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Throughout American history, there have been many times where the borders of regular civilian life and police intersect at a crossroads that often leads to a deadly encounter. As a country, the U.S. has experienced several incidents over the past few months involving police brutality and injustice. That has led many people to start forming organizations dedicated to helping marginalized communities achieve fair treatment in society overall.
One of those stars is Lebron James, as he recently announced that he would be starting a Voting Rights Group dedicated solely to African Americans alongside other celebrities. The organization’s primary purpose is to help African Americans register to vote before this year’s election.
The Voting Rights Group will be called “More Than A Vote,” and it consists of various prominent African American leaders, entertainers, sports figures, and more.
Purpose Behind It
In a statement about the group’s formation, LeBron James said the following: “Because of everything that’s going on, people are finally starting to listen to us — we feel like we’re finally getting a foot in the door,” This is a sentiment that rings true for many African Americans around the world not just in the U.S. however the United States has a terrible history of blocking out entire sections of the voting populous.
This is known as “Voter Suppression,” and while it exists in every state, it’s more prominent in rural areas and cities where the population of black voters and white voters is equal. LeBron James also said the following about the formation of this new Voting Right group, “How long is up to us. We don’t know. But we feel like we’re getting some ears and some attention, and this is the time for us to make a difference finally.”
Potential Impact
LeBron James and the other celebrities who have joined the More Than A Vote group, plan on using their platforms to fight voter suppression actively. They will also oppose any attempts to restrict the franchise of minorities during the voting season. Some of the other celebrities that have joined the new Voting Rights Group include: Jalen Rose, Trae Youg, and Skylar Diggins Smith.
LeBron James has actively been involved in the fight against systemic oppression and injustice; however, this new Voting Rights Group will be the first time that he has stepped into the real world with his activism. James also said that the death of George Floyd was one of the primary catalysts that made him realize that there was more work to be done in the areas of fighting for equality.
When asked about what he hoped to accomplish through this new Voting Rights Group, James said the following: “Hopefully, someday down the line, people will recognize me not only for the way I approached the game of basketball but the way I approached life as an African-American man.”
Conclusion
As we sit back and wait to see the fruits of the new More Than A Vote group, there is a lot of promise for hope in the future.
