Reclaiming Our Voice

We connect voter registration to real-life consequences and challenge the idea that opting out is harmless, especially when local elections decide what happens to our schools, roads, and healthcare. With community leader Nicole Martin, we talk about misinformation, youth disengagement, and what it takes to rebuild civic power together. 
• misinformation and cynicism driving low turnout in the Black community 
• local voting shaping everyday outcomes like funding, services, and benefits 
• why younger voters feel disconnected from legacy civic organizations 
• meeting young people where they are through inclusive leadership and trust 
• shifting frustration into action through consistent conversations and education 
• taking back power through organizing, petitions, and community partnerships 
• environmental justice fight against harmful projects in Black and brown neighborhoods 
• refusing to sit out and bringing others into the work 

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Transcript

From Pain To Purpose

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Some fires destroy you. Others rebuild you. From trauma to triumph, your pain can become your purpose. Let's become unstoppable.

SPEAKER_03 0:15

Greetings, everyone. I am your host, Dr. Bree Charles, and with me today is my co-host, Miss Pat Smith. Hey Pat, how are you? Hello, good morning. Good, good, good to see you. So this season of B3U follows a transformational hybrid format where we are going to be discussing real issues that are impacting our communities. We're going to explore the root cause behind them, then we're going to transition into solutions. We're going to transition into accountability, empowerment, and rebuilding. The purpose of this episode today is not simply a political discussion, but a community awareness, education, and an engagement. And also what I believe in the most is transformation. So today we want to welcome Miss Nicole Martin for our conversation.

SPEAKER_02 1:09

Good afternoon, everyone. Hi. How are you? I'm doing

Meet Nicole Martin And Her Work

SPEAKER_02 1:15

well. I'm doing well. Pleasure to be here. And thank you for the opportunity for having me.

SPEAKER_03 1:20

Thank you. Thank you for coming on and joining us. So please, Nicole, tell us a little bit about yourself.

SPEAKER_02 1:25

Oh, alrighty. Alrighty. What can I say about myself? Well, I am a 22-year um army and civil service combined um veteran. I serve with the U.S. Army. I also um worked for the Department of Defense for a number of years, and uh I'm officially retired. Um, and so with my um retirement time and uh I like to advocate, I like to be involved in the community. Um I currently serve as the president of the Chesterfield County NAACP. I'm also the first vice president of my sorority, um, the Petersburg Alumni chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. Also a lifetime member of the NCNW, which is the National Council of Negro Women. Um I don't want to lay out everything that I do, but I just love to uh be involved in the community and help where I can. And I love to be a part of organizations that are helping people, especially people that look like you and I. And um, you know, it's it's a great joy to help people who can't even give you back anything in return, right? It's just the right thing to do, um, especially in the state of the, you know, where our country is is today. I think it is important to always have a support system um that you can always kind of rely on and come back to um to give you advice and guidance and and lead you in the right way. Building community is very important to me, um, not just being in a leadership position, but being building community and bringing communities together.

SPEAKER_03 3:04

Um yeah.

Why Voter Registration Still Matters

SPEAKER_03 3:07

That is awesome. So let's let's get into why why why do you think voter registration is is still such an important issue within the black community? Why do you think our black voters are in this sit in this space that we are now?

SPEAKER_02 3:24

I think it's it's due to a lot of misinformation, right? Um you know, we tend as a people, we tend to think, you know, what is in it for us, right? What do I get out of it? Why do I have to give up my time to on my lunch break to go and vote because things aren't going to change? When it's actually just the opposite, the total opposite. If we look at all the misinformation that was pumped out in 2024 and 2025 by, you know, big name celebrities who are supposed to be empowering folks to actually come out and vote. Um, and we're living, we're living in the the aftermath of not getting out and actually voting. Um, you know, not just at a national level, but it's even more important to be voting at the local level because that affects you even more. Fundings for school, um, you know, the potholes that are in our roads. Um, just in the past uh six months, I have gotten three nails in my tire, and that I have, you know, that expense is on my own. Um, you know, just just things of that nature. Like it really affects voting affects the everyday life, right? Our healthcare is being affected, our SNAP benefits went away uh pretty quickly. And and that's when you see the impact, and like, oh man, I I really should have voted. Well, it's kind of late now. You know, now we have to live in the aftermath for four plus years. We don't even know. And so it seems like every cycle, every election cycle, you know, civic organizations such as the NEACP, the NCNW, the Urban League, and all those community uh outreach organizations are fighting and putting in top dollars to get people to exercise a free right that we all have. Um, and so, you know, it's it's it's it's kind of hard, but you know, um, someone like myself is not gonna stop trying every conversation that I have, you know, even with our young individuals. I try to encourage them to vote because they're they're living in the aftermath of what uh could have been.

SPEAKER_03 5:31

Right. And that is a I I am a member of the NAACP myself, and it is a uh a hard battle. Um, I know me and Pat were talking earlier how it does affect the younger generations, including in within our children, you know. Um, I tried to, you know, try to get my children to realize some things, but they are so like it doesn't cat, it doesn't matter, it doesn't vote anyway. And I know um Pat was saying, you know, Pat, you could go ahead and say what you were talking about with your son.

SPEAKER_00 6:03

Uh yeah, my son was saying, well, I don't like either candidate because they both say some stuff that I don't like and stuff that I do like. And I had to, he said, so why vote? And he's 25 years old. And I was like, the the key to voting is the person who is going to help your community and help you as an individual in your community that's gonna do the correct thing by you and by for the majority, not just your community, but the majority of Americans that are currently hurting or that things are currently unjust against. That's how you have to vote. You have to vote in that way because nobody's gonna ever tell you or give you a hundred percent of what you want, right? So if somebody's willing to give you 80% versus somebody giving you 50%, then that's you vote for the 80%, right? And because every vote counts, every voice counts, and I think like the younger community got so lost in the online stuff and the drama shows and the this and that that they forgot that they matter too, right? And now they feel that we have to put out in our community and to our young people that their voice matters and it's strong. You're a young adult, you're the people that's gonna take this forward after we're not here. So I think it's really important to empower them and let them understand how important their voice is.

SPEAKER_03 7:25

And it's a lot of conspiracy. I know, like one of my children get deep into the conspiracy, or you know, well, it's not gonna happen that way anyway. The the white man has control, like we're not gonna win if it's so it's like, well, you know, I'd rather try, you know, to see the outcome than just not do anything at all. Like you said, the lesser of two, we would have been in such a better position today, uh voting for Kamala than where we are right now. So is it just that disconnection um that is where the NAACP and most of uh the national, what is it, the National Negro Women's League? Did I say that correctly?

SPEAKER_02 8:08

National Council of uh Negro Women.

SPEAKER_03 8:11

Yes.

Youth Disengagement And Misinformation

SPEAKER_03 8:12

So why do you think that what what is the reason that so many of our young people are unfamiliar with these organizations such as the NAACP, the Urban League, National Council of Negro Women? Uh, you know, what why do you think we're so disconnected, Nicole?

SPEAKER_02 8:29

Um, I think somewhere in the you know, um in the years of the internet and um social media, um, we've kind of lost our way. And as as civic organizations, we we're not using our our power as we should, right? Our influence as we should, right? Um, research has shown that you know, if you don't capture a person's attention within the 30 seconds that we've lost them, right? That's why our kids are so um hooked on Instagram and TikTok is the craze. And we have to use that to our advantage. If that's what the you know, the new thing is, we have to come up, you know, we have to move with the times. You know, the NEACP is the largest and oldest civil rights organization um, you know, known to known to history. And here it is, um, you know, like you just stated, you know, our younger folks don't know anything about that because it's considered an older organization. Yeah, however, you know, we have many programs within our organizations that cater to the youth as well. Um, and so we just need to, as an organization, need to tap into that. How can we grab the attention of our of our youngsters? And and that's with bringing them in. You know, we have youth in college, we have um units in our youth and college uh organizations, you know, um, especially in our HBCUs, we have chapters there. Um, and and we, you know, as as as adult chapters, we try to guide them and show them the way, um, give them examples and you know try to influence, you know, use their influence um so that way they can get out and and vote and and show how important it is um that we have the power. And if our power wasn't so important, they wouldn't be trying to strip away our voting rights, right? And that's how people don't realize.

SPEAKER_03 10:22

Yes, you hit that right on the nail, right on the hit. Is even here in the NAACP, they'll do a lot of things for the youth. And you know, they'll cancel it because not a lot of the youth showed up. But I believe that people, once it's gone, then it's like then they start to say, Well, we don't have this, or we don't have that. But when we do have it, they don't tend to show up because it's not an important thing right now, it's not important, you know. So I I appreciate this conversation today because I believe that our the older generation, the younger our people need to wake up right now, and not even just wake up because it just opens your eyes and come into realization that there's a lot that's trying to be stripped from us. And the question should be to oneself. I was talking to a gentleman when I say take back your power. He's like, take back what power? You know, what we don't even know where we come from. So why what power am I taking back? I mean, he was really combative and he was in his 50s, you know. So I was like, first of all, they want to erase the history, so we don't know, but you need that history so you don't repeat the things that are happening right now today. So uh it's yes, the NAACP, a lot of these organizations need to, it's like, how do we get our youth's attention and how do we get that that uh that mindset that they have that that they're so embedded in? How do we get that mind frame off of them and and even get them to these organizations to join? Right.

SPEAKER_02 12:06

And it's just, you know, um, it's it's a shame to say, like, you know, as I stated originally, if it's like, you know, the saying is like, what's in it for me? There's actually a lot in it for you. And let me explain to you why. And so it takes, you know, us, the older members, and I'm not old, but it takes us more education educationally, um, you know, um individuals to use that influence, like, you know, the younger people are now in college, right? Um, and they they obviously grew up in a different generation um than we have, right? And so um I remember just going on, you know, a certain campus, I'm not gonna say, and I'm seeing young ladies walking around in bonnets and stuff like that. And I'm like, gosh, you know, that is not a representation of you. This you shouldn't be coming out, you know, of your dorm room, you know, looking like you're about to go to bed, and then expect your professor to take you seriously in class, right? And so that's one of the things that, you know, if if if we were more involved with our youth in in junior high school and high school, the mindset wouldn't be just to what they see on social media and think that it's okay to be traveling, you know, with bonnets on and and and pajamas and things like that. So we have to capture them at a younger age because right now we're trying to repair damage, right? We're trying to repair damage. Uh, history is telling, you know, that we have certain people in office that's saying, hey, we're gonna remove slavery, we're gonna remove history from from the history books. Black, black, black history is American history. There's no erasing that, right? Uh America was built on our ancestors' blood, sweat, and tears. That's never going away, right? We cannot since 1619, you know, when when when the Africans, you know, were you know shipped here to James, Jamestown, Virginia, and and and and had to settle here. Um, you know, that that's part of the history. That's not going away. That's not going away. And we as as a responsible adults, black Americans, we have to ensure that our youth, you know, know our history and ensure that it doesn't die, right? That's right.

SPEAKER_03 14:24

That's right. That's right. I just attended a graduation, FSU, Fayetteville State University, one of the largest graduations, 1,200 graduates, 1,200 graduates. And as I sit there, because that's that's my heart, that's where my some of my passion is to is speaking in HBCUs and and you know, to students, period. And I looked at all of those 1,200 students and was like, I wonder if y'all are paying attention. Like you're going and you now you got your degree in your hand. What are you gonna do with it? 1,200 graduates, and the majority that I seen was black, Hispanic. And I was like, Y'all don't even I wonder if y'all realize what is being trying to be taken from you. And as the speaker was speaking, I was like, you know, uh gosh, yes, can give these people some not just a motivational, but a transformational mindset. Because I I I continue to say this, uh, B3U is about breaking cycles and building legacies. And with that, we have to not teach that we just need to change. We need to change. Change is so temporary over time, but I believe that you said it too, that we have to transform, we have to transform the minds of these young people, show them the direction uh and what which way they need to cope. But it's how like how do we how do we reconnect the younger generations in the community leadership and civic engagements? Like, what more do we need to do? Um, it also comes accountability of uh, I believe we are all in this age ranges here of uh 50 and 45. What can what more can we do? What more can we do? And we're gonna take a quick commercial break and we're gonna come right back with Mr. Nicole Martin and we're gonna answer that.

Reconnecting Young People To Civic Life

SPEAKER_03 16:38

Welcome back, welcome back everybody. So we are back. So our our conversation uh is going to pick back up about how do we reconnect the younger generations to community leadership and civic engagement. What are your thoughts, Nicole?

SPEAKER_02 16:57

And so I believe, right, you have to meet people where they are, right? Um, just like how we deal with our children, right? If you come, you know, children make mistakes all the time. As parents, we can't just yell, yell, yell or say, I'm gonna take out the belt and this, this, and that. We have to get to the root of the problem, right? Allow them to calm down, you know, and then revisit the conversation later, right? And build that trust. That's what we have to do with our young people. Give them a platform and say, hey, what would you like to see? What are some of the things that interest you, right? And how can we build together as a team, right? Because I want to connect not just with you, I want to connect with your other classmates. I want to connect with your friend group and your circle. Can you allow, can you help me um get this information out? And what is the best way do you think we can do that, right? Um, you know, when we when we grew up, right, it was do as our parents say, you don't you don't question them. No, that that's not the society that we live in now because you know, they will just dismiss you and say, I don't have to listen to you, and I'm not gonna listen to you. That's you know the energy that you receive. Um, and we have to change that narrative. We have to have a more inclusive, right? Leadership style. We have to have a more inclusive, you know, community, right? What are we doing for the community, right? How can we bring in and have these conversations? And that's like getting onto campus, right? Um, going into churches, you know, doing what we knew um back then, right? It was all about church and the community and um gathering and coming together. And and let's face it, we're all still, you know, in the residuals of COVID, right? I I can remember I used to have people, you know, entertain people all the time at my home. I don't even do it since COVID. I really haven't done it. Is it because of my civic work? Probably partly, yes. But I've just gotten out of the habit of doing it, right? And what better way to spread a message, right? And then to just have gatherings at your house. You get what I'm saying? Um, have these conversations. We all learn from each other. You know, I learned a lot of things just from my um friend social group that have older children from me. And I'll explain, you know, hey, I'm going through this and blah, blah, blah. And they're like, oh, girl, let me tell you what you need to do, and blah, blah, blah. You know, and you learn uh as you, you know, your children grow in different stages and realize that, hey, you're not alone. Um, so I believe community, and I keep on saying that community is important. Um, and we just need to get back to that, but be more inclusive with bringing our younger generation in because they're very smart, very intelligent. They are right, and we just need to tap into them. I mean, you know, if I need something, you know, a video done, or I'm going to my son first. Hey, I need you to do this. I'll even pay you because I was gonna pay somebody anyway.

SPEAKER_03 19:55

There you go.

SPEAKER_02 19:56

I'll pay you. And that's the man, that's the incentive for him to do it. You get what I'm saying? Yeah, tap into them, you know, tap into them. You know, um, I I I love pouring into you know our youth, you know. Um, it just brings me joy, you know, and to know that, you know, the positivity that you pour into them, just believe that you're just gonna get a fraction of that back. And that that's good for me, you know, just knowing that they know how to move forward, knowing the right way to do things, um, and and knowing how to stand up for themselves and be their own advocates.

SPEAKER_00 20:31

Um, how do you um talking about the youth and how they feel and being able to connect with the youth, um, how do you feel is the best way to actually motivate them and empower them politically? Because a lot of youth feel that their voice is unheard and that what they have to say doesn't matter because they've been dis, they feel they've been dismissed for so long. And it's like you said, people wait till they get older instead of the kids being younger. And I currently I have an 11-year-old granddaughter, right? And I tell her now, I you will never go outside with a bonnet on your head. Your voice, you know, you will never do certain things. You will act a certain way because that's who you are. You don't have to follow the crowd. And your voice matters is the biggest thing that I'm getting her to learn at 11. Now, older kids, how are we going to empower those 20-year-olds that are just graduating? They have that diploma, they're full of energy, and they're like, but I don't know what to do. Um, what are some of the steps and what are some of the ways we can bring them out so they can have their political voice and we can empower them to let what they feel be heard?

SPEAKER_03 21:47

So we kind of answered that before, but the thing about it is, is she she said we have to meet them where they stand, right? But this is the thing. It I think it comes where I How do we shift the people from frustration into action? Is what I believe is Pat trying to say, like we could tell them all that, you know, and it's a it's a few of us out here that do it. Sometimes they give up too easily. And I'm talking about us, the older generations, the adults. We get frustrated of uh, look, you shouldn't go out this way. And then they look at you like, wow, you old, we we that's how they don't wear bras, the nipples are showing. And you're like, well, you shouldn't be, and then they're like, wow, but this is the new age, mom or my mom, or whatever. And then you have people that just get frustrated, they get frustrated of repeating themselves because you can teach in the home, you can talk in the home, yeah. But once they hit that door, then society is coming back up. And what do people do? It's not like the children, and you're looking like who is raising y'all at home, you know. Because I have I have 18 grandchildren. Trust me, I know. Sometimes you just get not me though. I teach my children that y'all get tired before I do. Like I find my children, they get tired, they get frustrated. Like, I'm trying everything I can do, and they still just not not listening, not doing this and not doing that, and they get frustrated and they give up. And I think that's what I see a lot uh in society when it comes to getting people, getting our youth to see what's going on in the world politically and get them involved. I see that some people get frustrated. So, how do we shift that uh uh what you know, how do we shift that frustration into action? Like, what more can we do? And I know that's a question out there for some of our viewers. Like, we doing everything that y'all saying. What more can we do? Because I'm tired. What's what's the plan of action for that?

SPEAKER_02 23:46

And I'm so glad you guys, you ladies touched on this. You know,

Turning Frustration Into Action

SPEAKER_02 23:50

it starts with a simple conversation, just like we're doing now, right? And if I say to, you know, when we go, I I just came from a voter registration uh event uh at a local high school because we're trying to get 18-year-olds um to ensure that they can vote in the November election and explain to them what a primary means. They don't know. They don't know, and it's our job to educate them. So it starts off with a conversation. You know, we decorate the table, we have all kind of you know, red, white, and blue stuff going on. Um, and you know, they come over and I'm you know, it starts off with pleasantry. Hey, how are you? You know, um, are you 18 or will you be 18 uh come October of this year? And said, Yeah, uh actually I am. Are you registered to vote? No, oh, you're not registered to vote. And then we start that it starts off like that. And if they come with, you know, their response is, well, voting doesn't matter. And and that's the opportunity to open the conversation. I'm gonna say, you know, well, why do you say that? You know, and that's our time to educate them, right? Because you can't debate facts. Yeah, what we're living through right now is factual, right? If we came out to the polls as we should have, we would have a different administration, right? Mom snap benefits wouldn't be cut, right? Your school funding wouldn't be cut, your health care, right, wouldn't be cut. Do you know how many rural hospitals are closed down now? And so these people have to drive, think about it, for a simple, like, you know, what we may think is a tummy ache or whatever turns out to be something that you need your appendix taken out, right? They these folks now have to drive an hour. That's ridiculous, unheard of. And we call ourselves Americans, right? The strongest nation in the world, right? Where people are risking their lives every day just to enter the United States. Um, but this is you know what we've become more like a dictatorship. And when you start talking about things, it starts to resonate, right? And you know, I'll say, well, well, tell me more. Like, you know, are your parents registered voters? And you know, they'll explain the situation. And and and and it may not happen just in that one time, but they'll think about it. And I, you know, I'll invite them to a meeting and say, Do you know that these organizations exist? Do you have, you know, or do you plan on, you know, going to college after you finish, you know, high school? And they'll say yes or no, or if they drive, you know, going to a trade school. Have you looked into it? Starts with conversation, and it's not like a do as you say, or you should vote. Why, why you know, black Americans, we you know, we we we died for for the right to vote. That's true, yeah. But that's the that tactic, you can't use that nowadays, right? Right, you can't use those old tactics, right? Right. Um, I remember older people used to come and like, you know, I carry my NACP membership card in my wallet. You know, I still do that, right? Because it was a proud, it's a proud moment for me. It's a proud moment for me. I'm a member of this organization, I'm a life member of this organization. And let me tell you why, right? And so it's it's about like empowering them, letting them know that really, you know, voting is power in numbers. And if you don't exercise your right to vote, you can't turn around next year and expect things to change, right? Change can't happen if we're continuing to do things the same way, right? You could say all day long, I want a summer body, you know, 2026. But if you're not eating right, if you're not exercising, if you're not changing your sleeping habits, nothing's gonna change. And that's the same concept we should have with voting.

SPEAKER_03 27:38

So, you know what? That aligns with my, I tell people I put on my double D every day, you know, my determination, my decision and my determination to move forward it out of my sometime. I get stuck in my my woes, my train, my trauma, my pain. And I just wake up every morning and say, you know what? Not today. You know, I'm gonna make this decision, I'm gonna have a good day, and I'm gonna be turned be determined that I'm gonna get to what I just said. So I love the way you said communication. So I like your double Cs. You're yo, one of your, and I put another C to it because communication is one, and consistency is another thing that I realized that that's what we need. We cannot give up. So we have to keep communicating consistently for the outcome that we want in our society and in our community. I love that. I love that.

SPEAKER_00 28:36

And I also feel that we as black people have to stop falling into the stereotypes of what other people tell us that we are. Young people have to stop believing in what other people outside of our community tell us that we are, that what we can and cannot do and achieve. And I think once we can tap into them and let them understand, you're whatever you want to be. You already saw a black president, you already saw a black female vice president. Those are the highest two positions in America you can hold. You know, so you can be, you don't have to be a school teacher if you're a little girl or a secretary. You can be an engineer, you know, you could be a lawyer or a doctor. And I think once we get them out of the mind frame that our voice does not matter because they've been told that for so long. These kids don't listen, they're just listening to rap music and they know all the lyrics and this. And yes, that's some of that has some grain of truth to it, but also we gotta put and instill in them look, there's an importance to your voice. Because once we are gone, once our generation is no longer here, it will be up to your generation to now carry forward. And how are you gonna move that way forward if you don't believe enough in yourself? And I always tell my sons if you can stand by yourself alone with Jesus Christ, you don't need anybody else, not even me. Because once you're strong enough to stand that way, it doesn't matter what outside people tell you, it doesn't matter how they feel about you because what somebody feels about you or says about you is not your concern. You're concerned with how you feel about yourself and how you and God communicate in your relationship, and if you have that, you can conquer anything.

SPEAKER_03 30:30

Absolutely, yeah, absolutely. And so that kind of right there to answer this. Uh what do and you ladies can chime in. Um, I'm gonna say, what do we as a community need to take back right now? And I will come, I will say my mind first, which is I think we need to take back the power that is within us and realize that God says that in the beginning, He created man in his likeliness and in his

Taking Back Power Through Organizing

SPEAKER_03 31:08

image. So take the back the concept that God is within me. So if God is within me and He's the all-powerful and all-knowing, that we are some powerful beings, is the reason why they're trying to destroy us. Nicole, what do you say to that? How do we need to take back right now?

SPEAKER_02 31:23

What would you we absolutely absolutely need to take back um our power right now? And that's why we continue on educating, right? Um, I keep on referring back to the NEACP. It is the longest and you know, is is the largest and old oldest civil rights organization um that we have. Um, and and and there's a reason why we still exist, right? Because, you know, racism still exists, you know, and and we still need to to to fight that. We still need to protect our rights as citizens, as black and brown citizens. Um one of the one of the biggest things, and I'll just specifically talk about Chesterfield County. Um, you know, I'm not sure if you ladies know about this, uh, but in 2023, Dominion Energy, who is, you know, provides our energy, you know, stated that they wanted to come out with a, you know, build another gas plant. Well, environmentalists and and and scientists, you know, you know, know that that's gonna be harmful to the environment. Well, not only did they not not only is it gonna be harmful to the environment, but also into the community that they want to build this gas plant in. Of course, it's gonna be built in a in a black and brown neighborhood, right? But because they're not expecting black and brown people to fight back. Well, that's why organizations such as us exist, right? And we fought tooth and nail. Right now we're in the appeals process. Um, you know, they're building all these uh data centers, and of course, you need that power from the gas plant, the methane, thousand megawatt um of methane gas. Um they they need that to power all these data centers that are popping up, and that that's another situation um to deal with. But, you know, we started our own like grassroots um, you know, boycott, you know, uh Dominion to invite me to have lunch and want to sit down and talk. I said I don't I don't need any any lunch. Let's get down to the facts. Why are we continuing to build these gas plants in the black and brown community, in low impoverished community? Do you realize that black and brown population has the highest rate of upper respiratory uh uh conditions such as asthma, emphysema, low birth rate? Um, so what is Dominion? Why is Dominion continuing to use gas power plants when we have cleaner energy? I said you have battery, you have solar, and you have, oh, I started to break it down for them. Those conversations stopped. But that's when we garnered the attention of other organizations who now represent us at no cost, the Southern Environmental Law Center. And so when we couldn't, you know, we don't have the ability uh as a branch to kind of um litigate on our own, but this organization reached out to me. I got permission to move forward in the litigation process. So we gave them hell, so to speak. Um, and and I'm proud of that. I'm proud of the work that we've done. You know, we went and knocked on doors and said, hey, we need you to sign these petitions. This this gas plant is gonna be within one mile of an elementary school, right? So these kids that can't even fight for themselves, you know, you have churches, community organizations right there. These are low-income families who don't have time to go to these HOA meetings in the evening, but we do. And we're gonna and we're gonna be there. That's right. And so I know I went off on a little tangent.

SPEAKER_03 34:48

Um, no, that's that's because your your thing was taking back our educational power, our informational power, you know, and if if the smaller person can't do it, then the bigger people who have the power to do so, like the NAACP does.

SPEAKER_00 35:05

Pat, what is your big so I feel that we need to take back our vision and our voice? And the reason I say that because we've been told that we're we've been pushed to the corner. We've been pushed to the side. What they say doesn't matter because they don't have anything to say because they're uneducated. Um, they don't know and all these other stereotypes. I think we we as a black people need to see our vision for the future, where we want to go, where we want our children to go, and the world that we want to live in as black people, as the things that we have to deal with on a daily basis. We need to envision that, the future we want for our kids, for our grandkids. And we need to instill that in the young people. Now, let your voice be heard and turned into action to move in that direction, coming together with the older generation, each generation tying into each other, working in unison, understanding that that cord between the generations is stronger together. And I feel that if we all stand that, we don't throw our younger generations away. We understand that there's issues that we have to fight within the community, some of which are self-inflicted, some of which are not, that were inflicted upon us. Um, but nevertheless, we have to rise above those things and let them know your circumstances and your situation does not determine your future. This is just a snapshot in time. You have to move forward and never let anything keep you sedentary marking time because right now is a snapshot. 10 minutes later, there could be a different story, and you have to believe in yourself and understand what you say and who you are is important.

SPEAKER_03 36:50

That's right. Absolutely. We're gonna go to a quick commercial break and we break, and we're gonna come right back. Welcome back, everybody. Welcome back. Look, this has

Final Message And Closing Challenge

SPEAKER_03 37:03

been awesome, awesome, awesome stuff. So, Nicole, with our five with your final message, what message do you want to leave for people with uh after hearing this conversation?

SPEAKER_02 37:15

Well, you know, in it within, you know, after the election happened, you know, um a lot of talks were said, right? Oh, I'm sitting this this one out. I did my part. Well, my message is sitting anything out will have us in the same predicament, right? We can't we can't afford to sit anything out, right? There's a reason why the the the the most educated demographic, which is African American women, are the most educated demographic, right? There's a reason why, right? Because we've always had to fight harder, we've always had to fight longer, we've always had the short end of the stick, we've always had to um you know tuck our tails in and and and code switch when we go to work, right? We've always had to play their game, right? So it's never a time to sit out, it's always a time to stay in the fight and carry others with you. And so that's the message that I want to leave to everybody. We don't have this time to sit on the sidelines, we have to be the voices of our community. We have to continue to educate the people that we love along with our community. We have to be able to give them resources in order for them to move forward. Um, factual information, right? Dispel any type of misinformation that is put out there, right? Encourage people to do research on their own, right? All the lies that were made up about Kamala Harris, now we're finding out that it's not true, right? Think about, just think about this for a second. We have a very highly educated African-American woman who served in all legislations of the uh branch of US government, right? And here it is, she lost, right? Supposedly lost the presidential campaign to someone who's a real estate agent and reality TV star. Where does that make sense? How does that make sense, right? What qualification does a person that we have in the office, what qualifications does he have to hold the highest office of the United States? That's something to think about.

SPEAKER_03 39:38

That is something maybe there's some of those supporters who supported them can uh call and ask uh uh uh reach out for a line on those phones they bought.

SPEAKER_02 39:47

Right, the gold phones that haven't been delivered yet, right?

SPEAKER_03 39:50

The gold phones, maybe they could uh reach out for a hand, but anyway, thank you, Nicole, for joining us today on B3U, where we are breaking cycles and building legacies, and we want to thank our audience for tuning in with us today. We will see you next time on another episode of Empowerment and Transformation. Until next time.

SPEAKER_02 40:14

Thank you, everyone. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 40:18

Some fires destroy you, others rebuild you. From trauma to triumph, your pain can become your purpose. Let's become unstoppable.