Putting the nation on notice of the Lone Star State
October 7, 2024, News
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) Black Caucus held it’s Southern Regional Conference this past weekend in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Ahead of the 2024 election, DNC Black Caucus Chairwoman Virgie Rollins and the Black Caucus leadership went on tour across the country to educate Black voters on what’s at stake in this election to ensure we get out the Black vote, with the first stop being in North Carolina.
Texas Black Democrats were represented at the conference by Frederick “Nic” Nickens and Justin Parker, two individuals who have made significant contributions to help lead the charge in Black voter turnout and ballot education in Texas.
Frederick “Nic” Nickens is a member of the Texas State Democratic Executive Committee for the 3rd Congressional District and the Veterans Caucus. Nickens was elected ahead of the state convention in El Paso to be the Chair for the convention. Since, being elected Nickens has organized a GOTV committee within the caucus to increase voter turnout this upcoming November.
“Eyes are on us and if we can pull this off, it’ll be huge. People will start taking us serious here in Texas.” said Nickens when asked about the stakes of Texas’ senate race.
Justin Parker is a former member of the DNC through the College Democrats of America where he served as the National Vice President. Parker also worked for the Colin Allred for Senate campaign on the digital mobilization team and now Parker has led the caucus’ communications upon the activation of the GOTV committee and has spearheaded the caucus’ 90-day social media blitz.
Nickens and Parker both sat on a “Chop It Up” panel hosted by DNC Black Caucus Vice Chair Charlie Staten with other Black men to discuss the importance of the Black male vote and engaging the youth in this election.
Vice Chair Staten asked the men to address the state of women’s qualifications being questioned in particular to Presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris. “Women are the backbone of the Democratic Party and without them we wouldn’t be where we are to this day” stated Nickens. “Vice President Harris is overqualified to become President. Look at her track record from being an Attorney General, an United States Senator, and now Vice President. She is more than qualified, period.”
“I wouldn’t be here or given many opportunities in these spaces without the women who allowed me to step into these spaces. For example, the great Aliah Rowe from Arkansas who served as the National President of the College Democrats of America,” said Parker. “This whole notion of us constantly questioning Black women has to stop. Vice President Harris has made her case to the American people for the past four years. Vice President Harris led the charge in leading the Office of Gun Violence Prevention at the White House and meanwhile Trump led an insurrection on the United States Capitol.”
Nickens and Parker got the the chance to speak to other state Black Caucus leaders and learn the strategies they’re using in their states and excited to bring back these ideas back to Texas where this November they have a prime opportunity to win a statewide election with Colin Allred.
There were over 100 participants in attendance, mostly with North Carolina represented and amongst those other states in attendance were: North Carolina, South Carolina Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Most notably, was keynote speaker Congressman Gabe Amo, representing Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District.
“I’m glad that Frederick and Justin were able to make the trip. Justin has done an amazing job bringing the youth to the table and making sure young people are getting involved,” said Chairwoman Rollins. “In this election it’ll be the youth vote that helps secures the victory for us to elect Kamala Harris.”
