By Andrew Hall
Afro
https://www.afro.com/
Organizations from around the country are uniting to mobilize Black men to vote early on Oct. 24. The National Black Man Voter Day 2026 initiative is led by 100 Black Men of America, in partnership with the NAACP, National Urban League, Black Men Vote and Woke Vote. Together, the organizations aim to engage, educate and ensure that Black men vote ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm general election.
National Black Man Voter Day 2026 will be held on Oct. 24. The initiative is aimed at mobilizing Black men ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm general election. Organizers say the goal is for 100,000 Black men to participate in early voting on National Black Man Voter Day.AP Photo/Morry Gash
A national organizing call took place Sept. 22. Leaders explained the importance of this mission.
Dr. Wes Bellamy, a board member of 100 Black Men of America, said the coalition’s goal is to have 100,000 Black men participate in early voting.
“As long as you are registered to vote, go vote on Saturday, Oct. 24,” Bellamy said to those who joined the call. “We want to move 100,000 brothers to be engaged in the electoral process and voting.”
Michael Bland, executive director of Black Men Vote, said Black men hold a unique position this election cycle.
“Black men are the last persuadable base that is left in the country. When we vote, when we have our Million Man Voting March to the Polls and our Black Man Voter Day on Oct. 24th, we will shift the power and shift the conversation to the needs of our community,” he said. “Black men have now taken over the highest unemployment in this country. So if you needed a reason to vote, hopefully that gave you a reason.”
Bellamy described voting as the first step in a broader process of civic engagement.
“Nobody’s coming to save us, nobody’s going to do this work for us. We are going to save ourselves and we recognize that voting is just the first part of the marathon,” he said. “Voting is really just the first two to three miles of the process.”
“After that, it’s attending our school board meetings, attending our city council meetings. Then going into the state house and activating. Communicating with our congressperson, making sure that we’re joining the missions,” he continued. “Brothers, you don’t have to run this marathon alone. We are running this race together, and that’s the power and the beauty of us.”
Bland built on Bellamy’s call to action by emphasizing the need for unity.
“We are not just going back to our individual silos. If you’re a party of one, you’re a party of none. When the states pass their budgets and nobody shows up, they’ll pass whatever … they want, but when 100 strong or 500 strong show up, it would demand them to pay attention,” Bland said. “I promise you, our presence alone will move a vote.”
Bellamy also noted the role Black women can play in the movement.
“Sisters, this is not us against y’all. This is not a situation where we are looking to push the sisters away. We want a senate of brothers, but we also know that we love and need our sisters,” he said. “We’re always open to taking feedback and getting help spreading the word. If you have a son, brother, cousin, dad, nephew, best friend, husband or boyfriend … we want them to join us in this effort.”
Two more organizing calls will take place on Oct. 6 and Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
More information on how to get involved can be found at blackmanvoterday.org.
