Young people, especially Millennials and Gen Z, are at the forefront of shaping the freedoms and future of our nation. Their voting power is transforming American politics. We will hear directly from young leaders about the issues that matter most to them, the solutions they’re driving forward, and how the 2024 election is pivotal in protecting their rights and shaping the future they envision.
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00:00We want to address elections, voting, and how elections impact the future.
00:04For this discussion, we're being joined by Trinity Stokes and Chelsea Miller.
00:08Trinity Stokes is an author, an actress, a speaker, a host, and a, quote, lethal lyricist.
00:15Trinity is very well known for her role as Judy Cooper
00:19in the Disney Channel's television series, KC Undercover.
00:23And we're also happy to have with us Chelsea Miller,
00:26who is the co-founder of Freedom March New York City,
00:30one of the largest youth-led civil rights organizations in the country.
00:35Chelsea is also a global movement and media strategist.
00:40As we all know, there is an ongoing debate with some young people about whether to vote
00:46or refuse to vote on principle. Now, some are concerned about the conflict in Gaza.
00:51Others are concerned about high inflation.
00:54What are the consequences of refusing to vote based on a specific issue?
00:59Are the consequences different in this election than other elections?
01:04How do we incentivize young voters to vote without undermining
01:09strong perspectives on specific issues?
01:12So Trinity, Chelsea, we're going to ask for you to help us close this out.
01:17As Emily just said, what are the consequences here of refusing to vote on a specific issue?
01:23This is an important election for all of the reasons that we hear about every single day,
01:27but we all know that certain people are thinking about sitting this one out.
01:32And what do you say to young people or to anyone who is thinking about sitting out this election?
01:39And maybe Trinity will start with you.
01:42Yeah, I think for me, it's extremely important for everyone to cast your vote.
01:46Not casting your vote simply because of your opinion on one specific issue
01:51is actually doing more damage than it is good.
01:53You're taking a step in the opposite direction because no one has on record what your opinion
01:58is on a specific issue when it comes down to candidates doing their polling and
02:03going to see what issues are actually important.
02:06I mean, one issue should not be the one thing that stops you from being able to put your input
02:12in on what the changes are going to be for America for the next four years
02:16and possibly for the next eight years.
02:18One thing that's really important for all of us to remember is that this is not our last election.
02:23Even though this is an extremely important election,
02:26there will always be more chances for us to make our voices heard on specific issues.
02:31And then you have great groups of people like Chelsea's Foundation
02:35and other companies that are grassroots organizations that you can work with and partner with
02:40where you can have your issues heard on a larger scale that are a bit auxiliary,
02:45but they do amazing things such as campaigns and marches and different things on social media
02:50that are also proven with things such as the Black Lives Matter movement
02:55to grab the attention of folks in power and be able to make changes through legislation that way.
03:00So there are a lot of different ways to get your opinion expressed,
03:03but voting is one of the most important ways to get started on that effort.
03:09So you just mentioned something and I want to call it out, Trinity,
03:13because I think in this election cycle, I don't want to say it's unique,
03:16but we certainly have some key factors that we haven't seen before.
03:20And we have a presidential candidate who has said publicly that you only have to vote once.
03:26You don't have to vote again. You vote in this election and that's it.
03:29So I want you to think about that because we'll come back to you on that point.
03:33And I want to ask Chelsea the same question that I asked you.
03:37And Chelsea, you're on mute just in case.
03:39As we think about sort of incentivizing people to vote, but also recognizing that people have
03:47very, very strong held views on certain issues that may disincentivize them to vote,
03:53what do you say to them?
03:56So for me, I think that it's important that we recognize that the frustrations
04:02of young people and the black community and communities at large are very real.
04:08And I think a lot of times we get frustrated because on one hand, we're holding two truths.
04:14And so I think in this space, we can acknowledge that the frustrations that we are feeling,
04:19everything from the economy to global affairs, to the ways in which our voices are being represented
04:25within the political space, there isn't enough being done.
04:28While at the same time, acknowledging that we still have so much work to do
04:33and showing up is one of the ways to do that at the ballot in November and midterm elections
04:39and voting up and down the ballot.
04:40And so I think that it's so important that we ensure that we are using every single tool
04:47that is available in our toolbox, voting being one of them.
04:51And that is not the only one that we have.
04:54There are so many different ways that we show up.
04:56I also want to dispel this myth.
04:58And I know that folks spoke about it earlier, about the fact that young people,
05:02and especially young black voters are not engaged.
05:04And that's simply not true.
05:06We are one of the most educated bases when it comes to knowing things that are happening
05:10on a domestic level and globally.
05:12We are the most in touch from social media and the ways that we are spreading information
05:17and building community.
05:18There are polls that have shown that one in five young black voters say that they aspire
05:23to run for office or have an interest in that.
05:25We saw that one in five young black voters in 2022 experienced barriers though,
05:31between being educated on showing up at the ballot to knowing where their polling locations
05:37were to knowing how to cast an absentee ballot.
05:39And so we know that there's also an issue around how we are essentially providing the
05:44information necessary to show up at the polls as well.
05:47And so I am excited about this election because I think that young black voters have always
05:54led the charge in being at the forefront of so much change within our country,
05:59not just at the ballot, but also on the streets and everything in between.
06:03And so I think this is going to be a representation of that.
06:06And just so that we are all mindful when we're talking about Gen Z voters,
06:1041 million Gen Z voters are eligible to vote in this election.
06:14Out of that number, 6 million of them are black youth.
06:17And so it is not a question whether or not we are a margin.
06:20We are a massive voting bloc going into 2024.
06:25I know Ebony is going to have a question on this, but before she weighs in,
06:28I just want to go back to you, Trinity, because I think this challenge that we currently face,
06:34because you are absolutely right, we should all remember under normal circumstances,
06:39this is not going to be the only election we vote in.
06:42But because of the comments that have been made, do you think that that is a factor people
06:49should think about when deciding whether or not to vote here?
06:53Yes, I do think that is a very important factor.
06:55Like you said, there is an opportunity where you could vote one way,
06:59and you have many chances to continue to vote and have your voice be heard.
07:03And as your opinion changes and different issues arise,
07:06have that being taken care of in the Oval Office.
07:08Or there's a chance where you vote and you never get a chance to vote again,
07:12because the election results might not be upheld,
07:15or the Constitution could actually be changed when that's been upheld for many,
07:20many years, as long as America has been alive as an actual country.
07:24So I think people should take into account that,
07:27do you want to be able to continue to vote?
07:30Do you want to be able to continue to express your opinions?
07:33Or do you simply want to live in a world where it's a dictatorship?
07:36Things that we have condemned other countries for living under,
07:40but we're at the risk of living under a similar dictatorship in America.
07:45So you definitely have to put a good amount of thought into what you want your future to look
07:50like and just how much you value the idea of being able to express your opinion and express
07:55your vote, whether that's being able to do that continually in the future
07:59or having that be something that's extinct.
08:03Let me just say thank you for the comments that both of you ladies have shared on tonight.
08:08It's so powerful.
08:09And I knew, Alfonso, you were going to talk about one of the candidates who said,
08:14vote one time, you want to vote again.
08:16When you said that, Trinity, I said, oh, we're coming for you.
08:19But I do want to say this because we many times talk about how voting really is like
08:23casting your ballot on November the 4th is one of the most important civic duties that you have,
08:27but it is also ground floor.
08:30And so to young people who, after they do this, how can you encourage them?
08:35Don't just sit after you cast your ballot.
08:38What is the next step that people need to begin to do to advocate for themselves?
08:44Yeah, I think there's a million different ways after you cast your vote to continue to stay
08:49engaged, whether that's continuing to have conversations like we're having here to hear
08:54people's voices and find different ways for us to organize and come together and do different
08:58groups, different petitions, find different ways to lobby and get in touch with our local
09:03officials and join community councils and various things of that nature.
09:07Like you were saying, voting is just the basic thing we can do.
09:10That's something that, in a sense, I feel that we're morally required to do.
09:14But after that, that's where the real work kicks in.
09:17During those four years of every president's tenure, we have the opportunity to continue
09:23to express our opinion and continue to get our voices heard through different levels,
09:28through different stages.
09:29But I think social media is one of the main ways that we can have that expressed.
09:33Different hashtags, you know, you have Marley Diaz, who had her amazing campaign with her
09:38hashtag.
09:38It's such a great way to organize individuals, and they garner a lot of attention.
09:44So when you look at the hashtag MeToo movement, that started with a profound, catchy hashtag
09:49that caught on to media and newspapers, and that really was able to get a lot of attention
09:54that ended up in change being made that was in the favor of those who started the initiative.
09:59So being able to think creatively and think critically about different ways that we can
10:04still express our opinion is something that really happens on November 5th.
10:10I love it.
10:11And Chelsea, how would you encourage people to, in addition to casting their ballots,
10:17to also advocate for themselves?
10:20And I'll attach to that, are you worried at all about misinformation or disinformation
10:25campaigns that can lead some, I won't even say young people, just people, period, astray
10:30in what they believe?
10:31Yeah, definitely.
10:32So I think that for me, a lot of what I'm seeing in my work right now is in the space
10:37of combating misinformation and disinformation.
10:40And we know that our communities are disproportionately targeted by these campaigns.
10:45And so I think it's just important for us to stay informed.
10:47Trinity said it incredibly well, that this is not the end of the journey of how we implement
10:53change.
10:54It is literally one of the starter steps that we need to take.
10:58It is literally one of the starter steps, especially for so many new voters.
11:03I think there's close to 8 million new voters that will be coming into this electorate.
11:07And so that's a really exciting time.
11:09And so I think that it's just so important for us to be mindful that when we are engaging
11:15on social media, and social media is one of the most incredible ways that you can be in
11:19community and build community and receive information.
11:21But at the same time, we do know that misinformation, disinformation, specifically around voting,
11:26voting access, what is on the ballot policies that are coming up is really important.
11:30And I also want to be mindful that what we have seen historically, especially when we
11:34have Black candidates, and especially Black women, is that there are targeted efforts
11:40to dismantle their leadership abilities, to dismantle their stories, to dismantle what
11:47it is that they are trying to build and create.
11:49And so especially within our community, the work that we do at Freedom March, we are being
11:54mindful that if we are going to challenge candidates, it should be about their policies,
11:59not whether or not they are considered to be valid American citizens, not whether or
12:04not their Blackness is qualified or debatable on a national and global stage.
12:09And so it is our responsibility as well to make sure that we are challenging tropes and
12:13dangerous narratives that are also impacting our communities as well.
12:18Chelsea and Trinity, I want to ask you both this question, because I've heard it not from
12:22many people, not from many young people, but from a few, which is going to the issue
12:28of apathy.
12:30I don't feel that things have changed enough.
12:34I don't really trust that my vote will make a difference.
12:40Can you both talk a little bit about the individual act of voting and whether you believe in having
12:50that conversation with whoever the person ends up being, you can encourage them to vote
12:56and explain why?
12:58Because this has come up before, right?
13:01I don't really think that my vote is going to make a difference.
13:05What do you say to them?
13:06What do you say to that person when we talk about the consequences of voting and elections?
13:12Yeah, I mean, I see a lot of people in my community that do feel that apathy in the
13:17sense of it's not even worth it.
13:19And like you were saying, nothing really has changed.
13:22But this election specifically, if we don't make our voices heard in any form of voting,
13:27if we don't go to the ballot box and cast our vote, things are never going to change.
13:32So this is our opportunity to start on that track of positive change for a brighter future
13:38on the various issues that are at hand.
13:40And when it comes to feeling like, oh, you're just one in a million, yes, you are one in
13:45a million voters, and you get to create that voice of change.
13:49When you're sitting at home and you're watching the results come in, it's always down to those
13:54few percentages that are left.
13:56And those few percentages could be your vote that decides on the future of America.
14:01So one vote, one voice, that's really all that you need.
14:05And so when all of those voices come together, it sings a beautiful chorus, hopefully, of
14:09democracy being saved and freedoms being upheld for all of us.
14:13And Chelsea, what about you?
14:16Any thoughts on that?
14:19A lot of thoughts.
14:20So I will say that specifically for Black youth, it is so important for us to remember,
14:29and especially with a lot of the work that we do, we are a civil rights organization.
14:34So we connect our history to the civil rights movement.
14:38There are still civil rights veterans who are alive today who will tell you about the
14:44work that it took, the blood that was shed, the lives that were lost, in order for us
14:49to be able to show up at the ballot.
14:52And so even when you're talking to a lot of young Black voters, and there have been polls
14:57on this, there are so many of us who recognize that voting is something that we do because
15:04we have the right to do that.
15:06And so I think that as we are seeing this shift in where we are and the fact that we
15:12are still fighting for so many of those rights, 65% of young Black voters believe that climate
15:18change is a critical issue.
15:20We know that young people, especially young Black voters, when we're talking about Black
15:24students, 86% of us take out debt in order to go to college.
15:29And so these issues disproportionately impact us.
15:32And so it is so important that when we are voting, that we are voting on the policies
15:36that we care about.
15:36We are voting on the things that are impacting our lives.
15:39Because even if you don't vote, voting is going to ensure that the decisions that are
15:44happening on a day-to-day basis will affect you.
15:47And so you are one in a million.
15:49You are one in tens of millions, right?
15:52That is the point.
15:53We are a voting bloc.
15:55And so it is so important that we show up together.
15:58And I think that it is an incredibly powerful narrative when we understand that we are not
16:03doing this work alone.
16:06We are doing it together.
16:07And so I think we have to bring back this idea of community.
16:09We have to bring back this idea that there are so many of us who are currently incarcerated
16:14who are unable to cast our ballot.
16:16There are so many people who are disenfranchised who are unable to cast their ballot.
16:20So many immigrants who are unable to cast their ballot.
16:22And so when we are voting, we are not just voting for ourselves, but we are also voting
16:27in community.
16:28And I think really reclaiming that and showing that is going to be so critical as we go into
16:33November and even beyond that, because we know, again, that voting is just the baseline.
16:37Just hopping in really quick right there, when you're speaking about unifying and becoming
16:43a bloc, I think that's one of the schemes and one of the tactics that's being used to
16:47sort of scramble the young Black voter bloc.
16:50If you have so many of us kind of distracted by misinformation and different things that
16:55we're seeing on social media, not really sure what to believe, not really sure what to trust,
17:00what to vote, what to vote on, and what issues matter, that's sort of what scrambles us and
17:04takes away the power that we have of being so unified.
17:08Like you were speaking about the historic civil rights movement that came before us.
17:12What was so impactful about them was seeing so many Black people together, unified on
17:18one issue, which was being able to vote.
17:21And so if we bring back that same spirit of us just being unified about voting, period,
17:26and voting towards the candidate that protects your interests the most, I think that's where
17:30we'll see the most change this year.
17:33And kind of, I just wanted to hop in really quickly on that.
17:36One of the things that we've seen and that we've talked about a lot with our generation
17:40is this idea of social media.
17:43And I want us to all remember that social media is one place of creating change, but
17:48the people who came before us put their bodies on the line in order to show up and give us
17:54our rights now, whether that's showing up at the ballot, whether that's marching, whether
17:59that's organizing, whether that's boycotting.
18:02And so I want us to be mindful that even when we talk about Freedom Summer, that was about
18:062,000 college students.
18:08Nowadays, we post something on social media, and if it doesn't reach 2,000 people, we feel
18:12like we failed.
18:13But we know the power of even the margins and being able to influence history and create
18:19change.
18:20And so when we're talking about the fact that young people and young Black voters can be
18:25that change that we are looking to see, let's also be mindful that sometimes, to your point,
18:30Trinity, it is just a couple of dozens in a local county that can influence an election.
18:37And so you don't need millions of people to always show up in real time with you in order
18:42to create that difference.
18:43Go and speak to your local barbershop.
18:45Go and speak to your community.
18:47Bring a couple of friends.
18:48And if a lot of us are taking those small actions, that will create this greater ripple
18:53effect that we can see in November and beyond.
18:59I think this is...
19:00Oh, go ahead, Alphonso.
19:01No, go ahead.
19:01Go ahead.
19:02I was going to say, we've been talking about how important it is, and we've said this before,
19:06but we cannot say it enough.
19:08If your vote did not matter, there would not be so many different strides to keep you from
19:15the ballot.
19:16When we're looking at voter purges, Texas, almost purging almost 500,000 eligible voters,
19:22Oklahoma, nearly 200,000, you've got rule changes every five minutes, polling locations
19:30closing.
19:31I mean, it's like the goalpost keeps moving every five minutes.
19:35And as a journalist, I'm like, who did what today?
19:39And we're so close to the November 5th.
19:42So I just want people to understand that's why your vote is so important.
19:47If it wasn't that important, they wouldn't be doing all this.
19:50And I know even with you, Alphonso, this Paint the Polls Black, it's such an urgent conversation,
19:58and it's so important that Essence is even doing something like this.
20:01And then I think even the next step, and Alphonso, I always talk about this and lean on you about
20:06this, is as we do that, to think globally, just expand our horizons and connect more
20:12as a community.
20:14No, absolutely.
20:15And I think one of the reasons why we did this is to make sure we demystify the process,
20:20we identify the issues, we encourage people to vote, and we have the honest conversations,
20:25right?
20:25Because there is so much misinformation about voting, about how complicated it is, about
20:30whether or not the vote actually matters.
20:33We have two congresswomen, as you know, join us for our first Paint the Polls, and they
20:38talked about the margins for winning.
20:42I mean, they're talking about a few hundred votes made the difference between some of
20:47their races and those that we want in office, those that will be representing the interests
20:53of marginalized communities.
20:55So I think that's also important because there's this idea, and I think both Chelsea and Trinity
21:00hit on this, that you don't have to vote.
21:06Those who want to take away your right want you to think about the value of your vote.
21:12But let's remember, as Chelsea and Trinity have said from the beginning, our ancestors
21:17died for our ability to vote.
21:23So we can have our opinions about the issues, but we want to really encourage people to
21:29exercise their right to vote, which is why we're doing this among a number of other
21:34initiatives to make sure we demystify the process and make it a lot easier for people
21:39to actually exercise their right to vote.
21:41And that takes me to my last question, and I know Ebony may have others, but talking
21:49to a non-young person, I'll speak for myself, what would you say the adults, older adults,
21:59what conversations do you think they should be having with younger people about the importance
22:04of voting in the family, at the dinner table, on the group chats?
22:10What do you think would be most helpful?
22:13Because there are many people that are watching right now, not all are young people, and I
22:17want to make sure as we talk about bridging the divide between those who have been around
22:22for a long time and young people who are now entering the electoral process, what are the
22:29main touch points you think?
22:30What do you think are the key levers that adults, older adults, should be pulling in
22:36having conversations with younger voters?
22:41I would say honest conversations.
22:44And the reason why I say that is because the truth is that oftentimes, especially for young
22:50people within this generation, we live in a microwave society, right?
22:55We expect things to happen quickly and instantly.
22:59The civil rights movement lasted over a decade.
23:01And I think that a lot of times young people are growing increasingly frustrated because
23:06the things that we want to see are not happening at the speed in which we would like to see
23:11them.
23:11And so I think it's so important that we have conversations at the dinner table about what
23:16it is really going to take in order for us to get where we need to go.
23:21I would also say the second piece is to be able to have those transparent conversations
23:26that also involve listening to what the needs of young people are.
23:30I find that a lot of times when young people are invited to spaces or in spaces, the expectation
23:37is that someone who is older has something to teach them, right?
23:40When I believe in reciprocity, I think that the older generations have something to teach
23:45young people.
23:45And young people also have a story that is worth being listened to and told.
23:49And so I think more of those dynamics of those conversations, we know that it's a lot
23:54more difficult now to be able to buy houses.
23:56We know that the market, and Rochelle was talking about this, the economy from a couple
24:02of decades ago is not the economy now.
24:04And so I think being able to have those multi-generational conversations and exchanges that also stress
24:09the urgency of the time that we are in, but also the urgency of how what we are doing
24:14now can lead to where we're going.
24:16Yeah, and I think adding to that, it's so important of the legacy of voting.
24:21So when you're sitting down and you're having these conversations with your family, make
24:24that a family effort.
24:25As a family, we're all going out to go cast our vote.
24:29Look at the legacy of those who came before you, who went through so much to be able to
24:33cast their vote and have you be in the position to cast your vote.
24:37And I think we would be so remiss as a community of people of color to just sit back and watch
24:44an election passes by simply because we didn't either make the time to vote or we didn't
24:49know what was going on, or we just felt so staunch about one specific issue that deterred
24:54us from voting.
24:56And also looking at the persistent effort of continuing to vote, not just voting in
25:00this election, but the elections that are to come.
25:03Because once you get in the habit, especially for me, I'm a first time voter this year,
25:07which I'm really excited about.
25:09So once you get in the habit of being able to exercise your vote, being able to continue
25:14to do that and making sure that that's a priority for you, every election cycle, being able
25:18to read what's on the ballot, know what's going on, be educated and exercise your vote
25:23and make sure that your opinion is heard and preserving that legacy of not only your family,
25:28but the future that's to come and those who came before you.
25:31Let me just, let me just start that.
25:36Let me just start that.
25:40I'm so excited.
25:45When I was little, I was like, oh my gosh, I want my election, my first election to be
25:50super cool and so exciting.
25:51I had no idea that my first election would be so important and such a pinnacle in history.
25:57So when I get older, I'll be able to say, you know, my first election was a 2024 election
26:02and the minority was on the line.
26:04So it's definitely going to be one for the book, that's for sure.
26:11Okay, so do you have a plan as we close?
26:14And this is to both of you, but I'm really excited, like now I have so many questions,
26:17but I'm going to just ask one.
26:20Like, are you going with family, friends?
26:23Because we talk about make a plan, right, for your vote.
26:26So I assume you're not going to do early because you want the in-person experience
26:31of it all.
26:31But do you have a plan for this?
26:34Are you bringing other people with you?
26:36Because there's so many people going to the polls, we talked about this early, it's going
26:39to be their first time.
26:40So how or what are you doing as you go to the polls?
26:44Yes, I'm definitely going in person because I want my sticker.
26:47I'm going to frame my first official voting sticker that I earned, but I'm going to be
26:52going with my family.
26:53I have a few cousins who it's also their first time voting this year.
26:57I have a cousin who's actually away at college and it's his first year voting.
27:00And I was like, dude, make sure you mail in your ballot.
27:04Like, this is no joke.
27:06So for me, I'm going with my family and we're going to go early, make sure that we're there
27:11to cast our vote.
27:13And I'm going to come home and watch the results all the way up until they're all casted in.
27:18And I'm going to be hoping and praying, but I'm really excited to be able to go and actually
27:24be a voting citizen.
27:25For so many years, I've gone with my parents and just kind of stood to the side and took
27:30their sticker.
27:31So being able to go into my own voting booth and express my opinion and cast my vote is
27:36something that I'm really excited to do this year.
27:40I love that.
27:42Me too.
27:44Chelsea, what's your plan?
27:46How are you?
27:47How are you bringing in the polls?
27:49Are we doing it early?
27:50Yeah.
27:52I'm definitely doing it in person.
27:54It's funny, as Trinity's speaking, my first election, presidential election I voted was
27:58in 2016.
27:59And so I definitely understand the excitement and the energy.
28:05And so we are claiming a positive morning after.
28:11Interestingly enough, in 2016, I was also working in the Obama White House.
28:15And so that was an insane time as well.
28:17And so, yeah, we're sending all of the positive vibes, Trinity, because we want this to be
28:23for the book.
28:25And yeah, and so my plan is to vote in person.
28:27My plan is to bring my family with me.
28:29You know, I am definitely the most, I think, politically everything compared to everyone
28:35else in my family.
28:36And so even when I hear my siblings saying, oh, I'm not voting, I'm like, you are, and
28:41I'm taking you.
28:43My plan is to bring everyone out.
28:45Yeah.
28:46Hans, are you going early?
28:47What are we doing?
28:48What you doing?
28:49Oh, I'm going early.
28:50I'm going early.
28:52Yeah, I'm going early because for me, you know, I'm interested in testing the process
28:58and the systems as well.
29:00We're seeing in certain parts of this country that the eligibility of certain people to
29:07vote is being challenged.
29:09And I think the more people can vote early, those who can, I think, should.
29:17Because unfortunately, we saw this happen recently in Georgia.
29:21Where now your neighbor can challenge your eligibility to vote without any evidence.
29:30Yeah.
29:31Right.
29:32So when Trinity mentioned how important these elections are, it's about your constitutional
29:39right to vote and whether in certain states people can challenge that constitutional right
29:44and ultimately challenge your impact on your own life.
29:48Right.
29:49When we vote, we're voting for representative government.
29:52We're voting for people to represent our interests in government.
29:57And if someone can take away that right, essentially, they take away your voice and they
30:04take away your future.
30:05So, you know, testing this entire process from the early voting process to, you know,
30:13the election eve to election day to the certification process where our votes will be
30:19certified.
30:20We saw this happen not too long ago where there was a question about whether or not
30:24the votes would be certified.
30:26So we, I believe, have to be incredibly vigilant because the issues that are directly
30:32affecting marginalized communities is so deep.
30:38So deep.
30:39This is about our future.
30:40This is about our children's future.
30:42This is about ultimately getting to a place that we can achieve liberation as people of
30:47color.
30:48You got me on edge.
30:49Let me go ahead and do a whole part.
30:54I was like, you know what?
30:55I don't want to.
30:56I don't want the okie doke to happen.
30:57Let me go ahead and vote early.
30:59Thanks.
30:59Thanks, Alphonso.
31:01Vote early, everybody.
31:03Vote early.
31:04But for Trinity and what you had mentioned, it is so important how you are developing a
31:11plan with your family to vote.
31:13And voting early is important, but also you shouldn't be robbed of the experience of
31:20voting on election day with your family.
31:24We should have the right to do all of those things, right?
31:28And we should have the right to make choices around our elections.
31:32And again, when we say election, most people are thinking about, and I'm being presumptive
31:37here, but the presidential election.
31:39But there's so many other elections that are happening, you know, whether one house or
31:46another will control the House of Representatives, whether or not legislation to support interests
31:52of marginalized communities will or can be advanced.
31:56I personally would lock Hykeim Jeffries to be the next speaker of the House.
32:03So, you know, we have a lot of votes to cast in this election, and I think it's important
32:09that we exercise it in whatever way you deem it necessary.
32:15So I think we are now past our closing hour.
32:21Trinity, Chelsea, thank you so, so, so much for your advocacy, for your work, for joining us.
32:28Folks, you should see, right, we have listed Trinity's website and Chelsea's website.
32:34Please follow them.
32:36Trinity is, of course, a well-known actress and lyricist and everything else.
32:43And Chelsea is an activist and started her own not-for-profit organization
32:48to support young voters.
32:50So we thank you both for joining us tonight.
32:53Thank you so much for having us.
32:56I appreciate it.
32:57Let me just say, Trinity, I got cool points with our baby girl that we raised,
33:03because I said that you were going to be on here, KC Undercover.
33:07And I am like auntie of the year, baby, auntie of the year.
33:12Yay!
33:14You know what?
33:14I'm going to have to get your information after this,
33:17and I'll be sure to send you an autographed copy of my book.
33:21I'll be auntie of the year.
33:24Everybody go get your own copy of Bold and Blessed,
33:27How to Stay True to Yourself.
33:29It's on the link to my website there.
33:32Thank you so much.
33:33Your own cool points.
33:36Thank you both.