In a heartfelt letter to energize young voters, Vice President Kamala Harris has reached out directly to students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, encouraging them to engage politically before the crucial November elections. The letter, part of a broader campaign initiative, highlights the transformative experience of attending an HBCU and underscores the urgency of voting.
During an exclusive interview with Watch The Yard, Jasmine Harris, Black Media Director for the Harris-Walz campaign, revealed the details of this initiative, which aims to mobilize young voters across 11 battleground states. The campaign will feature expanded youth organizing staff, digital advertisements, and a campus tour to galvanize support among college students.
Vice President Harris’ Letter to HBCU Students:
Two of the things that have had a profound impact on who I am today are my incredible mother and extended family who helped raise me and my time at Howard University.
At an HBCU, you’re empowered to be anything and do everything without excuse. You are constantly reminded you are young, gifted, and Black. You come as you are and leave as the person you aspire to be. The best part is, along the way, you find forever friends. The people who help shape you and support you. People who will stand with you at your wedding and become godparents to your children. Like many, college is when I started to become politically engaged. Together, we learned that progress in our country happens when young people fight for it.
Throughout my travels as Vice President, I love talking to young leaders. I am continually amazed by your grit, your perseverance, your intellect, and your deep passion for making our world better. It is because of the record turnout among college students in 2020 that I am Vice President today. And to win this election, I need your support. This November, so many of our fundamental freedoms are at stake. The freedom to vote. The freedom to live safe from gun violence. The freedom to love who you love, openly and with pride. The freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water. And the freedom to make decisions about your own body. Later this semester, you will have the opportunity to vote in an election that will decide the future of our country.
You will have the power to shape that future. To continue to build the country you want to live in-one where your fundamental rights are protected-by taking to the ballot box and making your voice heard. Your vote has never mattered more. I know that when young people fight for progress, it changes the course of our nation. I believe in you. I am inspired by you. And I am rooting for your success.
Sincerely,
Vice President Kamala Harris
As the nation gears up for November’s pivotal midterm elections, Harris’s message resonated deeply with the core values that HBCUs promote: empowerment, community, and activism.
A Vote for Students
Jasmine Harris elaborated on the importance of HBCUs, describing them as “some of our nation’s most prestigious institutions of higher education” that cultivate influential leaders across various industries. She noted that the campaign seeks to ensure that HBCU students know the critical issues at stake, including student loan forgiveness, job creation, and protecting reproductive rights.
This initiative’s timing aligns with the upcoming homecoming season, a period known for heightened engagement among college students. The campaign has also launched an HBCU-specific landing page that features Harris’s letter and includes resources for voter registration.
