Will Young Durham Vote?
Left to right: Cameron Hicks (20), Michael Garcia (21) and CJ Judd (25).
Photo by Jackson Keys
Election is around the corner! And our focus is on young Durhamites:
Will you vote this election season? Please explain your decision.
Michael: Normally I would, but I decided to take some time away from politics to get more of an understanding of what’s going on locally and statewide.
CJ: Yes I will be voting! I think it’s important to vote, especially in local elections where immediate change could benefit local communities.
Senith: No. American citizens are brainwashed into this idea that “their vote matters”. In National Security and Double Government, author Michael Glennon puts forth this idea of “double government”. Basically, there are the people we elect, and then there are the people and corporations behind them that have a huge effect on how policies are cultivated. Also, outside of voting, our government essentially is self-governing, with virtually no accountability, transparency, or checks and balances of any kind. Elected officials are slaves to large donations, thereby minimizing their desire to speak for their constituents.
Cameron: I will be voting this election season. Last year was my first time voting , and I've decided to vote again after realizing how important it is to my community.
Durham is growing fast and changing quickly. How do these changes affect you?
Michael: These changes affect me in a positive way. The art community is constantly growing. I’m meeting and interacting with more and more talented local artists.
CJ: This growth has had a direct impact on me. My roommates and I were forced to move out of our rental house because a 300 unit apartment complex is going to be built there.
Senith: On one end, I love to see the beauty that is Durham, NC gain more recognition and appreciation. But, I would be remiss to not acknowledge the gentrification that has disproportionately displaced lower-income, predominately black, residents. The legacy of Durham’s vibrant black community is dwindling. Many are not aware that Durham was once considered the south’s “Black Wall Street”. The black-owned businesses of NC Mutual Life Insurance and Mechanics & Farmers Bank are historic downtown financial institutions that are still flourishing today. As much as I personally want to see my city expand and grow, I want it to cultivate a community that works to uplift its residents with said growth. Home prices in Durham have skyrocketed; crime is at an all time high; long time residents are finding it unaffordable and not inclusive. It’s the sad reality of gentrification: from the outside it’s beautiful, but the inside has a dark history of discriminatory behavior, displacement, and exclusion.
Cameron: These changes definitely motivate me to strive for success. Throughout my 20 years of living here I have seen my community change in a number of positive ways. Whether it's Internships , engineering programs, food drives, etc.
CJ Judd (25) and Senith Berhane (23). Photos by Jackson Keys
What issues do you wish our local politicians cared more about?
Michael: Our school system and our teachers who are underpaid.
CJ: I wish our local politicians cared more about gentrification and truly affordable housing for the Durham community.
Senith: I wish local politicians would care about reducing the property tax and creating more spaces for affordable home ownership. I also would like to see more efforts to expand our education system. Our youth is the future, and they are worth the investment. Lastly, I would like to see politicians put ample effort into protecting women’s reproductive rights , which includes a woman’s autonomy over her body and the choices she makes regarding it.
Cameron: I wish our politicians cared more about creating opportunities for people like myself. I'm a Young Black male in this community, and it's the world against us right now. We need more community leaders that can have a positive impact on our inner city communities. This won’t change unless we vote!
Michael Garcia (21) and Cameron Hicks (20). Photos by Jackson Keys
What beats get you through the day?
Michael: The album Results Take Time by Symba.
CJ: I’m a musician myself, so creating music gets me through the day. Some of my favorite artists are Brent Faiyaz, Erykah Badu, Frank Ocean, Yebba, and Al Green.
Senith: Currently these are the songs I can’t stop listening to: KU LO SA by Oxlade (afrobeats is my currently fav genre); Late Nights by Jay Worthy, Larry June & LNDN DRGS, feat. Jim Jones; 100 days by UMI
Cameron: I listen to a lot of “pluggnb” beats throughout the day. They keep me focused and energized. One of my favorite artists right now is underground rapper KANKAN who is known for his unique pluggnb rap style that is slow and melodic.
Michael Garcia: @michaelgarcia
CJ Monet: @cj.monet
Cameron Hicks: @4thriftsonly
Senith Berhane: @senithberhane
One-stop early voting will be held from Thursday, October 20th to Saturday, November 5th for the November 8th Statewide General Election. For more information click here.
Big Thanks to Carolina Forward for sponsoring this post.
