Even though their organization is named Black Voters Matter, co-founders LaTosha Brown and Cliff Albright say their work goes far beyond elections.
“Our work is not really centered around elections,” Brown said. “Our work is how we gonna build independent Black political power.”
For the two longtime organizers — who have spent nearly three decades doing racial justice work since meeting in Selma, Alabama — that focus on power has become even more urgent.
They point to what they describe as a coordinated rollback affecting multiple areas of Black life.
Across the country, changes are unfolding in education, employment, public policy and civic participation — from the rollback of diversity initiatives and limits on how Black history is taught to the dismantling of policies that once helped address discrimination.
What’s happening, they say, isn’t isolated.
It’s connected.
Voter Suppression
Even as their work extends beyond voting, Brown and Albright say the current moment demands close attention to what’s happening with voting rights.
Because while power is broader than elections, voting remains one of the most immediate tools communities have — and one that is increasingly under pressure.
Among the biggest concerns is the proposed SAVE Act, a federal elections bill that would significantly change how Americans register to vote.
If enacted, the legislation would require proof of U.S. citizenship — such as a passport or birth certificate — to register. It would also eliminate widely used registration methods, including online registration, mail-in registration and community-based voter registration drives.
Supporters say the bill is designed to strengthen election integrity and ensure only eligible voters participate.
But voting rights advocates warn the changes could create new barriers, particularly for people who rely on community outreach, lack easy access to official documents or face logistical challenges in registering in person.
For organizers, the concern is not just about one piece of legislation — but about a broader trend toward restricting access.
“This is outright war against our communities,” Albright said during an April 1 briefing with Black media.
Voting Is A Tool
Black Voters Matter leaders are clear: voting still matters.
But it is not the only answer.
“We don’t believe that voting… is going to lead to Black liberation by itself,” Brown said.
Instead, they describe voting as one tool — part of a larger “power toolbox.”
A way to reduce harm, influence outcomes and create space for broader organizing.
A 365-Day Approach To Power
Their Black empowerment work extends beyond elections.
“This is work we do 365 days out of the year,” Brown said.
Black Voters Matter was built on the idea that power must be developed continuously — not just during campaign seasons.
That includes investing in local organizations, building leadership in communities often overlooked, and connecting everyday concerns — from housing to education — to political action.
Their approach is rooted in long-term organizing, not short-term turnout.
From Awareness To Action
Leaders say what’s happening now requires more than awareness.
It requires engagement — and it has to start long before Election Day.
During the April 1 briefing, public opinion researcher Terrance Woodbury shared data showing that people who participate in resistance activities — including protests, boycotts, petitions and town halls — are more likely to vote later.
But just as important, he said, is when that engagement happens.
Rather than only reaching out in the final weeks before an election, engaging people year-round builds a stronger sense of ownership and participation — making them more likely to show up when it matters most.
“The more likely they are to take any of these resistance actions now, the more likely they are to vote later,” Woodbury said.
For Brown and Albright, that approach is central to their strategy.
“We got to fight,” Brown said.
That fight can take many forms:
- Community organizing
- Attending local meetings and town halls
- Participating in protests and civic actions
- Supporting grassroots organizations
- Holding elected officials accountable
“We got to be willing to use the power that we have,” Albright said.
Building Something Bigger
But beyond reacting to what’s happening, organizers say communities must also think about what they want to build.
“What would this nation look like without racism?” Brown asked.
She said that kind of vision is critical — because systems don’t change without first imagining something different.
“If we can’t even envision it, we’ll never create it,” she said, emphasizing the need to rethink systems and build toward something new.
What Comes Next
As the 2026 elections approach, organizers say the moment calls for urgency — but also clarity.
This is not just about voting rights.
It’s about power — who has it, how it’s used, and whether Black communities are actively shaping the decisions that affect their lives.
For Brown, that comes down to agency — and recognizing that power must be claimed, not granted.
Organizers say that mindset shift is essential in this moment.
Power is not something that appears every election cycle.
It is something that must be built — consistently, collectively and over time.
“We ain’t going nowhere till our people are free,” Brown said.
