COLUMN: Voting Together but Worlds Apart: Reflections on Politics, Gender, and Black Identity

Photo Credit: Getty Images The voting booth has always felt like a sacred place to me—an intersection of decision-making and legacy, a space to shape the future.& I grew up with a deep reverence for the ballot, not just because of the sacrifices made by our ancestors, but because of the silent power it represents. This year, I’m voting alongside my wife, Nik, who tends to see politics more from the sidelines of our conversations.& She’s strong-willed and passionate, but when it comes to politics, I’ve always felt more invested, maybe just a little deeper in the weeds. This year, though, something has changed. For the first time, a Black woman, Kamala Harris, is on the presidential ticket. As we walk up to the polling station, I feel the pride radiating from Nik. She’s excited, smiling even. It’s the first time I’ve seen her take this level of pride in an election. For her, Harris’s candidacy is revolutionary—a symbol of the strides we’ve made as Black people, and a tribute to the strong Black women who have always held our communities together.& But for me, it’s not that simple. I respect Kamala’s achievements, but I’m leaning toward Jill Stein, feeling...