Pro-Obama Super PAC, 1911 United, Seeks to Change the Culture of Black Political Engagement

A Super PAC, founded by members of two historically black college fraternities, Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi, pledges to raise $1.5 million dollars to support President Obama's re-election.

1911 United seeks to achieve its goal through a Comprehensive Voter Empowerment Program (CVEP) that trains volunteers in key battle-ground states, and increases Black voter turnout; all while encouraging black leadership, and active engagement in the electoral process.

"We need to get past thinking of elections as one-day events," said 1911 United committee member Sinclair Skinner. "Elections are a process. There is power in the ballot, but there is even more power in active participation in the electoral process."

Research has shown that in 2008, the spike in Black voter turnout was more heavily impacted by the increase in voter contact, than by Obama being the first African-American nominee for president.

Without a competitive democratic primary, alternative methods to activate and engage black voters will be needed.

CVEP will recruit and train 10,000 volunteers to turn out a total of one million votes for President Obama. To achieve their goal 1911 United will re-activate 800,000 black voters who supported Obama in 2008, and add an additional 200,000 new Obama voters, in 2012.

In addition, the group plans to support President Obama by initiating the first political attack advertisement campaign, made by African-Americans appealing to Black voters, during a presidential election.

1911 United's efforts will be concentrated in seven highly contested states; Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Colorado.