AS EARLY VOTING BEGINS,
BLACK VOTERS URGED TO
“USE YOUR POWER”
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
With One Stop Early Voting/Same Day Registration officially beginning today across North Carolina (Oct. 15-31st), the common theme for this 2026 midterm Nov.3rd election is making a change in order to bring gasoline, food and other cost of living prices down, and choosing which political party in Congress and the NC General Assembly should be in the best position to do that going forward.
For African-Americans and other communities of color, voting in the midterms is considered critical, and many in Black leadership are sending the message that the Black community has power in its vote, and can help to change negative policies for the better.
“The 2026 midterm elections will shape the future of our communities, and it starts with a plan,” the national NAACP says on its website. “We, the People” are stronger when we show up together.”
As evidence of that mantra, the website “Word in Black” published an article titled “The Fight for the Black Vote is Already Underway,” stating in part, “…some of the nation’s most influential Black political and civil rights organizations are pouring money, organizers and old-fashioned shoe leather into an unusually aggressive effort to turn out Black voters — particularly young people, rural residents and people who typically skip elections when the presidency isn’t on the ballot.”
The “Word in Black” article continued that part of that effort came recently when “…the Congressional Black Caucus Institute launched “SO VOTE,” a multimillion-dollar campaign aimed at turning out voters in some of the country’s most competitive congressional races.”
Another important effort to galvanize the Black vote has been launched by Bishop William Barber, former president of the NC NAACP.
Today, as president and senior lecturer of Repairer’s of the Breach, and co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, Bishop Barber has launched “100 Days of Voter Mobilization,” a national campaign throughout the nation an including North Carolina designed to encourage a diversity of communities to “organize their households, streets, and organizations to ensure their voices are heard at the polls.”
During a recent stop in Ashville, Bishop Barber said “…some folks have let the bear sleep. The bear’s awake now,” meaning that people of color particularly realize that they have the power through their votes to make the necessary changes needed in public office to help end the corruption and negative policies.
Congressman Jim Clyburn, 86, longtime Democrat from South Carolina, warned African-Americans to focus on issues like affordability when they vote, and not to be “fooled” by President Donald Trump’s promises. He also chided the Republican-led Congress for trying to eliminate Black congressional representation through redistricting , including his own longhand seat.
Some advocates say because it is crucial that ll of the Black community be engaged for the 2026 midterm elections, they’re concerned that once again, the effort to make that happen has begun too late.
“For decades, Black voters have been among the most reliable constituencies in American politics, especially for Democrats. But reliability should not be confused with automatic enthusiasm, “ cautioned Rev. Aaron Phillips of the Cleveland Clergy Coalition for the website RealPower TV. “I continue to sound the alarm that voter advocacy groups and campaigns wait too late to engage Black Voters. This approach continues to risk turning a dependable base into an under-mobilized one.”
“Black voters are not a monolith,” Rev. Phillips continued. “Age, geography, gender, education, economic pressure, and trust in political institutions all shape how voters respond in elections. Since Obama, Younger Black voters have been showing signs of impatience with traditional appeals based solely on party loyalty or historic civil rights symbolism.”
Rev. Phillips concluded, “In 2026, the message is simple: stop taking Black Voters for granted. Black voters should be courted, heard, and respected. Until this message is seriously received, we will continue to face low voter turnout in our community.”
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WHY AFRICAN-AMERICANS
MUST GET THE FLU SHOT
IN OCTOBER
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Last week, the North Carolina Dept. of Health and Human Services announced the first known flu-related death of the influenza season - an adult in te central part of the state. Medical experts say now that the season is here, expect to hear of more flu-deaths, especially among senior citizens and young children.
In the state’s African-American community, this is especially important news, given the unique history Blacks and the influenza virus have with each other.
During the 1918 influenza epidemic which spread throughout the nation, Black people were least likely to get the care they needed because of poverty, poor healthcare and racism, according to a 2010 study by Dr. Vanessa Northington Gamble, a medical historian at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. titled “African-Americans, Public Health, and the 1918 Influenza Epidemic.”
According to the study’s synopsis, “When the 1918 influenza epidemic began, African American communities were already beset by many public health, medical, and social problems, including racist theories of black biological inferiority, racial barriers in medicine and public health, and poor health status. To address these problems, African Americans mounted efforts such as establishing separate hospitals and professional organizations and repudiating racist scientific theories. Contradicting prevailing theories about African Americans' increased susceptibility to disease, it appears that during the 1918 epidemic the incidence of influenza was lower in African Americans. Although the epidemic had a less devastating impact on African American communities, it still overwhelmed their medical and public health resources. Observations about the lower rates of influenza in African Americans did not derail racist theories about the biological inferiority of black people or overturn conceptualizations of black people as disease threats to white people. When the epidemic ended, the major problems that African Americans faced still remained.”
Today, over one hundred years later, poverty, racism and unreliable healthcare in low wealth communities of color still exist, meaning that African-Americans and other people of color must be diligent about protecting themselves catching the influenza virus. A 2021 study published in 2021 titled, “Rates of Influenza-Associated Hospitalization, Intensive Care Unit Admission, and In-Hospital Death by Race and Ethnicity in the United States From 2009 to 2019” “…took a close look at 113,352 flu hospitalizations between 2009 and 2019 from across the country. Researchers found clear disparities in those hospitalizations…”, particularly among children of color.
Black children under 5 were more than twice as likely to be hospitalized with the flu, according to the report.
So what should Black parents of young children, and black seniors do?
While everyone in our community should make sure they’re inoculated against flu and COVID virus infections, those two groups are advised to plan on getting their vaccination shots as soon as possible for protection, certainly by the end of October when influenza infections may be at their highest, according o the Centers for Disease Control.. Last winter, North Carolina was hit with a “super flu.”
Both shots are generally free at your health provider, various drug store chains and community health centers. Anyone 6 months of age or older can get a flu shot. Most health insurance plans cover flu vaccinations for those insured.
North Carolina reported 335 flu-related deaths in 2025, including 10 pediatric deaths.
“We encourage everyone to take steps to protect themselves and others this respiratory virus season,” said NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai. “Getting vaccinated, staying home when sick, washing hands regularly and covering coughs and sneezes can all help reduce the spread of seasonal illnesses.”
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