Recently, we asked our community members to share their stories as first time voters. We got some incredible responses and we're spotlighting a few here. If you're interested in being featured, tweet us at @blackvoices or tell us on our Facebook page.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Nicole Acree. I am 20 years old from Chicago, IL and a sophomore at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. My major is Mass Media Arts with a concentration in television, radio and film. I am involved in an organization entitled L.O.L. (Leaving Our Legacy) which is a group of my collegiate colleagues mentoring juniors and seniors at an Atlanta urban high school. Outside of school, I am the C.E.O. of my own production company, M.W.M. (Music With Meaning) Productions, which is a company that expanded from a record label to a company that focuses on all aspects of positive performing arts. My goal is to expand my company and to make a living from my music, plays and films.
Why did you decide to vote this year? What sparked your interest?
I was too young to vote for President Obama in 2008, but I told myself that if he was to run for another term, I will be sure to vote. I think voting is a great thing to practice especially for African Americans since we have not been able to vote for that long. Politics will always be politics, and everyone will not agree with every politician, but that does not mean that we as a people should just neglect the right that our people died for.
What do you feel is the single most important issue being debated this election year?
One of the greatest issues debated this year was education. As a college student who's paying for school through financial aid, financial assistance from the government is a necessity, so to take that away or to limit that any further would play a vital role on me being able to complete my education.
If your preferred candidate loses... what are you going to do?
If President Obama loses, I'm going right on my knees to pray! [laughs] No, but seriously, I will be afraid of the future state of this country if the republican party wins this year, especially for people, like me, who come from a middle class family or people worse off than I am. If people think we are struggling now, I would hate to see what the next four years with Mitt Romney would be like.