Over 18? Register to Vote

Voting is the essence of democracy. Voting in the United States is voluntary. Some people vote in person at the polls, while others vote by mail days or weeks before the actual election date. Regardless of how you do it, it’s important that all U.S. citizens who qualify participate in the democratic process of electing public officials.

Key dates and deadlines: Election day is Nov. 3
Registration deadlines: Online: Oct. 26, By mail: Received by Oct. 26, In person: Nov. 3
Absentee ballot deadlines: Return by mail: Postmarked by Nov. 3, Return in person: Nov. 3 by 8:00 p.m.
Early voting: Oct. 16 – Nov. 3, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live
Additional information 
The deadline to update an existing voter registration with a new name or address is Monday, October 26, 2020 

For detailed information visit the voter information page for Washington State.

Online voter registration

Washington offers online voter registration.

You should know: you need a Washington driver’s license or state ID to use Washington’s online voter registration system. If you don’t have a Washington-issued ID, you can still register by mail to vote.

You can register online to vote until Monday, October 26, 2020. You can also update an existing voter registration online with a new name or address by Monday, October 26, 2020.

By-mail voter registration

Use the Washington voter registration form

You can also register to vote using the Washington voter registration form. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and fill it out completely. Send the completed form to your local election official.

To register by mail, the form must be received by Monday, October 26, 2020. You can also update an existing voter registration by mail with a new name or address by Monday, October 26, 2020.

Spokane Area Diversity/Cultural Events Calendar

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October 2020 Yvonne C. Montoya Zamora

Diversity Calendar

We Buy Black on Netflix: ‘Living Black’ with Killer Mike

   By Ramiro Nikodemus Alexander-Duchesne

Trigger Warning

Earlier this month, rapper and activist Killer Mike released a Netflix Original, titled Trigger Warning with Killer Mike. Killer Mike is half of the rapping duo, Run the Jewels. In his Netflix Original docu-series, he addresses topics of racism, classism, sexism, etc. His first episode, Living Black, consisted of a social experiment of sorts. For three days prior to his show in Athens, Georgia, Killer Mike sets out on a self-appointed quest to live completely Black.

Three days prior to his show in Athens, Georgia, Michael Santiago Render (Killer Mike) set out on his quest to conduct business solely with Black-owned businesses. Vikram Gandhi, director of the series, told Killer Mike that his endeavor would be an impossible one. Killer Mike did not allow that to stop him.

While attempting to live completely Black–meaning only spending his money with Black-owned businesses and vendors–Killer Mike came to the Black economic experts. Early on in the episode, Killer Mike consulted with We Buy Black’s very own founder, Shareef Abdul-Malik. During their meeting, Abdul-Malik presented a number of Black-owned products that are currently selling on We Buy Black to Killer Mike. With the help of We Buy Black, Killer Mike was able to complete his mission of Living Black for three consecutive days.

Buying Black in Spokane

Spokane Black Business Directory

Our Black Year

The Afterword – Slate

In 2009, Maggie Anderson and her family pledged that they would patronize black-owned companies whenever possible, so she scoured the Chicago area for black-owned supermarkets, dry cleaners, gas stations, pharmacies, and clothing stores. Our Black Year: One Family’s Quest To Buy Black in America’s Racially Divided Economy is the story of their experiment in conscious consumerism. Anderson discovered that black businesses lag behind businesses of all other racial and ethnic groups in every measure of success. In the Asian community, a dollar circulates among local shop owners, banks, and business professionals for up to 28 days. In the Jewish community, a dollar circulates for 19 days. In the African-American community, a dollar is gone within six hours.

A Year of Buying Black

The interview runs about 29 minutes.

Do you know of other minority businesses in Spokane or online? Tell about them in the reply/post comment box below.

198 Things You Can Do – Pick Something

Tools For Social Change

This is how you can help to build the community you want to live in. Share with others. Let us know what actions YOU WILL PARTICIPATE IN. Place the line # for the actions you will take in comments.

People Get Ready In the 60’s artists like Curtis Mayfield used their art to build a movement.

Unpacking the Tension Between Symbols, Systems, and Substance from The Breakdown with Shaun King.

Which Side Are You On? As sung by The Freedom Singers. Words were often adapted to the particular protest and location.

Who benefits from your art? Perhaps you would like to read this article about the art created during the Seattle protests. Saving Seattle’s protest murals