When you are born in a country, you are automatically enrolled in the citizenship club. It is a privilege few in this country genuinely appreciate. American citizenship is a dream for so many people in the world. The opportunity to vote for their leader is a dream for many more.
The first time I was old enough to vote for President was April 26, 1994. I cast my vote in New York City – but it was not for an American president. I was still a South African citizen at the time. It was surreal being in a tent at the United Nations with other South Africans also living in New York City. My friends who voted with me were mostly musicians living in exile due to apartheid. For most, it was also their first opportunity to vote – not because of their age, but because the color of their skin. I will always remember the gravity of the moment. We South Africans made our first true gesture to move our country away from a history of hate, intolerance, and injustice. It was a defining moment in the history of our nation. That day we all stood in line together – black and white – and proudly cast our ballots for Nelson Mandela. I will never forget that feeling. I will never forget what it meant to me, my friends, or my country. It was the first free and fair election for South Africa. It happened only 26 years ago.
The significance of that experience resonates with me more the older I get. Last week, I stood in a similar line, waiting to cast my ballot again—this time for an American president. This is my seventh US Presidential Election as an American citizen. I am forever grateful to this country and for this privilege to choose our leader. The power to choose and to have your voice heard is not something that can be understated—the decisions we make change history.
Let’s do this, go vote.
-Shaun