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Black Millennial and Gen-Z Voters Chime in On Issues Important to Them Leading Up to the November Midterm Elections

NNPA NEWSWIRE ±— The 2022 midterm elections will definitely cast a major light on the future of this country, and with recent decisions surrounding education, healthcare, voting rights, abortion, student loans, and other issues, every vote will be crucial in determining what that future looks like.
The post Black Millennial and Gen-Z Voters Chime in On Issues Important to Them Leading Up to the November Midterm Elections first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Are candidates truly speaking to the issues that concern to Black Millennials and Gen-Z voters?

By Jeffrey L. Boney, NNPA Newswire Contributor

As we know, elections have consequences.

With that being said, the voice of Black millennial and Gen-Z voters is critical when it comes to impacting the outcome of any election—local, countywide, state, or federal.

The 2022 midterm elections will definitely cast a major light on the future of this country, and with recent decisions surrounding education, healthcare, voting rights, abortion, student loans, and other issues, every vote will be crucial in determining what that future looks like.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)—a trade association of the more than 200 African American-owned community newspapers from around the United States—recently asked several Black millennial and Gen-Z registered voters whether they planned to vote in the upcoming midterm elections and what their most important issue is going into the election.


Na’Shon (28-year-old, Black male)

Are you a registered voter?

Yes.

Are you currently in school, working, or both?

I am current working, and in school as an HBCU Doctoral student in Public Policy.

What is the most important issue that you want elected officials to address in 2022? Why?

The most important issue that I want elected officials to address in 2022 is crime. The level of crime can be a major influence on how and when people move to our beautiful city to access good southern culture and economic opportunities for the sake of attaining a Good Life.

Will you be voting in the upcoming midterm elections in November? Why?

Absolutely. The late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson said that “Politics is not perfect but it’s the best available nonviolent means of changing how we live.” I am a firm believer in that ideology. Moreover, it is my civic duty to participate in electing leaders who will impact the way my son and I shall live.


Elizabeth (24-year-old, Black female)

Are you a registered voter?

Yes.

Are you currently in school, working, or both?

Both.

What is the most important issue that you want elected officials to address in 2022? Why?

The Economy. Definitely, the economy. Because we aren’t making smart moves.

Will you be voting in the upcoming midterm elections in November? Why?

Yes, I will. First off, it’s my right so of course I will exercise it. The current leadership for the upper-level government is not who I want in office. I think they have made decisions that have strongly impacted us, and no one seems to care about that. I think elected officials should address what’s happening in their own backyard. If you go against what your constituents want, or you don’t fight for change, then you’re not the right person for the job.


Aaron (32-year-old, Black male)

Are you a registered voter?

Yes.

Are you currently in school, working, or both?

I am an HBCU Graduate student and currently employed.

What is the most important issue that you want elected officials to address in 2022? Why?

Voting Rights; to continue to protect this right all Americans have to ensure our democracy lasts.

Will you be voting in the upcoming midterm elections in November? Why?

Yes, because I know the important connection of voting to everyday life. I’ll be voting to honor my ancestors who endured beatings, jail, and even death, so I may have this right.


Joshua (31-year-old, Black male)

Are you a registered voter?

Yes.

Are you currently in school, working, or both?

Just work!

What is the most important issue that you want elected officials to address in 2022? Why?

The issue that must be addressed for me this midterm is definitely the protection of women’s reproductive health rights. As a proud son, brother, and friend of many strong Black women, the empowerment (not just freedom to do so) for women to make decisions that THEY deem best for THEIR bodies, in order to be the healthiest and best version of themselves, is of utmost importance. Looking at the landscape of society and history, it is (or should be) clear that when protected and empowered, our world is a better place with women contributing at the highest possible level.

Will you be voting in the upcoming midterm elections in November? Why?

Yes, I will be exercising my right to vote simply out of pride, duty, and spite. It’s a right that many people years ago (maybe even now) didn’t want me to have. It moves the needle of progression, and it’s a middle finger to the powers of injustice that be.


Jonita (37-year-old, Black female)

Are you a registered voter?

Yes.

Are you currently in school, working, or both?

I am working.

What is the most important issue that you want elected officials to address in 2022? Why?

Women’s State’s Rights, because it’s my body.

Will you be voting in the upcoming midterm elections in November? Why?

Yes, because my voice matters.


Caleb (21-year-old, Black male)

Are you a registered voter?

Yes, I am a proud registered voter

Are you currently in school, working, or both?

I am in school and working

What is the most important issue that you want elected officials to address in 2022? Why?

I believe that all issues are important, so no issue is truly more important than others. But, I will say that I would love to see is more infrastructure changes and new beautification and developments for younger people. I feel as though throughout my entire childhood things have always looked the same with no major changes, additions, or much at all. Things are changing now, and I would like to continue to see these changes.

Will you be voting in the upcoming midterm elections in November? Why?

Yes, I will be voting. Because I believe no matter how young someone is, if you are able to vote, and even if you don’t vote, your voice should be heard, and your opinion should matter. Voting gives people the decision to change the world and every vote matters!


Trey (24-year-old, Black male)

Are you a registered voter?

Yes, I am a registered voter.

Are you currently in school, working, or both?

I am currently a undergraduate senior at an HBCU

What is the most important issue that you want elected officials to address in 2022? Why?

There are countless issues that I feel need to be addressed by our elected officials, but most pressing are today’s wages. In today’s economy, I think that now even what we once considered middle class wages are just not enough to live off of in today’s society.

Will you be voting in the upcoming midterm elections in November? Why?

I’ll be voting in the midterm elections, because I think that the longer certain individuals are in office, the greater risk to the lives of everyday people.


As you can tell, this cross-sector of Black millennial and Gen-Z voters are engaged and wanting to bring about change and have their voices heard. It is imperative that each political party, elected official, and grassroots civics group, take the voice and vote of these young, Black voters seriously and do everything to get them to the polls this November.

Jeffrey L. Boney is a political analyst and frequent contributor for the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA.com, and the associate editor for the Forward Times newspaper in Houston. Jeffrey is an award-winning journalist, author, dynamic, international speaker, experienced entrepreneur, and business development strategist. Follow Jeffrey on Twitter and Instagram @realtalkjunkies and http://www.jeffreylboney.com.

The post Black Millennial and Gen-Z Voters Chime in On Issues Important to Them Leading Up to the November Midterm Elections first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Jeffrey L. Boney NNPA Newswire contributor

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EXCLUSIVE OP-ED: President Joe Biden Commemorating Juneteenth

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — “I’ve always believed that we need to be honest about our history, especially in the face of ongoing efforts to erase it. Darkness can hide much, but it erases nothing. Only with truth can come healing, justice, and repair.”

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By Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
46th President of the United States: 2021—2025

The people of Galveston, Texas, have been commemorating Juneteenth since the Civil War ended. Yesterday, in honor of the 160th anniversary, I went there to join them.

You can read about the events of Juneteenth, but there’s nothing quite like going to Galveston and seeing where it all happened.

After General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, Union troops marched across the South for two months, freeing enslaved people along the way. Their final stop was Galveston, an island off the Gulf coast of Texas. There, on June 19, 1865, Union troops went to Reedy Chapel, a church founded in 1848 by enslaved people, and posted a document titled simply “General Order #3.”

“The people of Texas are informed,” it said, “that, in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

We can only imagine the joy that spread through Galveston – and across the state and nation – on that day and those that followed.

Yesterday, there was once again joy in Galveston, with a parade, picnic, and fireworks. There was also great solemnity, because Juneteenth is a sacred day – a day of weight and power.

The Book of Psalms tells us: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, and the promise of that joyful morning to come.

As President, I had the great honor of signing the law declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday. It was our nation’s first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was created in 1983.

Our federal holidays say a lot about who we are as a nation. We have holidays celebrating our independence… the laborers who build this nation… the servicemembers who served and died in its defense.

And now, we also have a national holiday dedicated to the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans.

Signing that law was one of my proudest acts as President.

Yet for 156 years, Juneteenth was not written about in textbooks or taught in classrooms. Still today, there are those who say it does not deserve a holiday. They don’t want to remember the moral stain of slavery and the terrible harm it did to our country.

I’ve always believed that we need to be honest about our history, especially in the face of ongoing efforts to erase it. Darkness can hide much, but it erases nothing. Only with truth can come healing, justice, and repair.

I also believe that it’s not enough to commemorate the past. We must also embrace the obligation we have to the future. As Scripture says, “Faith without works is dead.” And right now, we Americans need to keep the faith and do the work.

In honor of Juneteenth, let’s help people register to vote.

For decades, we fought to expand voting rights in America. Now we’re living in an era when relentless obstacles are being thrown in the way of people trying to vote. We can’t let those tactics defeat us. In America, the power belongs with the people. And the way we show that power is by voting.

So let’s reach out to family, friends and neighbors – especially those who have never voted before. Remind them that with voting, anything is possible. And without it, nothing is possible.

Yesterday in Galveston, we gathered in Reedy Chapel to commemorate Juneteenth, just like people have done for 160 years and counting. We prayed, sang, and read General Order #3 again. The pews were full of families. How many people must have prayed for freedom inside those walls. How many must have sent fervent thanks to God when slavery finally ended.

I remembered the words of my late friend John Lewis. He said, “Freedom is not a state. It is an act.”

Juneteenth did not mark the end of America’s work to deliver on the promise of equality. It only marked the beginning. To honor the true meaning of Juneteenth, we must continue to work toward that promise. For our freedom. For our democracy. And for America itself.

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Cities Across the U.S. Shrink or Cancel Juneteenth Events as DEI Support Wanes

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Across the country, Juneteenth celebrations are being scaled back or eliminated as public funding dries up and corporations withdraw sponsorship.

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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Across the country, Juneteenth celebrations are being scaled back or eliminated as public funding dries up and corporations withdraw sponsorship. In many communities, the once-growing recognition of the holiday is facing sharp resistance tied to the unraveling of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

In Denver, Colorado, the annual Juneteenth Music Festival, one of the largest in the nation—was cut from two days to one. Organizers said more than a dozen corporate sponsors walked away from commitments, leaving them with a financial gap that almost canceled the event. Norman Harris, the festival’s executive director, said several companies “pulled back their investments or let us know they couldn’t or wouldn’t be in a position to support this year.” Harris credited grassroots donors and small businesses for stepping in when larger backers stepped aside.

In Colorado Springs, the local celebration was relocated to the Citadel Mall parking lot after support from previous sponsors disappeared. Organizers noted that where there were once dozens of corporate partners, only five remained. The downsized event was pieced together with limited resources, but community leaders said they refused to let the holiday go unacknowledged.

Scottsdale, Arizona, canceled its Juneteenth observance after the city council voted to dissolve its diversity, equity, and inclusion office in February. Without the office in place, the city offered no support for planning or funding, leaving residents without an official celebration.

In San Diego, the Cooper Family Foundation lost a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that had been earmarked for Juneteenth programming. Organizers said the decision forced them to personally finance key elements of the event, including cultural exhibits, performances, and youth engagement activities.

Bend, Oregon, called off its Juneteenth event entirely. Organizers cited political tensions and safety concerns, saying they could not secure the partnerships needed to proceed. A public statement from the planning committee described the current climate as “increasingly volatile,” making it difficult to host a safe and inclusive event.

West Virginia, which has recognized Juneteenth as a paid state holiday since 2017, will not sponsor any official events this year. State leaders pointed to budget constraints and recent decisions to eliminate DEI programming across agencies as the reasons for stepping away from public observance.

Austin, Texas, has also reduced its Juneteenth programming. While the city has not canceled events outright, organizers said diminished city support and fewer private contributions forced them to focus only on core activities.

“Thankfully, there was a wide range of support that came when we made the announcement that the celebration is in jeopardy,” said Harris. “But it shows how fragile that support has become.”

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Juneteenth and President Trump

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Juneteenth is a day for African Americans in this nation to connect to their ancestry. It honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The primary focus is freedom and the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

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By April Ryan
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent

President Trump is set to proclaim the federal observance of Juneteenth as the White House is open for business on this holiday. The White House says the president will sign a “historic proclamation designating Juneteenth as a National Day of Observance, marking the 160th anniversary of General Order Number 3 in Galveston, Texas.” The declaration was that “all slaves are free.” This Trump proclamation, according to the White House, “will celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation, the Republican Party’s role in passing the 13th Amendment, and reaffirm the administration’s dedication to equal justice and prosperity for all.”

This proclamation comes as President Trump has denounced Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and anything Woke. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom from the tyranny of 250 years of slavery after the Civil War.

The Juneteenth celebration started when Union troops reached Galveston, Texas, and told the slaves that they were free on June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was created.

The Emancipation Proclamation, which is on display in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House, was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It established that all enslaved people in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

Juneteenth is a day for African Americans in this nation to connect to their ancestry. It honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The primary focus is freedom and the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

The Juneteenth federal holiday was signed into law by then-President Joe Biden on June 19, 2021. This Trump White House is in full swing today, with a press briefing by Karoline Leavitt, not taking the federal holiday off. Also, President Trump will receive an intelligence briefing in the morning and participate in a swearing-in ceremony for the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.

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