Young Caribbean voters lead charge against Trump

Genesis Whitlock is still in high school and was unable to vote on Tuesday because she’s 17 years old, a year below America’s voting age.

But the fact that she was unable to participate in this election has only intensified her resolve to make a difference in the political process.

A few months ago, Genesis organised a peaceful march for racial equity in the education system in New Jersey that attracted more than 6,000 residents.

“For the current elections, I am mobilising my peers on social media to vote, and those of us who are still in high school who can’t vote can still volunteer to be poll workers,”Genesis told The Gleaner.

“I have friends from both privileged and marginalised groups and we want to see a movement for social justice where equality is a reality for everyone.”

Genesis, with roots in Antigua and Barbuda, is part of a growing and increasingly vocal constituency of Caribbean Americans across the United States who are fiercely passionate about political engagement. They want to be seen, heard and respected.

And a year that has seen a resurgence in racial strife and the Black Lives Movement protests spread like wildfire across the nation has kindled more interest among teenagers and young adults.

“I’ve never seen so many young people voting and so many young people wanting to be a part of the political process,” Trevor Smith, an Atlanta-based business executive and CEO and founder of a new political website, sosobone.com, shared.

That fervour was evident in Denzel Bernard, 27, a Yale graduate of Jamaican parents who resides in San Francisco, California. He voted for the Dems.

“Our current president promotes fear, hate, and toxicity that divides Americans. He makes us collectively weaker and he has failed miserably on his job,” said Bernard of Republican Donald Trump, who is facing the challenge by Democrat Joe Biden.

In Atlanta, Georgia, one of the battleground states, 18-year-old Waychelle Hall, a college student of Jamaican heritage, is voting for the first time.

“I waited three hours in line and voted because I understand that’s how change will eventually take place. Voting is an extension of protesting for the changes you want,” he said.

BEST WAY TO CREATE CHANGE

Aaron R, an 18-year-old college student, cast his first-ever vote in a presidential election in Delray Beach, Florida, another battleground state.

Florida, like New York, comes loaded with 29 Electoral College votes. Only Texas and California have more.

“As a young black man in America, I know the best way to create change is to exercise my right and my responsibility to vote. That is the beauty of our democracy,” said Aaron.

The undercurrent of anger and distrust among black youth has heightened since the May killing of George Floyd – asphyxiated by the knee of a policeman. Demonstrations have fanned across dozens of cities demanding justice and the defunding of police forces.

Tiffany Raven, a 29-year-old healthcare worker in Tallahassee, Florida, told The Gleaner that she voted early “because I want to have a say in issues of police brutality, inequality, healthcare and the coronavirus outbreak.

“I believe that Joe Biden and our own Kamala Harris can and will make a difference for the better,” said Raven of the Democratic vice-presidential candidate.