TSU male students say there’s power in voting
Written by admin on November 6, 2024
By Bradley Clark
A Texas-size thunderstorm didn’t stop Texas Southern University students from voting on Tuesday, Nov. 5, which, some said, was the most consequential election of their lives.
For TSU Herald reporter Jamarion Owens, the opportunity to use his voice in this year’s election as a first-time voter was especially meaningful.
“Being a first-time voter means a lot to me and my family,” Owens said. “Before this election, I wasn’t really tuned in to politics, nor had I decided to vote. I had to realize that voting is about more than just me. I had to look past my own desires and understand that voting is a matter that affects everyone.”
Much like Owens, TSU Herald editor Jerry LeDoux III also cast his first presidential vote this year and is committed to ensuring that others are informed about the pressing issues and meaningful ways they can influence change.
“Researching this election wasn’t much different from any other,” LeDoux III said. “I just watched the debates and did a bit more studying.”
While LeDoux III found the process empowering, he said it is incumbent upon student leaders like him to show others the significance of casting their votes.
“To the men who feel like their voices don’t matter: your voice matters because there wouldn’t be so many candidates trying to earn your vote, if it didn’t,” LeDoux III said.
Jerry LeDoux, TSU Herald Editor
Sophomore Zion Taylor, like Owens and LeDoux III, was also a first-time voter in the 2024 election. For him, the experience was deeply fulfilling.
“Going through the process was very smooth,” Taylor said. “It felt great to come out and exercise my right to vote and have my voice heard,” Taylor said.
Taylor hopes to see more Black men across the country use their voices through voting.
“Every person’s voice definitely matters,” Taylor said. “If you’re a citizen of this country, your voice needs to be heard. Your vote matters 110 percent,” Taylor said.
For sophomore Neekquan Davis, encouraging more Black men to vote is crucial for what it represents.
“We are smart and capable, too; we have a voice, and we can stand up for ourselves,” Davis said. “I feel like things are going to change. In our generation, young people’s votes matter 100 percent,” Davis said.
For Black men across the nation, the tides are shifting. There’s more to consider now than ever before. But one thing remains certain: when one has the opportunity, they should vote because, in the end, their vote truly matters, and all of the men agreed.
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