The provided sources highlight significant historical and contemporary milestones within Black communities in Virginia, notably celebrating the 250th anniversary of the historic First Baptist Church of Williamsburg and its newly reconstructed original meeting house. Additionally, the materials detail the Virginia Union University Gospel Choir earning a first-round consideration for the 2027 Grammy Awards for their live recording, “Great Is Yahweh.” Archival excerpts further showcase various past events, including local sports updates, community advocacy against unfavorable municipal land plans and waterfront playground sites, and historical profiles such as Jesse Boland, recognized as Virginia’s pioneering Black aviator in 1920.

The Defender asked five Black Houston voters at Texas Southern University what it takes for a candidate to earn their vote, and the answers don’t fit neatly into any party box.

Students and community leaders from TSU and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women talk party labels, showing up in Third Ward and Fifth Ward before Election Day, rising costs, cuts to special education, the erasing of Black history, and what older generations get wrong about young voters.

In this video, you’ll hear from:
– Arielle Price, President, Texas Southern University NAACP
– Kobe McPhaull, Vice President, Campus Pals, Texas Southern University
– Evan Robinson, Texas Southern University
– Dr. Sierra Orsino, Member, National Coalition of 100 Black Women
– Corey Hawkins, Co-Chair, Public Policy, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Houston Metropolitan Chapter

Chapters
0:00 Democrat, Republican or independent?
0:35 What would it take to earn your trust?
1:08 What issue is hitting home right now?
1:34 What older generations get wrong about young voters

Check your voter registration status and make a plan to vote so your voice is heard.

Subscribe to The Defender for more exclusive interviews, local news, and community coverage.

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The Conversation Continues..

Black Houston voters are turning out in big numbers as early voting surges across Harris County, and they want more than campaign promises.

Nearly 782,000 people voted early in Harris County through Oct. 27, including nearly 9,000 ballots cast at a single polling location in Acres Homes. The Defender’s Rain Eatmon reports on what’s motivating voters, from grocery prices and health care to public education and political representation, and why community leaders say the real work begins after Election Day.

In this video, you’ll hear about:
• Harris County’s early voting numbers through Oct. 27
• Strong turnout at an Acres Homes polling location
• The issues driving voters: grocery prices, health care, public education and representation
• Community groups knocking on doors to reach new voters
• Why Sunnyside leader Melanie Young says voting is just step one

Chapters
0:00 Black Houston is voting
0:09 The numbers
0:26 What’s driving voters?
0:45 The bigger message
0:56 After Election Day

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Check your polling location with the Harris County Clerk’s Office and make a plan to vote.

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For the last month, I have been crisscrossing my home state of Florida, connecting with families, communities, and voters about the November elections. Are people scared? Yes. Are they worried? No doubt. But most importantly, the primary feeling in the streets and homes of Floridians is that people are fed up and they want change.

They have had enough of the attacks on education, the skyrocketing cost of living, the scapegoating of minorities, the lies, the grifting and greed. The status quo is no longer acceptable, and when voters go to the ballot box, they will be voting for change. Why am I so confident? Because I’ve seen this before—we all have. In 2008, America was frustrated with a vastly unpopular president, caught in an equally unpopular war while presiding over a shrinking economy and rising prices. The result? America turned the page with the historic election of Barack Obama, ushering in an era of prosperity and peace.And Florida is ready for this moment, as I believe it sits at the epicenter of three converging factors that will be the path to victory.

First, and perhaps most crucially, labor unions have embraced their duty to protect the rights of workers in the state. That may seem obvious, but when you consider the state’s anti-union legislation—namely Florida’s Senate Bill 256, which creates new and restrictive challenges to unions’ bargaining powers—you understand the scope of the issue. When you attack workers’ rights to advocate for their wages, working conditions and benefits, you send a message that their voices don’t matter. That’s why unions like ours, the Florida Education Association, United Teachers of Dade and countless others, have not folded in the face of adversity; we have stood 10 toes down in our ongoing fight for workers’ rights. We have maintained our infrastructure, our membership networks and, most importantly, our alliances with others.

Those alliances are a second factor in the upcoming change election, because it is simply not enough to maintain democracy; we must continue to expand it, and that requires community. I saw that community-building firsthand when I joined the National Black Justice Coalition, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, and elected officials like state Reps. Fentrice Driskell and Dianne Hart at the state capitol to push back against Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to cancel the nation’s first Advanced Placement course focusing on Black culture.

My union also worked with the local NAACP to furnish 10,000 books for new Freedom Libraries in response to the governor’s “Stop WOKE” act, which marked Black stories and history as too “woke” and unfit for our kids.

These acts of solidarity mean something to the men, women and children in our communities who often feel like no one cares about them and the issues that affect them. By locking arms and walking together with other organizations, we show not only that we care, but that we have a plan to fight against injustice. And once the people see a plan and results, the hunger for justice grows. But while we will never stop fighting for American workers and their families, there is a limit to what unions can achieve on our own. Which is why, especially in our democracy, we look for trusted, competent leaders to represent, advocate for and legislate on behalf of the people—all the people.

That brings me to the third crucial element: candidates who can capitalize on the moment. As I said earlier this summer, “The true test of this political moment is whether we can capitalize on the localized excitement of the August Primary to fuel a historic turnout engine for the General Election.” It’s clear to me that the rampant illegality and incompetence of the Trump administration not only is a drag on Republican candidates (see how they run), but also has created a wide open lane for Democrats to use. But that opportunity is useless without leaders the people believe in. Thankfully, we have that in abundance across the board, including folks like David Jolly, Gwen Graham, Angie Nixon, Annette Taddeo and Jose Javier Rodriguez. I have stood next to many leaders—presidents, senators and more; I know greatness when I feel it, and I can tell the people feel it too. These candidates have both hands on the pulse of Florida and know that anyone NOT fighting for higher wages, better investment in public education and lowering healthcare costs is the wrong person for Florida. They are fearless, principled and dedicated to justice—the exact opposite of the current leadership Florida has watched wreck the state one institution at a time.

The stars have aligned. The stage has been set. And now, the last element, the only thing needed for change—the kind of change Florida has been begging for—is you. Closed mouths don’t get fed, so if you have any illusions about sitting this election out because you’re not convinced it will affect you, think about the last seven years in Florida and ask yourself if you would like to repeat them. If you are fine with the status quo, the rising costs, the attacks on education and culture, then perhaps change is not for you. But if you are like the thousands of people I have seen and talked to in the last month, you are ready to turn the page. That starts with your vote: Whether early, by mail or in person, NOW is the time to make your voice heard.

Make room for dance on your November calendar.

RESILIENCE Dance Company brings “Entry Points” to COCA’s Catherine B. Berges Theatre Nov. 6 through 8, featuring three world premieres and a program of contemporary dance exploring distinct styles and perspectives.

Experience new work by Faith Balderrama, Hannah Garner and FLOCK’s Alice Klock and Florian Lochner.

Reserve your tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/entry-points-tickets-1998456269499