From left: Antjuan Seawright, Florida State Sen. Shevrin Jones, Nevada AG Aaron Ford, Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist and Trey Baker Senior Advisor to the Harris-Walz Campaign. | Source: Bilal Moris / iOne Digital
Black men and their participation in the upcoming presidential election were among the issues taking center stage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
On Monday, a group of leading Black politicians from all over the country gathered in a conference room at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place to discuss the pivotal role Black men will play in this election in November.
Antjuan Seawright and Florida State Sen. Shevrin Jones (right). | Source: Bilal Moris / iOne Digital
Led by host and Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright, the DemPALOOZA: Chop It Up panel discussion included Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, Florida State Sen. Shevrin Jones and Trey Baker, senior advisor to the Harris-Walz Campaign.
During the conversation, a variety of topics were discussed that centered on Black men and voting. From messaging to the importance of supporting Black media, the panel focused on enhancing voter engagement within the Black community through diverse communication approaches and coalition building.
“It’s important for Black politicians, in particular, to be out there in the communities from which we come and that look like us,“ Ford told the audience. “Being in these communities, talking about it from a coalition perspective. Souls To The Polls is a Black church-oriented thing, but it’s Black politicians who also worked to help facilitate that. And let me be clear about this. Those who are opposed to us exercising this franchise, know the power of these coalitions.”
While the panel emphasized the importance of partnering with coalitions, it also acknowledged the weakening of support for Black media and church interactions.
“When you have one of these entities or more than one of these entities begin to lose traction, not to have as much support, like black media or the black church, you start to see a weaker coalition being built, and you start to see less turnout, less enthusiasm,” Ford added.
Florida State Sen. Shevrin Jones and Nevada AG Aaron Ford (right). | Source: Bilal Moris / iOne Digital
One of the most poignant segments of the panel came when Seawright asked the speakers to discuss what it means in 2024 to meet Black men where they are.
“This whole, like, we just got to go to barbershops, we just got to do souls to the polls, or we just have to do this one particular activity in order to find Black men is just outdated,” Baker said. “From a strategic standpoint, we have to start thinking about where young people reside. Do they reside on social media in some way? Are they on TikTok? Are they on Facebook? Are they on Instagram? Where can we start having these conversations and what does the content look like when we get there?”
Gilchrist then took it a step further, saying he believes to win over Black men, they have to be engaged through more than just voting.
Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist (left) and Trey Baker Senior Advisor to the Harris-Walz Campaign. | Source: Bilal Moris / iOne Digital
“I think that for us, again, what it comes down to is if we are able to do whatever medium or media that we choose or that the community chooses if we are able to have a complete conversation about the completeness of Black men and black people. Like I said before, I’m going to stand by it,” said Gilchrist. “Like, I want to have a conversation with you about more than voting. Like, I do, because I care about you more than that. I think more than only that single thing you can do because I think you can do a lot of stuff. I think you are capable of a lot of things.”
He added: “In order to get the medium right, you have to get the message right. In order to get the message right, the motivation must be right.”
As Black men continue to be a focal point in this election cycle, Democrats seem determined to go beyond traditional voting outreach and improve engagement among Black men before November. Only time will tell if this strategy will work.
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