As we gear up for the 2024 presidential elections, lots of information will be thrown at voters from various news outlets and on social media. There have already been several stories about Black men and their support for the Democratic party, questions surrounding President Biden’s record, and far too many celebrities waxing poetic about policy issues they know very little about. As misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda spread quickly throughout communities, it is important we stay vigilant in seeking out news stories that have merit and are based in facts, as opposed to parroted propaganda used to suppress Black electoral participation.
I recently spoke to Esosa Osa, founder and CEO of Onyx Impact, an organization created to better serve and empower Black communities by fighting the harmful information ecosystems targeting them. Osa has years of experience in electoral politics and has made it her mission to educate voters about ways to identify falsehoods as we prepare for the upcoming election.
When I asked Osa what can be done to ensure Black voters have the most succinct and factual information possible, she explained three key elements we should all be aware of this election season.
The first element involves the Black media. She said the threat of disinformation targeting Black communities continues to grow. We must arm trusted Black media outlets with the resources to reach larger audiences and be trusted fact-checkers. Outlets like the Amsterdam News have provided an invaluable resource to Black communities for decades and we must continue to support the institutions most concerned with educating their readers.
The second element involves fact-checking. Osa reminded me to implore voters to check the source of the information they are reading (or sharing) to make sure it is reputable. She said the easiest way to prevent spreading false facts is to try to share information from reputable sources and trusted messengers.
Lastly, be cognizant of whether or not your post will spread fear and/or division.
Like all good gossip or an intriguing story, the more times you hear something, the more likely you’ll believe that it’s true. Osa said, as a reminder, that voters that repeating or amplifying false narratives creates an environment of distrust and fear. Quickly spreading false information can unnecessarily divide the Black community. And just like a wildfire, disinformation of any kind tends to spread far and wide.
As New Yorkers, we will go to the polls in 2024 for the presidency, 2025 for municipal elections, and 2026 for statewide elections and Congressional races. Our duty to participate in making our democracy robust is essential and we must do our part to educate ourselves with complete and factual information. Sinister forces are afoot and as with most things, education is our key to progress.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio; and a 2023–24 Moynihan Public Scholars Fellow at CCNY.