Q: As a When We All Vote Co-Chair, your role in the culture extends beyond music. How can more artists use their platforms to discuss the importance of voting, particularly within the Black community?
A: The art I create is based on what I see happening in my life, in the world, and how I experience all of it. I feel like, as an artist, it’s my responsibility to use my voice to speak out on what I see going on around me and the issues that matter most to me. Voting is at the center of all of that. Our vote impacts every issue we care about.
When you have an audience of people listening to you, it’s important to uplift them and make sure they know their voices and opinions matter. Set an example with the platform you have — literally. Talk publicly about what you believe in. Put your advocacy in your art. Go and vote yourself, and don’t be afraid to talk about voting, politics, and the real issues impacting people. Some people look at us as their role models and use that to make a difference.
Q: This year, more than 34 million Black people are eligible to vote. What’s your message to Black voters?
A: Voting is about choosing who represents us and what decisions they’ll make that impact us every day. In the Black community, we all know that if anyone is going to fight for us, it has to be us — and that happens at the ballot box. 34 million of us voting would be huge.
Q: What about our community brings you joy? And what is your favorite part of being Black?
A: I find joy in the way our community shows up and shows love to each other. We know how hard it can be for us just to exist in this world sometimes, so when we have each others’ backs, it really is special.
![[HEADSHOT] H.E.R. Grammy Winning singer-songwriter and Activist When We All Vote Co-Chair](https://prod.cdn.everyaction.com/images/van/TSM/TSMCN/1/80387/images/2024_WWAV_BHM_Email-%234_BHM-Image-JonathanKirkland.jpg "[HEADSHOT] H.E.R. Grammy Winning singer-songwriter and Activist When We All Vote Co-Chair")
