I decided many months ago to focus my 2020 election cycle efforts on supporting African Americans and promoting their right to vote. I see education, healthcare, economic justice, and criminal justice as examples of areas where our country can make huge strides in supporting our African American citizenry.
Recent events following the murder of George Floyd have focused the world’s attention on these same issues. Change must happen and it must happen in a big way. I want to take this time to share three specific organizations that stand a strong chance of making profound, systemic changes in the lives of people of color. Fair Fight and Color of Change have become important sources of personal education for me. All On The Line has become a way for me to stay connected with Barack Obama and contribute to fair elections in the future.
Below are brief descriptions and links for these initiatives, the potential game-changers that I am aware of. I am very interested to hear about 2020 election cycle initiatives that you feel are important, especially those that focus on people of color and voting rights. Let me know if I am missing something important. Let’s all work together to make ours a more inclusive society and to powerfully act as anti-racists.
Fair Fight
Website: https://fairfight.com/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abramsarmy
Instagram: #fairfight2020
Fair Fight is an initiative led by Stacey Abrams to promote fair elections in Georgia and around the country, encourage voter participation in elections, and educate voters about elections and their voting rights. Fair Fight brings awareness to the public on election reform, advocates for election reform at all levels, and engages in other voter education programs and communications.
Just yesterday, the state of Georgia held a primary in which the voting systems were substantially broken. The Fair Fight team was on the front lines, sharing live video feeds through social media and collecting voter data throughout the day, and they will need to maintain their pressure through the November election in order for black votes to be counted.
The work of Fair Fight is based on data, analysis, and hard-hitting strategy. The website contains the best information I have seen on voter suppression and strategies to reverse the trend. The Abrams Playbook: The Strategy and Path to Victory in 2020 is a brilliant pdf hosted on the site. I highly recommend that you study this document.
Color Of Change
Website: https://colorofchange.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colorofchange
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorofchange/
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. It is driven by 1.7 million members and moves decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. This nonprofit focuses on a broad range of issues that include criminal justice, the freedom to vote, economic justice, and white nationalism.
Color of Change is a connecting point to some of the leading voices from black America. Their Facebook page offers frequent, live video broadcasts on topical issues in the African American community. Contributors include high-profile guests, like Stacey Abrams and Elizabeth Warren. What I appreciate is that their voices also include many leaders in the Black community that are not typically featured in mainstream news media.
All On the Line
Website: https://allontheline.org/#home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allontheline
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allontheline/
All On the Line is an initiative led by Eric Holder, former US Attorney General, and Barack Obama. It is focused on the redistricting effort that will take place in 2021 based upon the US census of 2020 (if all goes according to plan). It is designed to reverse the powerful gerrymandering efforts over the past 10 years.
This initiative is affiliated with the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. It is partisan, in that it targets states in which Operation REDMAP (short for Redistricting Majority Project), orchestrated by the Republican party starting after the 2010 census, profoundly shifted the power of the votes cast by minorities. All On The Line states that their goal is to create a level playing field and then change gerrymandering legislation to ensure that district lines are created in a more neutral manner in the future.
Thank you so much Arjan. This is so important and appreciated.
Thanks Arjan! Great idea for a way to focus on an issue or issues that matter in our lives or in our hearts!
From the ?,
Karen
Thank you, Arjan!
Thanks so much, Arjan, for these powerful contacts and for nudging all of us to DO tangible actions in support of African Americans and all people. Back in January I went to a presentation by Andrea Miller, who speaks for “Reclaim Our Vote”. We can help by volunteering to make phone calls and write postcards to people who may have unknowingly been purged off of voter rolls in key swing states. Here’s where to find more info: http://centerforcommonground.org/main/index.php/campaigns/reclaim-our-vote
Thank you Arjan, a GREAT share. I think any of us who have an issue or issues that matter in our lives or in our hearts, should consider creating a similar structure focusing on that issue(s) or population.
From the ?,
Karen
Thanks Arjan, I’m on it