Throughout Black History Month, When We All Vote is interviewing volunteers and partners who work with us to ensure their communities are registered and ready to vote. So many of us make history every day, and we are proud to honor these voices in action. To get involved with When We All Vote, visit whenweallvote.org/takeaction.

Meet Jonathan Kirkland, Head of Marketing & Brand at BLK, a dating app built for Black singles to find meaningful connections. Leading BLK's growth, he formulates the brand's vision, emphasizing community building and diverse expressions of Black love and life. With expertise in content strategy, digital marketing, partnerships, and more, Jonathan's efforts have elevated BLK's presence.

Q: As a partner of When We All Vote, how do you connect the historical struggles of the civil rights movement with today to encourage voter registration and turnout in the communities you serve through your work?

A: About 80 percent of our audience is under 35. Gen Z and younger millennials might think they are far removed from the Civil Rights Movement, even though we all know it wasn’t that long ago. We must remind them that it's not. Because in my mind, Black history is a thing at work. It's a working project, it's a working process, it's a working life. Black history is yesterday, today, and tomorrow. So, we must keep honing in on that and continue spreading that message to our young voters.

Q: What about our community brings you joy? And what is your favorite part about being Black?

A: My favorite part of our community that brings me joy is the opportunity to be in it. Like Beyonce said, “We walk a certain way, we talk a certain way, we love a certain way.” The uniqueness of our existence is exemplary — it's like no other. I've never seen two Black people, even twins, that are the same. And that beauty in our individuality makes us a wonderful collective. 

And to answer that second question — I love being Black. I don't know what else to be. The support you see in the Black community, family structures, neighborhoods, cities, and the collegiate community always feels like home. The collective bond that we have as Black people is unmatched — and if you're not a part of it, you wouldn't understand.

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