October 5, 2022 — ESSENCE Communications Inc., the leading media, technology, and commerce company serving Black women and communities, has chosen Stacey Abrams to be the October 2022 Digital Cover Star. She is a politician and activist and she’s currently running for the position of Governor of the state of Georgia.
The theme of this issue is “Paint the Polls BLACK”. This will be an intergenerational conversation that speaks to the power of voting, specifically the power of Black people voting.
Other ideas explored in the issue include:
What does it mean for Black people to vote in their best interest? What does it look like, especially when we have varying ideas about what can benefit our community?
How/why Stacey began to focus on voter turnout and organizing traditionally ignored communities (e.g., Black rural voters).
Younger generations are more open to progressive and radical ideas around public safety and critiques of capitalism. While Stacey would be governing in a red state, how will she speak to the concerns of younger and progressive voters and not alienate them?
Based on Stacey’s experience, what can motivate nonvoters? There is often a lot of condescension towards Black people who don’t vote, but there are valid reasons many feel disillusioned.
Courtesy of Gunner Stahl
Stacey Abrams on electing officials
“We must elect candidates who see us, hear us, represent us, and have a commitment to passing legislation that ensures our communities have the opportunity to thrive.”
“[My parents] always reminded us that our faith should be a shield to protect and not a sword to strike down. This belief still guides me today as I fight to ensure that Georgians of all backgrounds are seen [and] heard.”
(Please note that this is the original quote for the one directly above but was edited to not echo a previous quote: “[My parents] always reminded us that our faith should be a shield to protect and not a sword to strike down. This belief still guides me today as I fight to ensure that Georgians of all backgrounds are seen, heard and have the opportunity to thrive.”)
Stacey Abrams on voting
“What is the most devastating response to me is when someone says, ‘My vote doesn’t matter.’ Of course it matters. You may not win with your vote every time, but you make them work for it every time. That’s the point. If somebody’s got to work for something, they’re not going to be as mean to you as they were. They’re not going to ignore you the way they do.”
ESSENCE Voter Hub
On October 17th, ESSENCE will be launching a Voter Hub highlighting key races and priorities important to Black women voters during the 2022 Midterm Elections.
The Voter Hub will include:
A 2022 Midterm Election Guide with profile features and policy plans for 20 candidates in the competitive races at federal, state, and local level. A few of these candidates include Summer Lee (PA), Maxwell Frost (FL), Muriel Bowser (DC), and Lauren Underwood (IL).
Conversations surrounding the Black Census Lab and why we need a Black Census, how voter suppression laws could impact the Midterm Elections, the Black women poised to make history in this election, and more.
A Senator roundtable discussion with moderator Angela Rye to address responses to ESSENCE Midterm Election Guide and other crucial issues.
A direct link for readers to voter registration and polling information.
Credits
Written by Clarissa Brooks @chloeesuxx
Photographed by Gunner Stahl @gunnerstahl.us
Styled by El Lewis @el.lewis
Makeup by Jasmine Umrani using Fashion Fair @j.umranimua
Production by The Morrison Group @themorrisongroup
ABOUT ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Essence Communications is the number one—and only 100% Black-owned—media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities. With a community of more than 31 million Black women, ESSENCE inspires a global audience through diverse storytelling and immersive original content rooted in Culture, Equity and Celebration. The brand’s multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online encompasses its namesake magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; and signature live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, ESSENCE Black Women in Sports, Fashion House, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival of Culture.
An Atlanta-based actress, model, writer, and screenwriter, Miranda started her career on stage in high school. She figured out that acting and writing were two passions of hers that allowed her to constructively express her emotions through character and narrative. In 2022, she packed up her cat and everything she owned to move across the US to Atlanta to further pursue opportunities in the entertainment industry. She is currently working on a novel and the screenplay adaptation for the novel, and enjoys designing graphics.
