Local organizations educating, mobilizing the Black vote ahead of the November election

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - With less than 100 days before the November election, St. Louis area local organizations are pushing the Black vote now more than ever.

“One of the things that I hear repeatedly, many people don’t trust politicians,” said St. Louis County NAA president, John Bowman. “The Black vote could be the turning point of this election The Black community cannot afford to be distracted. We have to be extremely focused because distraction is inaction.”

Bowman says NAA began working on voter registration back in October and now they’re doing voter education and mobilization.

“If you want to see something change, it has to start with you,” said Kashairra Johnson, who is eager to vote again this year. “I think that [Harris’] candidacy is going to really increase political participation among black voters, especially the younger generations.”

Harris is closing in on officially clinching the Democratic nomination, more than a week after President Joe Biden bowed out of his reelection campaign.

Minutes after President Biden exited the race, he endorsed Harris who quickly got overwhelming from her party’s leaders.

With growing national tug-of-wars about race and diversity, both Trump and Harris are courting Black and minority votes for their race to the White House.

Bowman says the NAA isn’t the only local organization encouraging voters. Action St. Louis is another organization educating Black voters through its grassroots campaign called #WokeVoterSTL.

It’s aimed to build community power and strengthen black political participation in local, state and federal elections.

Black voters were vital in Biden’s 2020 victory, especially in key swing states. Although Harris is a woman of black and Indian descent, there are some Black voters who are uneasy and uncertain with the political climate in general.

“Our voice matters, the Black voice matters, what we think, it matters,” said Johnson. “How we feel it matters. The people we put in those seats to make decisions on behalf of us – it matters.”

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