Why We Do It
Our Mission
Black Men Vote’s mission is to move Black men from the margins to the center of American democracy. We empower, educate, and mobilize Black men to not only cast ballots, but to turn those ballots into lasting political power for our families, our communities, and our future.
Progress is never guaranteed. But together, we can make it unstoppable!
Thomas Mundy Peterson
The story of Black men and voting is a story of struggle and power.
In 1870, Thomas Mundy Peterson cast the first ballot by a Black man in the United States just one day after the 15th Amendment was ratified. That historic moment was a breakthrough, but it was quickly met with backlash.
From Jim Crow laws and poll taxes to intimidation and violence, generations of Black men were systematically shut out of the democratic process.
Even after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed many of these barriers, new obstacles emerged: voter suppression tactics, restrictive ID laws, and efforts to silence our communities.
And yet, through every barrier, Black men have continued to stand up, show up, and shape this nation’s future. Our votes have swayed elections, shifted policy, and changed the course of history. Today, Black men are one of the most critical voting blocs in America.