These Black women are defending voting rights and leading the fight against oppression in key battleground states – Essence

As executive director of Blueprint North Carolina, Serena Sebring has critical knowledge of “what it takes to protect voters.” NC project is committed to creating an anti-racist and inclusive democracy where everyone’s voice counts. Sebring believes that because of its people power partnerships with 102 organizations, it’s well positioned to extend voter participation. However, there are barriers to achieving this goal, and they’ve parallels throughout U.S. history.

North Carolina was the site of the 1898 Wilmington Massacre, in which an indignant white mob destroyed a multiracial democracy in which Black people had flourished. Once again, as multiracial, inclusive democracy grows across the state, renewed efforts at disenfranchisement and oppression have intensified. “We know there are extremists in many parts of this state who are preparing to use good old-fashioned intimidation to put this down,” Sebring said. “I believe there may be a chance before us to come back forward and say that this just isn’t an election that may be won or lost based on political violence or intimidation, but as a substitute that we are all committed to doing whatever it takes, to de-escalate, to intervene, in order that the voices of North Carolinians may be heard at once in a way that they weren’t in 1898.”

North Carolinians, especially those in the eastern a part of the state often known as the Black Belt due to its fertile soil and large Black population, fear their votes won’t count. Sebring owes this to several reasons: redistricting of the North Carolina General Assembly, which tried to dilute the black vote; uncertainty over voter ID laws which have gone into effect since the last election means judges at 100 different district electoral commissions will determine whether a voter’s ID card is valid and a brand new rule that may allow biased poll observers in the voting booth. Sebring said of the latter case, “we’re really concerned about the direct physical intimidation that’s taking place at polling places.”

In response, Blueprint NC will implement a statewide election protection table, which currently has over 40 partners, to guard votes from litigation to poll attendance. These advocates may even be physically present at polling places to document what is occurring with voter ID decisions and “prepare to intervene to ensure that anyone who wishes to cast a ballot this year in North Carolina he will have support for this,” Sebrin said.

Working to guard the voting rights of individuals of color in a divided country rife with the threat of violence is incredibly helpful, but it surely just isn’t without costs for Black men and women. “There is a certain kind of vulnerability in Black leadership right now that I think we shouldn’t hesitate to talk about,” Sebring said. This is a sacrifice on all levels for the individuals who are currently exercising sensitive or moderately invisible leadership. I believe it is important for people to pay attention to this, in today and age, greater than ever, to stick with leadership they consider in. “I think we need to speak out now about protecting Black leadership.”