“We are much more powerful than we can imagine.”

Emma Tramble, a proud GirlTrekker from West Philly, is a member of the Black Girl Justice League who walks in the footsteps of our foremothers every day by helping to educate Black families in her neighborhood about voting. She joined GirlTrek in March 2019 after making a resolution to be around more like-minded women and join a Black hiking group where she met fellow GirlTrekkers who encouraged her to take the GirlTrek pledge. 

We are proud of the work Emma is doing in Philadelphia. She says Spring 2008 was a turning point for her. She led a neighborhood Obama campaign team and was assigned to speak with infrequent, Black voters. By that Fall, she had founded an all-volunteer voter education org, My Family Votes, to provide Black voters with information to strengthen their individual and family’s impact at the poll. 

Get to know more about Emma today and why she believes her volunteer work and voting are so critical at this time. 

And don’t forget to join the Black Girl Justice League today by making this simple but critical commitment — VOTE EARLY.

We had a few questions for Emma. Check out her answers below.

Why do you believe voting and being a civic participant are so important?

I believe that folks must have as much control over their lives as possible. Voting based on issues takes some of the randomnesses of governmental policies out of the hands of elected officials and places it back into the hands of voters. When we vote with expectations and keep the pressure on public servants to truly serve, it puts them on notice that there will be consequences when they do not listen to the will of the people.

Do you think our community is feeling especially overwhelmed or confused by all of the voting changes? What’s contributing to these feelings?

I think Black folks are dealing with too much of everything at the same time. Community leaders have to develop strategies to ease the anxiety and smooth the path, so Black voters have a better voting experience. People need to be more well-informed about how the voting system works. I'm not the least bit worried about voting by mail because I know what to expect.

If you had the power to change one rule, process or system to help increase voter participation in the Black community what would it be?

If more of us held elected officials accountable while they’re in office, we could shift and elevate the entire conversation about our roles as voters. I wish more Black folks knew that every time they vote and become issues advocates after Election Day, it sets off a chain reaction from the bottom to the top of the political system. We are much more powerful than we can imagine. 

Indeed, we are. And we are even more powerful when we band together. Join the Black Girl Justice League today to join this coalition of Black women who are making their voices heard.