Throughout history, Black voters have played a role in shaping American politics. We were the face of the Civil Rights movement and a major force in electing the first Black president. We have repeatedly shown that we can improve the political landscape. And as we approach this historic election, there’s no better time to prove that every vote still counts.

As a people, historically, our ability to vote has been denied. Black voting rights have been marked by struggle and, eventually, triumph. Even though the Fifteenth Amendment's ratification in 1870 granted Black men the right to vote, many states employed tactics like literacy tests, poll taxes, and violence to suppress Black voter turnout. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a game-changer, dismantling many of these barriers and opening the door for greater Black voter participation. But even to this day, many states are still implementing tactics to suppress our vote.

But those tactics didn’t stop us in 2008 when we went to the polls in droves to elect the country’s first Black president, Barack Obama.  65% of eligible Black voters cast their ballots, and it was clear that their collective power significantly impacted the outcome.

Although presidential elections are a pivotal display of the power of the Black vote, we also have to look at state elections and how we show up to the polls. For example, in the 2017 special election for the U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, Democrat Doug Jones won in a conservative state. His victory was largely due to the overwhelming support of Black voters, particularly Black women, who turned out in large numbers.

The 2020 presidential election told a similar story. High turnout among Black voters was critical to Joe Biden’s victory in key swing states like Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Georgia, which had not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1992, flipped blue largely due to the efforts of Black voters and organizers like Stacey Abrams, who worked tirelessly to register and mobilize voters across the state.

In just a few months, Black people can shift the political landscape once again and make history. And although we shouldn’t have to depend on our own votes, we can’t rely on others to show up as hard as we do.  In local, state, and national elections, the stakes are high, and the outcomes have far-reaching implications for issues that disproportionately affect Black communities, such as criminal justice reform, healthcare access, and economic inequality.

The upcoming election will determine policy direction and representation of Black voices in government. The election of Black officials at all levels of government is crucial to ensuring that the concerns of the Black community are addressed. However, this representation can only be achieved if the collective power of the Black vote is fully harnessed.

For more information about voting, visit BET We Vote