UB Votes: Flex Alexander, 112, A.R. Shaw + More Contribute

The next election is less than a week away and some are still stuck on whether they should vote or they shouldn’t. While others are determined to make their vote count.

With so much going on from COVID, to unarmed black Americans being murdered by law enforcement. 2020 has been a year, none of us will forget.

To make a bit more sense of it all, UB called on some talented creators we knew would be able to break it down for our viewers, on why it’s important to vote!

Flex Alexander, Ivan Matias, 112, Billy Johnson Jr., A.R. Shaw and Natasha Lewin.
Ed Gordon was also apart of this feature, however due to technical issues on our end, his contribution has unfortunately been removed. Stay tuned for a special feature on Ed Gordon, in the coming weeks.

We start with one of our favorites Flex Alexander, who took time to tell us why it’s important for him to vote and his opinion on mail in ballots.

— Flex Alexander, is celebrating the release of One on One on Netflix. Flex stars in the new film Trigger on BET+ and will reprise his role on mixed-ish this winter on ABC.

UrbanBridgez.com: What does voting mean to you and is it something you feel is necessary?
112 (Mike): Voting is an alienable right that we all have as Americans that was in particular with African Americans and people of color. Something that we should take with the highest of importance only because our ancestors fought so hard for us to have these rights these alienable rights that we should have just as being Americans, however we still find ourselves fighting for these rights so it is paramount. It’s incompetent upon us that even if you don’t feel that your vote counts it does, and so 112 Slim and I encourage you to if you don’t do it for yourself do it for your future generations because ugh the votes that you have now effects generations down the line where being the supreme court you know and and uh for example as being an example of how it effects change, you know what I mean and and and voting somebody in for life you know what I mean your vote does matter if not for yourself do it for others.

112 (Slim): A lot of a lot of our ancestors have waited over hundreds of years to get this type of, to get put in this position where we would be able to vote and be able to stand up and have a voice for ourselves so waiting a couple of hours is not gonna hurt you, that much more.

112 (Mike): If I can if I can chime in on slim; if we can wait in line for the Popeyes chicken sandwich (all laugh). Then yo ass can wait in line to vote for the future of your children, if you can stand in line for the Popeyes chicken sandwich yo ass can wait in line a couple of hours to vote.

UrbanBridgez.com: Talk to us about Black Lives Matter and the importance of acknowledging and supporting the movement.
112 (Mike): We felt like for years 112 has for whatever reason, we have remained silent when it comes to political issues. However we feel at this point in time there’s no fence sitting, either your on one side of of social issues or you’re not, so we create Slim and myself are very conscience of the things that we see and have decided between ourselves. Now is the time for us to speak out because of our platform and and speak out about the injustices that we see you know we have kids and we wanna leave a lasting legacy for our kids. Let them know that their parent did everything they could to make sure that they had a future that was full of equality and justice for everybody.

— 112, is celebrating the release of their new EP “Forever: Slim & Mike.” Which features the hit “For Us” and the banger “Anytime.”

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UrbanBridgez.com: What does voting mean to you and is it something you feel is necessary?
Billy Johnson Jr.: Voting gives me an opportunity to be a part of selecting our elected officials whose decisions impact our lives. It is absolutely necessary. Our ancestors fought for this right.

UrbanBridgez.com: What suggestions would you have for the next Administration, as a citizen?
Billy Johnson Jr.: One of the beautiful things that happened in 2020 is that the youth rose to the challenge. They spoke up. They marched. They evoked change. I’d like for the next Administration to listen more closely to the youth. Find out what matters to them and make sure that is a part of the plan.

– Billy Johnson Jr., music journalist guru. Founder of entertainment public relations company Media & Repertoire.

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UrbanBridgez.com: What are your biggest concerns with the Pandemic and the affect it will have on the election results?
A.R. Shaw: I make it a point to vote in every election, local or national. Voting is how citizens who are forced to pay taxes can use their voices to create change.

UrbanBridgez.com: What are your biggest concerns with the Pandemic and the effect it will have on the election results?
A.R. Shaw: The biggest concerns are that people aren’t taking it seriously. It’s important to wear a mask in public and practice social distancing until scientists have a better grasp of the virus. The biggest concern as it relates to voting is for the elderly population. In some states and cities, people are waiting in lines for 2 or 3 hours to vote. The pandemic can make voting an unhealthy action and it could be an issue for some.

– A.R. Shaw, author of “How President Barak Obama Would Have Handled COVID-19” and “Trap History”

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UrbanBridgez.com: What does voting mean to you and is it something you feel is necessary?
Natasha Lewin: Hearing and listening are not synonymous. As the great psalmist Wesley Snipes told Woody Harrelson in the book of WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP: “Just because you’re listening to [Jimi Hendrix] doesn’t mean you’re hearing him.” Listening is passive—we simply take in. Hearing, on the other hand, is active—we have to understand what we’re taking in. Most of the time we’re merely being listened to, but there are two definite ways we can be heard: One is with our wallet, and the other is with our vote.

People have been fighting for the right to vote for decades—Black folks, women, felons—depending on your zip code, you may be fighting for your right this very minute. That’s because voting is power, and I won’t ever let anyone take my power. I always make sure to vote!

UrbanBridgez.com: As a woman of color, what are your biggest concerns with this election? Also, what area would you like to see the next Administration tackle first and why.
Natasha Lewin: This divisive election has made me incredibly fearful of the violence that could break out. And I’m particularly worried that most of those attacks would be targeted against the Black body. Along with this fear, I’m also concerned that there will be voter fraud and ballot tampering, which could delay election results due to national recounts. But my greatest concern of all is the total hell on earth America will no doubt become if we have to endure four more years of the current administration.

And with this, in the same vein of Germany releasing over a half-billion dollars to Holocaust survivors who are struggling during this time, America needs to finally implement long overdue reparations to African Americans. For this country to ever begin the process of healing from centuries of racial injustice, there must be collective compensation and national atonement. Our new administration needs to recognize and incentivize that healing immediately, otherwise we’ll be stuck in the same horrific cycle for another generation. Yes, the new administration has a lot of fixing to do ahead of them, but they should be just fine as long as they — as the great prophet Spike Lee said— “Do the right thing.”

— Natasha Lewin,A three-time published author (one being a New York Times’ bestseller). Natasha is creator of 2020’s narrative drama podcast, White Privilege: Radio Play.

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UrbanBridgez.com: What does voting mean to you and is it something you feel is necessary?
Ivan Matias: For me, voting in our current 2 party dominated system is more symbolic than anything else. I believe that contrary to popular belief; Dems & Republicans are more alike than unalike. However, they utilize a “good cop, bad cop” approach, as they volley power between the two. This tried & tested tactic has historically ended with power retained by career politicians, as they finger-point at one another over a shared pattern of ineffective Governing. Even local elections have become a stepping stone to lucrative political careers that leave politicians net worth in the unexplainable millions on middle class salaries. This leads me to believe that elections are nothing more than an elite, Political power grab.

Voting has become a Politicians gauge of how many Americans feel involved in the decisions that affect us. It is an illusion of power for citizens, under this 2 party system. As a Person of Color; the concerns of my specific demographic have not been adequately addressed during my entire lifetime by either party.
In my view; what is “necessary” is being proactive in the shaping & direction of my own life, future & needs rather than getting sidetracked by election-time promises & expectations which have consistently & systematically failed most.

UrbanBridgez.com: What are your hopes from the results of the election and thereafter for this country?
Ivan Matias: Regardless of who “wins,” it is my hope that the majority of voters detach from 2 party, groupthink mindset. I pray for an urgency in each individual to take a “hands on” approach with creating solutions & positive contributions toward society’s ills locally & nationally, rather than the normalization of leaning on an ineffective 2 party dominated political system & big tech leadership. I’m hoping that the divide isn’t so great, that large numbers of people (on both sides) can see the shared interest & benefit in cultivating an Independent party with a candidate that can substantially challenge the traditional stronghold our current 2 party dominated system has on the election process.

Ivan Matias, is a Grammy nominated, chart-topping Songwriter and Artist. Who’s worked with SWV, Queen Latifah, Toni Braxton and En Vogue.

V O T E | NOVEMBER 3RD!