The American public is sick of hearing about political gridlock in the nation’s capital that stands in the way of getting anything done. People lament the fact that members of the two main parties can’t figure out how to work together. However, one thing Democrats and Republicans can agree on is a lack of excitement regarding the candidates offered up for the 2024 November Presidential Election which is fast approaching.
Hearing about the general lack of excitement via cable news reports is one thing. But the Defender wanted to hear directly from Houstonians to get the real deal from the people. Here’s what the people we encountered said:
“How on earth is a criminal even on the ballot? This is a slap in the face of the sanctity of the U.S. political system to have some dude who has more lawsuits and court cases than he has morals… and he’s the Republican Party’s nominee? GTFOH” (Toney “Tone” Phillips )
“This is a perfect example of why the two-party system is flawed and needs to be expanded.” (Amarion Porterie )
“I’m scared, terrified that these BS tricks the Republicans are pulling are going to really cause Black people not to vote or to vote of a straight clown who nearly broke America last time he was in office. He’s a bum who plays Black people left and right. But we just might fall for it. What does that say about us?” (Cheryl Sanders )
“Biden is old as f*ck. How he gonna last another round in the White House? At least it’ll be lit and crazy with Trump. He be making things interesting, for real though. He funny to me.” (Byron Jamison )
“We’re not marrying these candidates, we’re voting. And to be honest, we’re not even voting for the candidates. As Black people, we’re voting for ourselves. And historically, we’ve voted in ways that will best protect us from America’s racist harm to us. I am not in love with Biden or the wishy-washy Dems. But they do more to protect the Black community from the harm the Republicans want to inflict upon us. For me it’s that simple, and not voting in that context makes no sense to me. I don’t even want to you try to make not voting make sense. It doesn’t. It just opens us up to more harm.” (Alicia Hawkins )
“What’s the point in voting? I don’t know what Barack did. I was a kid then, in middle and high school. Trump ain’t do nothing for me. Neither has Biden. I don’t see the point.” (Bryan Cannon )
I’m seeing a generational divide that we’re gonna have to address. I’m in my 40s and I hear my mama and them – her siblings and friends – talking about the election. When they talk, it’s not long conversations. They already know they’re voting. They been doing it all their lives, or at least as long as they had the right to vote. My two sons, however, are split. One thinks voting is for suckers but the other is trying to talk his boys into voting. My daughter, hell, if she could have already cast her ballot she would have. She don’t play. But what’s getting me is more and more people my age being on the fence about voting. And I’m like, what the hell? Trump and them Republicans ain’t never liked Black people. How are we even thinking about not voting? (Sylvia Townes )
For me, the environment is always issue number one. No planet, no life. I’m voting Biden. Trump will let his corporate friends trash the entire planet. (Bree Celeste )
The two-party system is problematic and I think this next election will reveal that to everyone who’s on the fence about that. And because I’m not excited about either candidate I don’t think I will be voting. (Shekinah Williamson )
Though I’m curious to see how white women are going to vote in November, since they are being impacted bigtime by the end of Roe v. Wade, but they always seem to side with Team White Power come voting time, I’m more curious to see of we Blacks are gonna recognize we need to vote as a team and for Team Black Power. And yes, it’s that serious. (Carmen Stevens )
