The Orlando alumni chapter of historically Black Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is hosting a voter registration drive Saturday in Parramore — part of a national effort to register more than 1 million black men to vote in a dozen key states, including Florida.
“The strategy is to target cities and states where Black male votes will make a difference,” said Rodney Rackley, president of the local Delta Xi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. “I think that the high point of Black male and Black participation in general was when President Obama was elected. And what has happened since then is that we’ve seen a steady decline.”
Nationally, the fraternity has had an initiative called “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People” since the 1930s. But with an especially contentious presidential battle this year, voter-registration campaigns in general are taking on a greater urgency.
“The reality is you can’t persuade people to vote. They have to kind of be motivated themselves,” Rackley said. “We expect to have probably 10 to 15 brothers there, and our hope is that when people there see African-American men, it gives them a chance to talk to us, and that gives us the chance to explain that even small percentages in turnout can determine the future of your entire community.”
Saturday’s event is being held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dr. J.B. Callahan Neighborhood Center, 101 N. Parramore Ave. in Orlando.
But Rackley said increasing voter registration is only one part of the campaign. He and fellow alumni also are working to educate would-be voters on how and where to vote early or by mail. They’ll also partner with other advocacy groups to help felons who have served their time regain their voting rights, and they’ll provide information on candidates and amendments.
“Our goal is not just to be active during this election period, but be active year-round, educating people, helping people to know their rights,” he said.