A coalition led by the NAACP and National Urban League launches a Week of Action Oct. 19-24 to mobilize 100,000 Black men to vote.
By Dawn Montgomery, Culture Critic
A coalition of national civil rights and civic engagement groups is launching a nationwide Week of Action from Oct. 19 to 24. It will build toward the inaugural National Black Man Voter Day on Saturday, Oct. 24, aiming to mobilize 100,000 Black men ahead of this year’s midterm elections.
The nonpartisan effort follows five weeks of national organizing calls. It is co-led by the National Urban League, 100 Black Men of America, Black Men Vote, Woke Vote, and the NAACP.
What Is National Black Man Voter Day?
National Black Man Voter Day brings together community leaders, fraternity members, faith leaders, students, and local organizers. They will host civic engagement events, community conversations, and group voting activations with early voting available.
Organizers say they have built a network of local captains, community hubs, voting plans, buddy systems, and transportation coordination. Supporting partners include State of the People, Black Voters Matter, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Until Freedom and the National Action Network.
What Leaders Are Saying
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson called the midterms “a critical turning point for our community and our democracy.” He said the day is about “protecting our future and refusing to ever be silenced.”
“This midterm election is a critical turning point for our community and our democracy,” said Johnson. “For many generations, Black men have fought to secure access to the ballot. Today, we wield our collective power and make our voices heard from the bottom of the ballot to the top.”
National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial urged Black men to “make a plan, bring a brother with them, and show up in force.”
“When Black men vote, we are not simply casting ballots. We are claiming our power to shape the future of our families, our communities, and our nation,” Morial said. “National Black Man Voter Day is about turning that power into action. Our voices matter, our votes matter, and when we move together, we can move this nation forward.”
Dr. Wes Bellamy of 100 Black Men of America said more than 5,000 Black men have already engaged with the effort. He said organizers are now working to turn that engagement into collective action.
“This movement has never been about simply getting thousands of brothers onto a call,” said Bellamy. “We have spent the last several weeks building real organizing infrastructure — captains, hubs, voting plans, buddy systems, rides and local activations. More than 5,000 Black men have engaged with this work, and now we are preparing to turn that engagement into collective action.”
Black Men Vote Executive Director Mike Bland added the campaign “is not about asking Black men to save a political party.” He said it is about defining priorities and holding elected leaders accountable, with an eye toward 2028 and the 2030 Census.
“We are organizing for October 24, but we are also building toward 2028, the 2030 Census and beyond,” Bland said.
Week of Action Schedule: Oct. 19-24
Starting Monday, Oct. 19, organizations will tie civic participation to five pillars of Black men’s well-being: mental, physical, spiritual, financial and civic health. Planned activities include:
- Community wellness gatherings
- Barbershop conversations
- Faith-based events
- Financial empowerment discussions
- Voter education and local organizing
On Saturday, Oct. 24, community-led voting events will include Souls to the Polls activities, caravans, group rides and campus mobilizations in states with early voting. In states without standard early voting, organizers will share information on absentee voting and Election Day participation.
Key Dates
- Monday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. ET: National Press Call for media. Register here.
- Tuesday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m. ET: Final National Brothers Call on local activation and voting plans. Register here.
- Saturday, Oct. 24: National Black Man Voter Day.
How to Take Part
The organizers urge participants to make an individual voting plan, find their respective voting location, arrange transportation if needed, and invite others to join. National Black Man Voter Day is a nonpartisan initiative and does not endorse or oppose candidates or parties. Organizers will report participation through community captains and local organizing hubs.
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