Dear Undecided Democratic Primary Voter,

I know everyone is trying to get your vote in your upcoming Democratic Primary. Some of you may decide to sit out and not be bothered. Why vote when the media and political establishment keeps telling you the decision is already made? Last May, I contemplated not voting for the first time since I turned 18. I did not believe that the “establishment” would allow anyone to stand in the way of its chosen candidate.

Consider your personal values when choosing a candidate in the Democratic Primary. Vote for the person who best aligns with your vision for the country. When I told my dad last May I was considering not voting, he suggested I read up on the Senator from Vermont. He has followed Senator Sanders for several years and was excited when he announced his candidacy. Respecting my father’s opinion, I began to read articles and watch old videos. Bernie Sanders was impressive. All of those eligible to vote in my family (including those over 45) support Senator Sanders because he is dialoguing about many of the issues that we have been talking about within our community for decades. As my dad is approaching retirement age, Social Security expansion was a priority item on his list.

Many of the issues championed by the Senator disproportionately impact communities of color. I was not discouraged by the absence of a defined conversation on race, but like many others I wanted the Senator to address several issues more directly. After the Netroots action by Black Lives Matter activists, I participated in a phone call with several activists as well as African American outreach staff from the campaign. There was a genuine exchange of ideas, concerns, and suggestions. A few weeks later the campaign released a thorough racial justice platform. Many who are still on the fence, are wary because they feel he does not have a more recent history on issues of racial justice. I believe that his ability to embrace critique and build coalitions is a sign of potential opportunity for greater inclusivity in the future. Senator Sanders has publicly acknowledged and addressed the pushback he has received from many activists. He has also taken the time to address suggestions and critique where possible.

We should not hold on to antiquated notions of political alliances which have not yielded meaningful gains for our people. Racial and economic justice have to go hand in hand. With hypersegregation, poverty, and lack of access to various goods and resources, it is disingenuous for people to argue against the importance of economics in Black and Latino communities. The movement Senator Sanders is describing permits for new leadership, ideas, and opportunity while providing space for existing thinkers and activists to lend their expertise. We are not fitting into someone else’s timetable or box of what is acceptable. We have the opportunity to create our own platform and make it happen for ourselves. Engaging in electoral politics is about leveraging the opportunity to the benefit of our communities.