I was recently asked what I would say to young women of color who may be considering sitting this election out.

To that I said: You matter. Your voice matters. And you are powerful.

When I was a little girl, my mother took me to vote in every election. We’d pull that lever and stand a little taller and she’d whisper, “never forget that you are powerful.”

By making a statement at the ballot box, you are honoring the role that women — Black women — have played throughout history.

To me, voting is an act of self-care. It is an act of mitigating harm. It’s a love letter to future generations as well. Our vote is about us, but it’s not only about us.

Every great movement throughout history and so many transformative pieces of legislation have only come to pass because of the sweat equity, because of the intellectual capital, because of the imagination of young people — and Black youth in particular. Whether it was student debt cancellation or the fight for climate justice, young Black people have been at the forefront of these movements.

No candidate is perfect. Perfection is not on the ballot this year, but progress is.

Kamala Harris will be a partner for progress. Her vision for our country will center the dignity and humanity of everyone who has been left behind and left out. Who has been made to believe that they don’t matter.

But, you see, that’s exactly what they want us to believe. If our vote didn’t matter, they wouldn’t be trying so hard to take away our right to vote.

My mandate between now and November 5th is to connect with as many voters as possible with the message above, encourage them to make their voices heard, and vote for progress. Will you pitch in $25 or anything you can today to help make this essential organizing and voter contact work possible?

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Onward,

Ayanna