Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Maxine Waters on the Importance of Incentivizing Black Youth Voters

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) 53rd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) opened with a clear message: It’s time to fortify our democracy by amplifying Black voices. As two powerful advocates for Black youth and progressive change, Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Maxine Waters spoke to BET.com about how critical it is to incentivize young Black voters and galvanize them into action for upcoming elections. Their remarks revealed the stakes for Black Americans and the importance of rallying young voters to protect their futures.

Rep. Maxine Waters stressed the importance of directly engaging with Black youth, especially those who have never voted. She underscored how misunderstood candidates and issues often drive young people away from the ballot box, sharing a story about conversations she had in public housing projects. “I was talking with young Black males who had heard that Kamala [Harris] had been responsible for locking up Black men,” Waters recalled. “But we talked about that, and when we did, they agreed that if there are hardcore criminals that need to be locked up, somebody needs to get it done.” Waters noted that once the conversation shifted to the historical significance of Harris’s potential as a Black women leader, the young men started to see the power of their vote.

Waters highlighted the need to talk to Black youth in terms they can relate to—like entrepreneurship and business ownership—rather than focusing solely on the past struggles of the Civil Rights era. “Now, older people do talk, but a lot of times we’re talking about the older days,” she said. “They want you to talk about ownership, entrepreneurship, creativity, the new technology, the digital world.”

By connecting voting to issues that directly impact their lives, such as business ownership, Waters showed how to make the electoral process relevant. “Many of them have talents unrealized or unexposed that they can use to create businesses,” she explained, highlighting how access to capital, improved banking practices, and better loan policies could empower young people to thrive.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley unpacked lawmakers and government officials’ responsibility to restore trust among Black youth. As one of the lead negotiators on student debt cancellation, she acknowledged many young people’s frustrations with the government, particularly regarding student debt. “I know many of them agree with me that you should not have to ensnare yourself in a lifetime of debt for pursuing higher education,” Pressley said.

She argued that young people want to see tangible results—what she called “receipts.” Pressley linked Harris’s track record on small business support, tax breaks, and homeownership with the priorities of today’s entrepreneurial Black youth. “This generation is so entrepreneurial,” she said, stressing how Harris has been a steadfast ally to small business owners.

Moreover, Pressley clarified that Black youth should be reminded of their historic role in driving movements. “Every great movement throughout history and so many transformative pieces of legislation have only come to pass because of the sweat equity, because of the intellectual capital, because of the imagination of young people and Black youth in particular,” Pressley stated. Whether it was student debt cancellation or the fight for climate justice, Black youth have been at the forefront of these movements, proving the necessity of their involvement.

Representatives Waters and Pressley agree on one crucial point: voting is not just a political act, it is an act of self-care and an investment in future generations.

Pressley framed voting as a personal and collective responsibility. “Voting is an act of self-care. It is an act of mitigating harm. And I think it’s a love letter to future generations as well,” urging young voters to see beyond themselves. “Be a better ancestor than descendant. Your vote is about you, but it’s not only about you.”

Waters echoed a similar sentiment, encouraging young voters to see themselves as integral to the change process. She also called on older generations to have more relevant conversations with young people, addressing the day-to-day issues that matter most to them, from clean water to business ownership.

One of the biggest barriers to increasing Black youth voter turnout is a “deficit of trust,” according to Pressley. Many young people feel disconnected from the political process and skeptical of politicians’ promises. Pressley acknowledged this concern but urged them not to seek perfection in candidates but to demand progress and accountability. “People want perfection in their candidates. But at the end of the day, as Stacey Abrams so aptly puts it, we don’t elect saviors. We elect partners,” she said.

This shift in perspective is key to ensuring Black youth understand that while their candidates may not be flawless, their participation in the process can still drive meaningful progress. “Perfection is not on the ballot, but progress is, and our freedoms are, and the future is.”

The CBCF’s 53rd Annual Legislative Conference made it clear that the future of Black America relies on the engagement of young voters. As we face new challenges—from the rollback of affirmative action to economic disparities—the voices of Black youth have never been more critical. Representatives Maxine Waters and Ayanna Pressley remind us that mobilizing young voters is not just about turnout numbers; it’s about securing the community’s future and continuing to build a more just society.

Clay Cane is a SiriusXM radio host and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans From the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump.