanding, well, this is an issue in our community. Here's why we need to back this candidate. Having those conversations are crucial, because sometimes people aren't going to go out there and do their due diligence. It's up to us. And

Serenity Bryce: 14:27

I think that will actually segue into our next topic, because how do we know which candidates are good for the world? Kayla,

Kaillah Ruffen: 14:33

that's one of the things we want to talk about. According to research that was conducted in 2020 by the Pew Center, there are young people, ages 18 to 29 who receive nearly half of their information from social media, right? But social media isn't always accurate. So if we're voting like our life depends on it. Is this the best place to get our research for candidates? It's

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 14:59

not. Yeah, it's not, but that is the way of the world. And so I think that the candidates have to readjust, frankly, and I think that they have to be very proactive in putting out what is important and using social media as an important tool to communicate, because that is the reality of this generation, and so we have to make sure that the candidates are also balancing, because a lot of what's out on social media just is not factual. It just is not

Serenity Bryce: 15:33

I think even mainstream media is starting to recognize the importance and the power of social media, like CNN, The Washington Post, The Daily Mail. They've already all made Tiktok accounts, so they're trying to get in tap with the market of young people. But like you said, how do we differentiate? And

Kaillah Ruffen: 15:49

to your point, there has to be change. Why? Because how we get information has changed. We've gone from newspapers to radio to television. Now you've got internet and social media, so with that, the access to information can definitely happen quicker, right? And so it's up to us to do our due diligence, to go out there and research. But as well, you bring up an interesting point. If we know that how we've received information has changed, then it's also up to the candidates and their respective workers to say, how can I get out ahead of that? Or, how can I, you know, for the, you know, lack of a better phrase, how can I get with the times,

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 16:32

right, right? That is so true. Otherwise, you're going to be sitting there looking and wondering what happened, and that's just not going to work. Can I? Can I add a footnote to the stat you just talked about to let's remember that young voters the difference between what happened in 2016 and what happened in 2020 that it was A 11% increase in the number of young voters who voted between those two elections and their voices made a difference. So to counter the conversation, my voice does not make a difference. Look what happened in 2016 and then look what happened 39% of those eligible voters, those young voters, voted in 2020, 50% still, we would like that to be bigger, but that 11% span was amazing. We saw the same trends among black voters. We saw the same trends among Hispanic voters that this was, in my opinion, a wake up call. So what did we get after 2016 Oh, I'm going there. We got not one, not two, but three. Count them, three, Supreme Court justices, Supreme Court that will change, and has already changed the dynamic of that court, and if people say it doesn't matter to vote, that is one glaring example of what happens when people who may not have your interest at heart because you didn't vote got into office. That's

Serenity Bryce: 18:27

interesting. You say that because there are some people that don't get involved in politics. They don't talk about politics, but I think it's important for them to realize politics isn't something you can or can't be involved in. You're already involved, whether it's how high your rent is, your minimum wage, the streets you drive on, like you said, the highways, all of that, your school funding. How do you speak to someone who doesn't want to talk about politics, about why they should get into politics, or why they should vote?

Kaillah Ruffen: 18:58

And to your point, sometimes people will say that I don't want to talk about that. A lot of times it's because we recognize, you know, politics is one of those taboo topics we don't talk about that some people don't feel as though they will be respected for what they believe or what they think, right? And I think it's just a matter of letting them know, there's nothing that you would say, per se that's wrong. You have your interest, and I have mine. I'd like to hear them. You know, let's have a conversation, even if we don't talk about a candidate. What are some things you recognize going on that you don't like? Because at the end of the day, it's all connected to politics. Every piece of it, there's there's nothing that needs to be changed, that that politics doesn't affect in some way. And I think when we talk with people and have the opportunity to pinpoint where their interests are, that's how we can have that conversation without necessarily calling it politics, just to back off that. I'm

Serenity Bryce: 19:59

going to. To be an angel's advocate when it comes to politics, I know it's almost like a white and black area with not a lot of gray. It's either I don't want to talk about it at all, or you need to vote, vote or die. That whole sentiment, it's hard to tell someone who's struggling with three jobs, four kids, and is just trying to find a way to make it to work on a bus route that doesn't always take her to her job. You need to vote. I don't have time to vote. I don't have time to think about vote. I don't have time to go to talk to these candidates because my rent is still high, my minimum wage is still low, and these kids still don't have good education. Because even people who said, Well, I voted in the past and still nothing changed, they're met with all the reasons why they should vote, instead of people actually listening to all the reasons why they don't want to vote. Even the Knight Foundation did a study that found out that 12% of the non voters felt like their voice doesn't matter. So it's easy for us to say, Yes, Your vote matters because of this, this and that, but I think to break it down and say, Why don't you think your vote matters? And I think that's a very important conversation that you can start with and just listen, because I know sometimes we listen to react versus just listening to hear.

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 21:10

We haven't dealt with the woman with four children, three jobs on the bus route, who's not going to be able to advocate. And so my response there is that then we have to stand in the gap for people who can't, you know, I have not just with the whole voting thing as just always the way I've encouraged people to look at the situation that the reality is that there are people in this country who we have to stand in the gap for until they are able to stand strongly on their own, right? And so we have to say, All right, I get it. How can we make this convenient for you? If we if we have something on Saturday and we get people souls to the polls on Sunday, whatever it is. How can we then facilitate you going and if you will take a step of faith to vote, let's see how we can support you in just the logistics of voting. But that follow up has got to be different people in this chain who will stand in the gap for that mother and then go back to her and say, you know, we've been working on legislation for the minimum wage, we've been looking at the issue of child care. We've been concerned about your children's schools, because there has to be, there just have to be layers of this, because we can't expect that mother to have the same fire in the belly that I have about this election. We can't, because she is there struggling every day to survive, and all she sees is prices going up. Her schools are not good. Her kids are frustrated. She can't keep the kind of job that she wants. She had to drop out of high school. I mean, these are women I saw in my courtroom, day in and day out, because they were in there with their children, right? And so I know I know the woman you describe. I know them. I have talked to them, I've seen them. I understand the depth of that frustration. And so it's not realistic that we can think that all of a sudden they're just going to be all gung ho and go and vote. Okay, so now let's see how we're going to get her to the polls. Can we get some transportation? Can we help her? Does she know that she can ask for her employer to let her come in two hours late to vote? Does she have that information? Does that employer do that? We have to make sure that we give her the support him the support to get to vote. You got that absolutely

Kaillah Ruffen: 24:01

and serenity. I love what you stated. Sometimes, when we hear people say things like that, we're ready to tell them all the reasons they should instead of asking them further. Why do you feel like this? How do we solve that problem if we don't even know the problem exists? You can't just write people off as though what they're saying doesn't matter, even in that moment, I'm about to go left, but it's going to come back. Voting is just one political strategy. Doesn't mean it's the end all be. All right, because you got to follow up with your candidates. You said you would do this. Are you doing it right? Making sure that you're serving to volunteer on some of those open boards, especially at the local level, where you get to see the grants that are coming in and make the decisions. It's not just about voting and walking away and saying, Okay, we got them in. It's done. That's just one piece of it. You got to keep going. You got to keep following up. But. Because if they don't feel as though they owe you that, I can tell you, it might not always be at the forefront of their mind, right? You got to keep showing up. Voting is just one piece.

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 25:11

It's a very good point. Very good point.

Kaillah Ruffen: 25:13

We could stay there all day. But I do want to talk about another group. Judge, hatchet. How would you respond to an African American male in his 40s who says people who were beaten and died so we could have the ballot gave us a choice, not an obligation to vote.

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 25:34

It is a choice. It is a choice, but you have the obligation, not just to yourself, but you've got an obligation to that 40 year old man, black man, who didn't get the opportunity he got. And so I need you to think holistically, that it's not just about you. It is about your obligation to that other person, to that young boy, to this broader community, to that elderly person who doesn't have the opportunity, oh yeah, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right. It is a choice, not an obligation, but I want you to think outside of yourself, and I do want you to see it as an obligation to a broader community. And then I say, oh, Judge, you know, I've heard that before. And I'm going to say, then, what have you done in your life? Oh, I'm going to go there, you know, I'm going to I'm going to ask him, What have you done in your life that you've made a sacrifice that would live beyond your lifetime? And he's gonna say nothing, and I'm gonna say but I can call the role of all these men and women who did it so that you could so don't talk to me about choice. You need to talk to me about your obligation. Not only for our ancestors, but for generations yet born. Oh no, I would go there with him, and then I tell him the story about this whole wise person who, it's a Chinese proverb talks about, you could always tell when civilization was coming to a part of the world because a man, I had to add, woman, would plant a tree, knowing that they'd never be able to sit under its shade. Come on. And so I don't have a lot of patience for people who are privileged and telling me that it's a choice and not an obligation, when you wouldn't be where you are right now, had it not been for so Many people sacrificing for you to have this right. Which is, in my opinion, a heavy responsibility, and very importantly, ought to be seen as a privilege. I mean that. So next time you run into somebody like that, you send them to me. Okay, it's

Serenity Bryce: 28:39

time to talk about our generation, because we are the ones that are kind of lacking in the vote. So I will say that about 34% of non voters are younger than 30, and about 70% are younger than 50. So why do you think there such a disconnect between voting and the younger generation?

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 28:57

Well, I don't think that this country has done a good job of engaging young voters, I would just be very candid. So when I was, when I was your age, you know, there was this whole thing around the Voting Rights Act and making sure that people understood, and we were out in the streets, registering people registering. I mean, we were just all my generation was very involved, but we also understood what the consequences were and why it was important in turn, we have not done a good enough job of educating your generation about the urgency of now, my generation, we felt the urgency. We felt like we had to get out. We had to do it. We had to, you know, make sure that our voices were heard and that we were involved. And some of us went on to even whole political office, and we're just. Very different kind of feeling that I am hearing from my young mentees, not that they're disengaged, but the urgency is not the same. We have failed your generation, in my opinion, and instilling in you the urgency of now, and I hope that we can turn the corner on this. I think it's very interesting, because we've seen so much more excitement these last few weeks about voting and engaging, and I'm hoping that will continue to happen, and that more and more people will then start paying attention, but it is incumbent upon us to do a better job of engaging you this election in Georgia. Say, I'll just use Georgia's example, because I was a part of this pack in 2020 that if young people had voted at the same level nationally that they did in Georgia, it would have been a very different outcome, and that's why we have to build bridges. We have to help accommodate people to vote, to make it such that it is within reach. Everybody doesn't have a car. Everybody can't take off from work to get to vote. What I'm saying is that we have to make sure that people understand what the choices are, and that we not be elitist about this whole thing, and that we understand that the more participation, the stronger the democracy you have a responsibility to lift as you climb, if we are not reaching back, if we are not lifting, if we are not raising up new generation of young people, then shame on us, because all of those will sit back and say, Well, you know, I'm cool, I'm good, I don't need to vote. You have a responsibility, because it's not just about you. It's not just about you. It is a broader conversation that's much bigger than you. And you know, you sit there and act all high and mighty. Let me tell you, the Supreme Court, if they have their way, this affirmative action stuff is going to continue to change. It's going to continue to change and voting rights. The Voting Rights stuff is already eroding radically from where the John Lewis Voting Rights Act still hasn't passed because we are not voting in sufficient numbers to get members of Congress to get it passed. And so I'm good, I'm good. No, you're not. No, you're not. Because if voting rights continues to be eroded. Certain rights opportunities that you've had are changing. It's going to affect you too. That's so powerful. Democracy is on the ballot, human rights is on the ballot, civil rights is on the ballot.

Serenity Bryce: 33:20

So Kayla, if you have to talk to a generation other than your own and tell them something about voting, it could be older and younger. What advice or what words would you leave with them?

Kaillah Ruffen: 33:30

I would actually speak to the older generation and judge hatchet. You said that you've got a coat that just says, vote all over and you are going to have your grandchildren sign it.

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 33:42

I've got special pens that they can write on fabric, and we're putting vote all over it in white letters. And I specifically want them to sign it. I want them to understand the significance, just like my dad would take me back in the day with the curtains, you would pull the thing, and the curtains would close the old voting booths for as long as back as I can remember, my dad always took me with him when he went to vote, because he worked at night, and he would make sure that during the day, when he went to vote, he would take me, But yeah, I want to have my grandsons to understand why I am doing what I am doing, and I'm involving them. Like, a couple of Sundays ago, they were up at the table where people were registering. I talked to them about that, right? And so they are asking me, Well, what do you need me to do? And I think that's important to engage them,

Kaillah Ruffen: 34:42

and that's exactly my point. We spend a lot of time talking about younger people don't do this, and younger people don't do that. My thought to another generation, and I would speak to the older is get us engaged, teach us give us that personal connection. There's some beauty. Memories that you can make. But when we talk about being politically engaged, we need that lesson from you all in order to appreciate the struggle, somebody's got to teach it to us. And so that would be my final thought, is help us to be engaged. Give us your wisdom, because we desperately need it, and if you train us up at the right time, we'll go that way.

Serenity Bryce: 35:26

I agree with that Kayla, because even this being example of you not only coming here and having a conversation with us, but listening to us and listening to what we had to say our opinions, I think that's powerful in politics, because again, it's just a conversation, even if you don't necessarily convince someone one way or another, that's not the point. The point is to talk about it and listen.

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 35:50

I mean, isn't that really what we're talking about, getting people to participate and being involved in a strong democracy. We need to do more listening than we're talking listening is not just with your ears, but you have to listen to people with your eyes, with Your ears and with your heart. It's important that you listen with your heart, because that is really the essence of true communication and

Serenity Bryce: 36:20

judge hatchet to close, what is one thing that you would tell our generation about controlling their own futures?

Judge Glenda Hatchett: 36:29

I would absolutely say to your generation, one that I know there's been criticism, I am lifting you up and cheering you on right because you are what we have to build even future generations, right? You are that peace, that bridge that takes us on beyond where we are today. And so I would say to you, know who you are, right? And literally, find your purpose and passion. And I would say that that purpose and passion has to be defined by our history of who we are as a people. I believe that so much and that if you really appreciate who you are in the context of the history of our people, then I think you will find it impossible to sit at home and not vote. It's like my dad had the same when I was a child, and I didn't understand it. It took me a while, but I got it. And he would say, Glenda, people just need to turn the corner. I'm like, What corner? I mean, you know, I just didn't understand that. And so I talked about it a lot with kids in my court. I need you to turn the corner so you get to that intersection. And I had named that intersection the intersection of New Hope Road. And so if you're on one road and you're going in the wrong direction and you're not doing what you need to do that if you have the courage, and you find it in your own being to make that turn to go down New Hope Road, that if you go down New Hope Road far enough, and you look back over your shoulder, you can't see the old road anymore. And so I see that with your generation, you know, I want you to take that corner. I want you to understand that we got to have people on New Hope Road, because we are depending on you. I mean, you are what we have. You are what we have to then bridge to, then a new generation. And so we can't lose that. We can't lose that link. We can't lose that bridge, that that passion, that emotion, that commitment, that tenacity to bring our best to bear, because so much is depending on it. It's so much is depending on and with that, I just need your generation to vote, to vote, to vote. What excuse that any of you all have? None, none, none, none, not

Serenity Bryce: 39:14

one. You're right. And with that, I think that's that's powerful beyond powerful. But I thank you, because one thing that I do say, especially with the bridging from generation, it's important to not only pass us the torch, but teach us how to carry it, so then we can do the same for the babies coming after us. So with that Judge hatchet, thank you so much for your time and your insights. But before we end our program, we're going to hear from one more voice in this topic. She is a national president for the National Coalition of 100 black women. Miss Virginia Harris, your

Unknown: 39:50

vote is your voice defended. The right to vote was never given. It was won through generations of struggle. Control, sacrifice and relentless determination. For over 100 years, voting was considered a privilege reserved for white land, owning men, only those within this narrow demographic could exercise what should be a fundamental right in 1870 the 15th Amendment prohibited racial discrimination in voting, marking progress, yet it took decades more with additional amendments to ensure women and Native Americans gained access to the ballot. But even with these advancements, the fight for true voting rights continued for nearly a century. Afterwards, state legislators erected new barriers, literacy tests, poll taxes and acts of violence, burnings, beatings and even murder to suppress the Black and Brown vote. It wasn't until the voting rights act of 1965 less than 60 years ago, that Congress finally took a decisive stand. At long last, many silent voices were empowered at the ballot box. But the struggle is not over. As we approach the 2024 election, the legacy of those who fought for our rights rest in our hands. The right to vote is once again under attack, especially since the 2013 weakening of the Voting Rights Act. This election is more than just a decision for today. It is a battle for our future. It will determine whether the hard won progress of past generations continues or is rolled back. This moment transcends you or me. It is about ensuring that every voice in our democracy is heard now and for future generations, we must protect the integrity of the vote stand firm in the face of threats and secure a future where every vote truly counts. We hold the power. Let's use it. Honor the past, protect the present, and shape the future. Your vote is your voice. Make it count. This affects us all.

Serenity Bryce: 42:45

Virginia Harris is the national president for the National Coalition of 100 Black women, which is the organization that funds and presents this podcast. You have just listened to the first in a series we call this affects us all. Our topic today was why we vote. Our guest judge, Glenda hatchet helped us explore what we need to know about mail in ballots, how to become an informed voter, regardless of who you vote for. We also talk about why people don't vote and whether or not individual votes matter. Which she let us know they do. We ended our time with giving you information about why voting has been important in the black community. I want to thank Kayla Ruffin, who has helped me represent young people involved with the ncbw, HQ, thank you, Kayla, for coming from Florida to join me here. Our audio engineer for this episode is John Beale. We recorded this session at the orange room studios of the Russell Innovation Center for entrepreneurs. Our audio editor is Chase Allen, provided by Marc chasse co productions, and our executive producer is Marty Covington. We want to thank the ncbw Public Policy Committee for green lighting this project and our supervising coordinator, ncbw National treasurer, Saritha Tinsley. My name is serenity. Bryce, the national program associate for the National Coalition of 100 black women. It has been my pleasure to moderate this episode of the podcast. This affects us all. Why we.