Why It's Important To Use Our Voices To Vote
*phone buzzes* BREAKING NEWS: 559 Migrant Children Still Separated After Zero-Tolerance Trump Administration Action
*phone buzzes*BREAKING NEWS: Trump Administration to Recommend the Disregard of Affirmative Action Policies
*phone buzzes* BREAKING NEWS: Trump Administration to Levy a Series of Tariffs Against China; Small Businesses Feeling the Pressure
*phone buzzes* BREAKING NEWS: Donald J. Trump to Appoint Supreme Court Justice; Roe v. Wade and Abortion Rights At Risk
These last two years have been incredibly draining.
It seems like every time we look at our phones, there is yet another news alert notifying us of a controversial action by the Trump Administration, many of which are attacks on a number of our rights and access to resources. There are moments that actions by this administration are so disenchanting, so draining, that it's hard to focus.
Every news alert is like a brick added to the daily load of stress we carry regarding our futures and the state of this country. It's hard to stay positive when the majority of political media coverage seems to point to impending doom, and it feels like there is little that we can do make a difference.
But, we have a powerful tool within our grasp: our votes.
Repeat after me: November 6, November 6, November 6. Put this date on a sticky note. Put this date in your calendar. November 6 is midterms elections and many states have primaries long before then. Get registered to vote so you can exercise your *constitutional right* and make an impact!
It's not enough to vote in the Presidential election every four years. What many fail to realize is that a majority of the figures and policies that impact our day to day lives, including police commissioners, school boards, local judges, zoning laws, etc., are made at the local level. Given the fact that the House, Senate, and White House are all majority controlled by Republicans, voting for our House and Senate representatives who can resist and/or fight against a number of controversial executive actions will play a tremendous role in re-instituting checks and balances.
Led by Michelle Obama and a number of sponsors, When We All Vote is a new initiative seeking to bolster the number of national voters before November midterms.
September 22 - 29 has been designated the Week of Action, where communities across the country will host voter registration events throughout the week in a variety of cities, both big and small. Key events will take place in: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Nashville, Houston Milwaukie, Miami, New York City, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Detroit on September 22.
Right now, if Beyonce were to announce free OTRII tickets to anyone who would wait in line within their respective city, the lines would wrap around the block. We need that same energy in November. A concert lasts a few hours, but our access to life-altering rights impacting our friends, neighbors, and families can last a generation.
It's no secret that black women have long been the backbone of a number of major political movements, particularly in recent history. A report from the Center for American Progress notes that 76% of black women cast their ballots in 2012, more than any other demographic in the country, and in 2016, black women led the Democratic vote with 94% voting against Trump.
Now in 2018, black women are breaking records: Stacy Abrams is seeking to become the first black female governor and an estimated several hundred black women are running for a number of local, federal, and statewide seats according to the Black Women in Politics database.
And, more than 140 women of all backgrounds, who are not incumbents, are currently making major moves in regards to their November political pursuits, from the House and Senate to mayor and governor races.
Women are showing up and showing out.
November is our chance to assert our voice and take a stand regarding what happens in our communities. But, you will need to register to vote before November in order to participate.
There is so much at stake during the upcoming midterm elections cycle, including but not limited to, immigration, gun control, affirmative action, reproductive health. This makes it clear that every vote counts.
This plea isn't about a particular candidate or party, as much as it is about feeling a responsibility to make a difference with your political participation. Register to vote, do your research, and don't give someone else the power to make decisions regarding your rights and future.
Your voice matters.
Learn more about voter registration by clicking here.
Lydia is a recent Ivy League graduate who is passionate about using her voice to enact change in minority and female communities. Dubbed the "Intern Queen," she has worked 8+ internships in diverse industries, including Wall Street firms and the Obama White House, and is now bringing her career and lifestyle tips to you! Meet Lydia on Instagram @queen_of_anglin and Twitter @its_lit_dia.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Stress Awareness Month: Sneaky Workplace Triggers Affecting Black Women, And How To Cope
We all know about the major stress triggers of everyday life, from relationship woes to monthly bills to unexpected emergencies, but there are small, subtle triggers that impact Black women in a big way, especially when it comes to work. It’s good to be aware of these sneaky stressors in order to maximize your day and find ways to incorporate solutions into your self-care routines.
Since it’s Stress Awareness Month, we caught up with Keanne Owens, LCSW, founder of Journey To Harmony Therapy Center, to talk about these triggers and what Black women can do to manage and cope.
Owens is an experienced South Florida-based counselor and social worker who offers her services via Grow Therapy, a therapy and medication management platform. She has worked with Black women professionals to unpack issues related to workplace stressors. “One is the pressure to perform–having to meet deadlines and deliverables. And a lot of times, these subtle stressors from performance are put upon ourselves as Black women. We want to make sure we’re doing our best. We don’t want to be critiqued in certain ways.”
Excessive micromanagement leading to fear of overly critical bosses is another subtle trigger that can negatively impact Black women in the workplace.
“Whenever something is done wrong, or we experience some type of injustice and have to report it, it’s the fear of retaliation–[fear that] we won’t be taken seriously or [our words] will be taken out of context because of being deemed as the ‘angry Black woman,’” she said.
Black Women And Workplace Stress Triggers
Her sentiments are backed by research. A recent report by Coqual found that 28% of Black women (compared to 17% of White men) say their supervisor uses “excessive control or attention to detail” when managing them. There’s more: A survey by the National Employment Law Project found that Black workers were “more likely to have concerns (80 percent) and twice as likely as white workers (18 percent) to have unresolved concerns at work, with 39 percent reporting they were “not satisfied with the employer’s response or did not raise concerns for fear of retaliation.”
The survey also found that 14 percent of Black respondents said they “avoided raising concerns to their employer for fear of retaliation—more than twice the average rate of 6 percent for all survey respondents.”
Owens pointed to the fact that these subtle stress triggers can negatively impact our physical health and our career advancement. “A lot of time it’ll affect our productivity,” Owens added. “We start to have negative thoughts of ourselves. The stressors can also cause fatigue. We’re no longer meeting or working up to our desired potential.” Other challenges as a result include insomnia and increased insolation, withdrawal, and lack of motivation to apply for jobs or promotions even when qualified.
valentinrussanov/Getty Images
How To Manage Subtle Stress Triggers
While there are systemic issues at play for Black women at work that has less to do with us and more to do with major overhauls that must be addressed by the powers that be, there are steps we can take for the betterment of ourselves and our mental health. Owens offered the following tips:
Tap into a support system, whether it’s a coworker you trust, a family member, an organization, or an outlet like a hobby.
Create a good work-life balance before burnout even starts. “Having certain boundaries [is the goal] such as, for example, if you get off at 5, you get off at 5. If your job description is this, you don’t go above and beyond because that brings you to a lot of burnout,” Owens said.
Prioritize self-care, whatever that means for you. “If you don’t have a routine, create one. Practice mindfulness and even some meditation,” she added.
Create structure in your life outside of work. “Even if you have a family, applying some structure in your routine helps relieve stress,” she said.
Get into grounding techniques. “Do a real quick square breathing exercise, that’s literally 30 seconds, or you can do a grounding technique that’s less than two minutes, right there where you are. You don’t need any other materials. That’s something you can do with just yourself and your body.”
Ask for help. “As Black women, we don’t ask for help enough,” she said. “Find where you need to ask for help. A lot of times, people think that’s indicative of weakness, but we need to rewrite that narrative. It’s okay to ask for help where you see fit. [If] you’re a mom, [it could be] every Wednesday from 5 to 6, your children are with the dad. You have to carve out that time.”
For more information on Grow Therapy, visit their website. You can also find out more about Keanne Owens, LCSW, via BeginYourJourneyToHarmony.com.
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Featured image by Charday Penn/Getty Images