On Friday, July 24, Black civic leaders, elected officials, attorneys, students, and members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity gathered for a Black Male Voter Town Hall hosted in partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center Mississppi and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. While the event was conducted as a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) discussion, the conversations were candid, challenging, and at times contradictory.

Rather than offering a single explanation for why Black men vote at lower rates than other groups, panelists wrestled with a deeper question: What will it take to earn—and sustain—the trust of Black men beyond election season?

Across two panels featuring national and Mississippi leaders, several themes emerged.

1. Black Men Aren’t One Voting Bloc

One of the first disagreements of the day centered on a familiar question: Why don’t more Black men vote?

Dr. David Marion, past grand basileus of Omega Psi Phi and mental health professional, pointed to research suggesting that many Black men cite logistical reasons for not voting—forgetting Election Day, transportation problems, or believing the outcome will not affect their daily lives.

Charles Taylor, President of the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP, challenged that framing.

He argued that Black men are not disengaged because campaigns have the wrong message. They are disengaged because they are rarely treated as a serious investment.

Taylor suggested that sending a handful of text messages weeks before an election is not a voter engagement strategy. Meaningful participation requires year-round relationship building and financial investment in Black communities.

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2. Voting Is Bigger Than One Election

Attorney Clement Osimeth, Grand Counselor (Chief Legal Officer) for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity encouraged attendees to think beyond presidential politics.

He argued that voting determines the people making decisions about schools, healthcare, and civil rights protections, pointing to recent redistricting litigation in Louisiana as an example of why elections continue to shape everyday life.

The discussion reinforced the idea that voting should not be viewed only through a transactional lens but as participation in decisions that affect future generations.

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3. Organizations Must Stop Working in Silos

Perhaps the strongest point of agreement all day was collaboration.

Panelists acknowledged that organizations including the NAACP, SPLC, ACLU, One Voice, Tougaloo College, and the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus often pursue similar goals while operating independently.

Several speakers argued that greater coordination would maximize limited resources.

One panelist compared the work to football.

Every team needs quarterbacks, receivers, blockers, and coaches.

Winning requires everyone understanding—and embracing—their role.

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4. Young Black Men Are Listening & Speaking

Contrary to common assumptions, panelists said research indicates that Black men between 18 and 25 do respond to conversations about voting rights and Black history.

The challenge is not interest.

The challenge is consistency.

Speakers emphasized using platforms where younger audiences already spend time—including YouTube, artificial intelligence tools, and trusted peer networks.

They also stressed allowing young Black men to help shape the conversation rather than simply receiving it.

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5. Mississippi’s Challenges Are Different

The local panel focused heavily on barriers unique to Mississippi.

Felony disenfranchisement remains a source of widespread confusion, with many residents incorrectly believing arrests or convictions automatically prevent them from voting.

Economic disinvestment and persistent distrust in local government also contribute to political disengagement.

Several panelists argued that candidates hoping to reach Black men must address practical concerns including economic opportunity, child support policies, workforce development, and public education.

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6. Go Where Black Men Already Gather

A recurring criticism was that civic organizations often hold meetings attended by the same people.

Instead, elected officials and organizers were encouraged to meet Black men where they already spend time—barbershops, veterans organizations, churches, recreational leagues, and neighborhood gathering places.

The conversation suggested that authentic engagement begins long before Election Day.

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7. Representation Isn’t Enough Without Investment

Perhaps the most striking conversation involved resources.

Panelists noted that despite Black organizations playing significant roles in mobilizing voters during previous elections, funding often arrives late or in comparatively small amounts.

Speakers questioned whether sustainable civic engagement can be built through short-term election spending instead of long-term investment in Black-led institutions and organizations.

The discussion concluded that political participation cannot rely solely on campaign cycles.

Communities must develop their own capacity to organize, educate, and mobilize voters year-round.

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Although panelists occasionally disagreed about why Black men vote—or don’t vote—they shared a common belief.

Increasing Black male voter participation will require more than campaign messaging.

It will require trust.

Relationships.

Collaboration.

And sustained investment in the communities leaders hope to serve.

If there was one lesson from Friday’s town hall, it was this:

Black men are not asking to be persuaded every four years.

They are asking to be engaged every day.

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