Nineteen Fifty-Six Vol. 1 No. 2 Voice

JASMINE HOLLIE
The much anticipated
2020 Presidential
Election takes place
on November 3rd.
Leaders and activists
across the country
are encouraging U.S.
citizens to exercise their
Right to Vote. Due to social
distancing requirements,
absentee ballots and early
voting have become the
voting method of choice for many
citizens. However, voters still
have the option to vote in person
at their local polling destinations.
Georgia native and UA alumna
Teryn Shipman is an example of a
young activist working tirelessly
to make sure all voices are heard
this election.
“As an organizer and someone
who is extremely passionate about
voting rights, voter
disenfranchisement and the
power of youth voices, I want to
encourage every person I can to
vote” said Shipman. “I don’t want
folks just to vote because it’s
something we were told to do, but
I want us to vote so that we can be
the ones making decisions about
our lives and the lives of those
around us.”
Shipman, 23 currently serves as
the Georgia State Coordinator
for Rock The Vote. She joined
the non-profit organization
as an ambassador in February
2020. Along with Rock The Vote,
Shipman takes part in other
national and local organizations
such as Woke Vote, When We All
Vote and many others. Through
her partnerships and leadership
positions, Shipman has been
able to use her voice to promote
voter registration, civil rights,
transgender equality and other
important matters. As an attempt
to create a diverse and inclusive
space, Shipman said she makes it
a practice to include voices and
stories that are often left out.
“We can no longer just vote for folks
because we were told they were a
good candidate or because they
are in the same social and political
groups as us,” said Shipman. “We
have to dig deeper and only elect
folks who have our best interests at
heart.”
Social media allows influencers and
activists to draw more attention
to the causes and issues they’re
passionate about. Shipman has
found a way to express all of her
passions through her personal blog,
“For Black Girls Who Have A Lot
To Say,” which she created in 2019.
Shipman describes her platform
as a “Black girl blog” that is open
to everyone regardless of race or
gender. According to Shipman, “For
Black Girls” centers the stories and
experiences of minorities as well
as individuals who are part of the
LGBTQ+ community.
Marissa Navarro is also an alumna
of The University of Alabama
and currently serves as a Brand
Ambassador for Shipman’s blog.
Navarro said she joined “For Black
Girls” to ensure that young Black
and Brown people have the resources
needed to improve themselves
and their communities. Navarro
resides in Washington, D.C. and
often spends her time working with
different campaigns like VotoLatino
and the Working Families Party.
“Democracy needs your voices,” said
Navarro.
“For Black Girls” has several
ambassadors like Navarro across
the country. Each ambassador has
a hand in helping audiences stay
connected, as well as becoming
enlightened and informed voters.
Shipman encourages everyone
who plans on voting in the 2020
Presidential Election to have a set
plan. Whether you’re voting in
person or by an absentee ballot, it’s
important that you fill out the ballot
carefully and correctly.
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