VOTE: For Our Ancestors Who Couldn'tBy Dr. Angela K. Chambers
By Dr. Angela K. Chambers
Voter Education Series
There was a time in America when many of our ancestors could not vote.
Some were denied the right because of the color of their skin. Others were blocked by poll taxes, literacy tests, intimidation, violence, and laws designed to keep their voices from being heard. Men and women marched, protested, endured arrests, and in some cases lost their lives so future generations would have the opportunity to participate in democracy.
That future generation is us.
Every election season, we hear people say their vote does not matter. Some believe elected officials are all the same. Others are frustrated by politics and choose not to participate at all. While those feelings may be understandable, history reminds us that the right to vote was never something our ancestors took for granted.
They fought for it.
When we choose not to vote, we surrender our voice in decisions that directly affect our daily lives. Local elections determine who represents us at City Hall, how public funds are spent, how neighborhoods are developed, what infrastructure is prioritized, and how public safety, housing, economic development, and community services are addressed.
In many cases, local elections have a greater impact on our day-to-day lives than national elections.
The condition of our streets, the quality of our parks, the support available for small businesses, neighborhood investments, utility policies, and community programs are often influenced by local leadership. These decisions affect our families, our communities, and our future.
That is why voter participation matters.
Voting is not simply about supporting a candidate. It is about exercising a right that previous generations fought tirelessly to secure. It is about making sure our concerns, priorities, and needs are represented in the rooms where decisions are made.
Our ancestors dreamed of opportunities many of us enjoy today. They imagined a future where their children and grandchildren would have access to education, business ownership, homeownership, political participation, and equal rights under the law. Voting is one way we honor those sacrifices.
The next time an election approaches, remember those who could not cast a ballot.
Remember those who marched.
Remember those who stood in long lines despite threats and obstacles.
Remember those who believed that one day their descendants would have the power to help shape their communities.
Then make a plan to vote.
Not just for yourself.
Not just for today.
But for the ancestors who couldn't.
Because your voice matters.
Your vote matters.
And your participation helps shape the future for generations to come.
Dr. Angela K. Chambers is the Founder and CEO of The Original Black Wall Street and is committed to educating, empowering, and encouraging civic engagement throughout our communities.
Follow The Original Black Wall Street on Facebook.
Visit the Tulsa County Election Board to register to vote, to verify your polling location and to check the Election Calendar.
