Pictured above: GBC Members at DA EMEA Conference in Madrid. From Left to Right Cuthbert Telesford-Denmark, Elizabeth Bond-Spain, Nicole Pearson-Spain, Angela Fobbs-GBC Chair-Germany, Ronda Zelezny-Green-UK, Christina Skovsgaard-Norway, Patricia Hamzahee-UK, Second Row. Adrienne Johnson-UK, Erica Smith-France, Shari Temple-Germany.
Welcome and thank you for visiting the Democrats Abroad Global Black Caucus page.
For a quick-to-use list of our contact links and ideas for action, go here.
The Democrats Abroad Global Black Caucus (GBC) is made up of DA members of all ethnicities from around the world who are willing and able to advocate on issues important to Black Americans within the United States of America and those living abroad. All DA members are eligible to join the GBC. We advocate for laws, policies, and programs that improve the lives of Black Americans and educate all people on the humanity of Black people.
People of visible African descent have been in what we now know as the United States of America since 1619, long before many ethnic groups who are now considered to be White. Black Americans were essential to building America. Without Black people, the greatness of America would not be possible. Today, Black Americans are in all walks of life and are 13.3% of the American population[1]. By 2060, the projected black population in the United States will be 74.5 million, with a predicted median black wealth as of 2053 of zero and a current median White wealth of $116,000.
According to the Voter Participation Center, from 2012 to 2016, Black voter turnout dropped by 4.7% overall[2]. Black voter turnout is essential for Democratic election victories. Therefore, it is necessary for Democrats to identify and focus on those issues close to the hearts of African Americans and other minority voters. In general, voters do not turn out unless they feel included, listened to, and excited. It is important that Democrats Abroad have a caucus that directly addresses the issues of Black Americans. Thus, the Global Black Caucus will produce and disseminate political content which bears witness to the ever-unfolding international history of the Black American reality. Black Lives Matter!
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[1] “QuickFacts.” U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts Selected: UNITED STATES, United States Census Bureau, 1 July 2016, www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045216.
[2] Fraga, Bernard L., et al. “Analysis | Why Did Trump Win? More Whites - and Fewer Blacks - Actually Voted.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 8 May 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/05/08/why-did-trump-win-more-whites-and-fewer-blacks-than-normal-actually-voted/?utm_term=.c54e479ea009&wpisrc=nl_politics&wpmm=1.
DA Global Black Caucus Leadership:
News
October Newsletter 2020
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to help with our Get Out The Vote efforts and beyond. I know we made a difference in this election. 🥂
There are 13 days until election day.
🗳️ If you haven't requested an absentee ballot yet, there is still time. Go to https://www.votefromabroad.org/ today.
🆘 Have a question or issue with requesting a ballot or sending it back? Visit our online 1-on-1 help on Zoom. It's available Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12-4 pm EDT/6-10 pm CEST, Saturday 2-10 am EDT/8am-4 pm CEST, and ALL DAY on Sunday EDT. Access help at this link: http://qrco.de/bbh0zg
📱 Have you requested a ballot and not received it? Please contact your local election office. You can find the contact information here: https://www.votefromabroad.org/states.
📧 Have you contacted your local election office and received no response? Please email voterprotection@democratsabroad.org and tell them what's going on. They can help you.
🚨 If you haven't received your ballot, you can VOTE NOW using the Backup Ballot–the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)–specifically for overseas voters! Information on how to vote with a FWAB here: https://www.votefromabroad.org/fwab/ Watch a video on how to fill out a FWAB here.
✈️ Need to send your ballot back to the states by postal mail? At this point, consider using a courier service. FedEx Express is offering Americans abroad a discount to send ballots home reliably. US voters living in 10 European countries can now take advantage of a special rate for overnight return of their absentee ballot. From now through November, FedEx International Priority service for envelopes up to 500g sent to the USA costs just €25 from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Denmark (kr.186), Poland (112 zł), Sweden (260 kr), and the United Kingdom (£23). This special is only bookable online — discounts will not be given if booking at a FedEx store or on the phone. Feel free to privately tell your friends and family, but please do not post about this on social media. Download a step-by-step guide on how to book the FedEx deal HERE.
🛑 Do NOT use the diplomatic pouch at U.S. embassies and consulates to return your ballot at this point. It is too late.
📠 Voters in AK, CA, FL, LA, OK, and WY can fax their ballots back. Don't have access to a fax machine? You can use an online email to fax services like Hello Fax or FAX.PLUS.
🎃 Voters in AL, AZ, CO, DC, DE, HI, IN< IA, KS, MA, ME, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, NV, OR, RI, SC, UT, WA, WV, and WY can return your ballots by email or online. Need help scanning? Watch this video on how to scan using your smartphone: Watch this video.If you don't have a scanning app on your phone, you can use Adobe Scan mobile app for iPhone & Android.
🧑🏽🤝🧑🏿 Suppose you have already voted and returned your ballot. Have you reminded your family and friends abroad or in the states to register and vote? People in the USA can go to https://iwillvote.com/ to find a voting or drop-off location, verify their registration, vote by mail and register to vote.
Upcoming Events
Monday, November 30, 2020 at 08:00 PM Paris Time · 12 rsvps
The vote of BIPOC in Georgia
Join the Hispanic Caucus and the Global Black Caucus for an event looking into the vote of black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) in Georgia.
Georgians are going back to the polls in January to elect their two Senators, because neither of Georgia's incumbent Senators drew a majority on Election Day.
In past elections we have seen suppression of voters of color and young voters in states across the nation. The Georgia 2018 elections exposed recent and past actions and inactions by the state to prevent people from voting. Since then many leaders and organizations, in particular former candidate for governor in Georgia, Stacey Abrams, have devoted resources to ensure all voters’ rights.
In this event we will be hearing from activists and organizations working to safeguard the rights of BIPOC in Georgia. They will talk about their work and current efforts to mobilize the vote for the upcoming runoff election, present data and trends from the recent presidential election, and explore how we, Americans abroad, can help.
Panelists:
Benjamin Cole - Black Lives Matter Activist from Georgia
Jerry Gonzalez - CEO of Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO)
Rosa Maria Kleiberg - Activist/Organizer from Georgia
When?
November 30th, at 8 pm CET (2pm ET)
8pm Berlin
7pm London
1pm Ciudad de México
Where?
Via zoom. Please RSVP to receive the link.
Sunday, December 06, 2020 at 08:00 AM Eastern Time (US & Canada) · 51 rsvps
Books Abroad Reads Isabel Wilkerson’s “Caste”
The Global Women's Caucus feminist reading group is pleased to announce its next pick, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.
At the end of a transformative year in the struggle for racial equality, this discussion will engage participants who are looking to expand their awareness of how racism shapes American systems and the world at large, including individual lives.
Isabel Wilkerson is the Pulitzer Prize winning writer of The Warmth of Other Suns.
In “Caste”, she uses "an immersive, deeply researched narrative and stories about real people to show how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings."
Thanks to all who joined our discussion of "Good and Mad." We hope this discussion can go even deeper! We look forward to seeing you there!
When: Dec. 6, 2020, 2 p.m. CET
This is an online event.