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August 29, 2019 | Deeds Digest No. 148
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Hello #Changemakers,
This past Monday, August 26th, we celebrated National Women’s Equality Day, celebrating the 99th year since women gained the right to vote. It’s hard to imagine the fights that women courageously engaged in decades before gaining that right. And although that difficult fight resulted in an immediate victory for many women, the current voting process is certainly not an easy one. Women today are faced with new voter suppression tactics that limit their access to the ballot. Most who are impacted by those tactics are women of color, immigrant women, low-income women, and trans and gender-nonconforming individuals.
Why is access to the ballot still a challenge for so many women today? First, because a large percentage of women change their legal name when they get married or divorced which makes them vulnerable to voter ID laws that disqualify them from voting when their legal name no longer matches that on the voter registration rolls. In that instance, women are required to present both a birth certificate and proof of marriage, divorce, or name change in order to vote, creating an obstacle that excludes legitimate voters from voting. Additionally, immigrant women who are here as legal citizens, but who may not have access to documents showing proof of their citizenship, face unique challenges in accessing the ballot box. If you’ve tried voting as a student attending school in a city other than where you are from, you, too, may lack the appropriate photo ID to be able to vote. And in many places in the country, where elderly women were born without birth certificates, difficulty providing the appropriate documentation to be able to vote has also been an obstacle. Finally, trans and gender-nonconforming individuals may have voter IDs that don’t match their birth certificates, creating an insurmountable obstacle in areas that do not recognize their new identities. An estimated 34,000 trans voters were not able to vote in 2016 as a consequence of that challenge.
And it’s not just voter ID laws that create obstacles for women desiring to vote. Gerrymandering aimed at suppressing Democratic votes creates a disproportionate impact on the ability of African American and Latinx women to vote as well -- particularly now that the protections that once existed to prevent partisan gerrymandering have been severely neutered by the Supreme Court. It’s also the case that often there are fewer voting machines in areas predominantly represented by women of color, who basically get the short end of the stick when it comes to polling locations, voting machines, adequate polling staff, etc. And, because election day is not a national holiday, it puts a strain on women working in low-wage hourly jobs who do not have the ability to take time off from work or who do not have childcare for their children so that they can go vote.
As a mother of two young daughters, I know how imperative it is to speak up and speak out when we see continued injustices like these. I know it’s my responsibility to be their voice and say enough is enough, so that they will one day live in a world where all of us have a voice in electing those who will best serve our interests. Motherhood changed me. It lit a fire in me and uncovered a passion for gender equality I never realized was there. That passion led me to join the Deeds team.
Yes, women may have gained the right to vote 99 years ago, and that is worth celebrating. But we continue to lack the full level of equality that we deserve in society, the economy and the political arena. I know you agree that it’s time for a change. Where we have the privilege of accessing the ballot, let’s make sure that we exercise it. Even more, take a friend to the polls, get deputized, register voters, start a conversation about the issues that are important to you and motivate a sister to vote as well. In today’s political climate, our voices are more important than ever. I won’t let my daughters down. I know you won’t either.
With Love,
–Amber Davis
Co-Executive Director
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Team Deeds had an exciting time this past weekend in Dallas for our Campus Organizer onboarding! Thirteen student leaders from college campuses across Texas joined us for a weekend filled with training on topics including organizing, communications, voting, reproductive justice, LGBTQIA+ sensitivity, and more. Let’s just say, these students are amazing — not only did they successfully complete all of their training, but they came ready to ignite the power of #Changemakers on their campuses and in their communities. Lots of laughs, hugs and inspirational moments were shared this past weekend and we couldn't be more grateful!
 To meet our Campus Organizers and follow along on their journeys this semester, follow our Instagram page @deedsnotwords. Trust us, it's worth a follow for that daily dose of inspiration! We’re looking forward to seeing the amazing work that they do!
Cheers,
–Leah
Youth Outreach and Organizing Manager
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If you’re an active Twitter user, you’ve probably heard about the excitement over Popeye’s’ new Chicken Sandwich, whose popularity reached an all-time high after Popeye’s, Wendy’s, Chick-fil-A, and other restaurants all got involved in a Twitter-beef, which many are calling the Great Chicken Sandwich Wars of 2019. Many Popeye’s Restaurants around the country faced long lines and chicken sandwich shortages after the online battle — so 17-year-old David Ledbetter of Charlotte, North Carolina, decided to use the sandwich’s popularity by going to his local Popeye’s and registering people to vote while they were waiting in line!
"I decided to register people to vote after I saw there was a lack of young people politically involved," Ledbetter told his local news station. “I believe that it is our duty to vote as American citizens and it would be wrong not to exercise our political voice.”
Ledbetter, who isn’t old enough to vote, registered 16 people to vote, showing that no matter how young you are, you can still make an impact in the political process. We see you, #Changemaker!
Here's more of what's inspiring us...
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The Amazon Rainforest is Burning
Recently, the news of the Amazon Rainforest burning at an alarming rate over the past three weeks rate dominated social media, where users rallied online and offline to bring awareness to the issue, urging world leaders to stop the fires. So why exactly is the Amazon Rainforest burning something to be angry about? One of the reasons is because of the effect of the fires on climate change. As the number of fires increases, so do greenhouse gas emissions, making the overall planet temperature rise which can cause extreme weather conditions, such as drought, according to Greenpeace. But it’s also important to recognize that climate change is inextricably linked to an important issue we also advocate for: reproductive justice.
According to Rewire News, during natural disasters, women often have trouble facing medical care, face increased threats of sexual violence, and generally experience poorer reproductive and maternal health outcomes. After Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2017, many of Houston’s abortion clinics were forced to close, leaving many people without access to abortion care.
There are many ways you can fight back against the Amazon Rainforest fires, including donating to organizations or buying products that help protect deforestation. But you can also call on your leaders to use their power to fight climate change. It’s time to let our elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels know that tackling the issue of climate change can’t wait — and our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren depend on their actions.
Here's more of what has us fired up ...
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As the March primary election inches closer, now is the time to go out into your community and register voters! We’re calling on all Deeds supporters who are eligible to become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar ahead of National Voter Registration Day on September 24, 2019! What better way to engage others civically and empower people to become a part of the political process? To see how you can become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar, visit your county’s local tax office website for more information.
Also, if you’re a student looking to engage with and mobilize young people on your campus, join one of our 17 student groups at college and high school campuses across Texas! In our Deeds Not Words student chapters, our #Changemakers make a change in their communities and disrupt the “powers that be” through organizing, voting, policy-making, and more. If you or someone you know is interested in joining one of our student chapters, please email chapters@deedsnotwords.com.
—Andrea Reyes,
Political Director
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This Week's #Changemaker:
LIZZO
On Monday night, the singer Lizzo took the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards, where her performance was nothing short of amazing. Lizzo made a powerful statement about embracing yourself, your body, and celebrating who you are. Post-performance, Lizzo shared this important message to her fans on Instagram:
"Imposter syndrome” is a privilege to the most marginalized group in America. Not only were we taught to believe we didn’t belong in the spotlight, but when we finally get to a place to self-worth the world tries to knock us down. Not this time. The world smiled with us. The world sang us. The world saw our beauty last night. The world saw black women feeling Good As Hell and cheered us on.”
At Deeds, we believe that being a #Changemaker also means using your power to uplift and empower others to feel safe, seen, and heard — and Lizzo has done that through her music and her words. We appreciate you, Lizzo!
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