My ancestors fought hard to give me a better life — that’s why I’m fighting for Hillary

I hope you’ll join this fight, too.

Seven-and-a-half years ago, when I cast my first vote ever, I couldn’t help but think about my grandparents and great-grandparents.

I grew up in Hampton Roads. My great-grandmother was born into slavery. My grandparents were sharecroppers in the Jim Crow South until they moved to upstate New York for better opportunities. They moved north not only because they were trying to escape lynchings, discrimination and exploitation; but also because they wanted to be part of a community that strived for equality and freedom.

Unfortunately, when they arrived in New York, my grandparents realized prejudice was still prevalent, and our country had a long way to go.

There is still quite a bit of fear and injustice pulling the community apart — but we have come a long way since the 1960s.

On November 4, 2008, my mother, my brothers, and I woke up at six in the morning to head to the polls. We couldn’t wait to cast our votes for who we hoped would become the first African American president in the history of the United States. We stood in the cold rain, with hundreds of other voters, waiting to cast a ballot for then-Senator Barack Obama.

In that voting booth, I couldn’t help but think about all the people who had come before me. The people who fought and bled and died to ensure my right to stand in that booth.

I will never forget the feeling I had when we won Virginia. For the first time in decades, Virginia was BLUE. And over the past eight years, our president has done so much to improve lives — not just in my community, but across the Commonwealth and the country.

I joined Hillary Clinton’s team because I want things to keep getting better. I want to make sure the next generation has it even better than my generation does. Our country needs its next president to be someone who shares that goal, someone who knows that our country is stronger together and who will fight for American families. And that woman’s name is Hillary Clinton.

I could not be more proud every day to get to work with all of you to elect Hillary Clinton. She has been working hard for families and communities like ours her entire career.

So let’s spend these next months doing the same. We owe it to those who came before us to protect and build on the progress our nation has made — and I believe Hillary Clinton is the only person who can do that.

Time is running out, and this election is much closer than you think. We need all the help we get: Sign up to join our team today!