Although often ignored by the mainstream media, the backbone of the Democratic Party is African-American women. This year, the election, like the previous two presidential elections, might be swayed by the number of Black women who turn out in key states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida.
A recent report by the Pew Research Center stated that African-American turnout in presidential elections has steadily increased since 1996, with Black women leading the way. During the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, Black women voted in higher percentages than any other demographic.
The AmNews spoke to AFL-CIO’s Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Director Carmen Berkley about the importance of the African-American woman vote in 2016 and beyond.
“Black women have always been at the forefront of ensuring that the Black community moves forward when it pertains to elections,” said Berkley. “Studies show that when a Black woman votes, she brings her whole family. In some of the most important battleground states like Florida and Ohio, Black women’s participation really did tip the scale.”
Berkley pointed out how the many Black women serving in top positions in the Democratic National Committee, including interim Party Chair Donna Brazile, are examples of the importance of their presence and their votes. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake opening the convention, with Democratic National Convention CEO Leah Daughtry and Congresswoman Marcia Fudge standing alongside her, showed just how important Black women are to the Democratic Party’s future.
Berkley spoke with the AmNews about the lack of media coverage on the African-American women’s vote in favor of the focus on what some have labeled “angry working-class white people.” Berkley said that although it isn’t only Black women being ignored, it’s a problem that so much of mainstream media zeros in on one demographic.
“Black women are totally undervalued in the electorate,” said Berkley. “I understand why there’s this focus on what is called the silent majority, which is a dog whistle, but I think there’s an overemphasis on those people. There’s this thought in the media that ‘We don’t need talk about these people because we know how they’re going to vote.’”
Berkley added, “Yes, Black women vote democratic. But they might not vote at all.”
According to the AFL-CIO, data show that African-American women, whose participation in labor unions mirrors their percentage of the general population, have a higher percentage of the leadership in America’s unions.
The Democratic National Convention also included speeches given by Black women such as Star Jones, and Shonda Rhimes and Kerry Washington have showed support for Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton via social media. Berkley cited a recent report by The New York Times about how young, Black millennials aren’t excited by this year’s election. She said that it’s up to people like her and other organizers to remind young Black people (especially young Black women) that they’re not just voting for the president.
“Even if you’re not excited about the top of the ticket, there’s city council … there’s school board,” said Berkley. “Those elections have just as much of an impact on Black women and a family’s life as the presidency. We have to get Black women out there to vote.”