Be Woke.Vote is an evolving creative platform.The original concept of Be Woke.Vote began with philanthropist and investor Robert F. Smith, film director Deon Taylor, film producer Roxanne Avent and creative director Darrick Angelone. The voting initiative spawned a 2019 Webby-Award nominated video podcast series. “Be Woke.Vote” was created to mobilize and empower the youth vote through education initiatives and by creating space to encourage those who are typically disenfranchised to freely discuss politics.The purpose of Be Woke.Vote is not only outreach to Black Gen Z and Millennial voters, but also to provide a culturally rich understanding of the meaning, history and purpose of civic participation as part of social justice.
What is Be Woke.Vote?
Be Woke.Vote is an evolving creative platform.The original concept of Be Woke.Vote began with philanthropist and investor Robert F. Smith, film director Deon Taylor, film producer Roxanne Avent and creative director Darrick Angelone. The voting initiative spawned a 2019 Webby-Award nominated video podcast series. “Be Woke.Vote” was created to mobilize and empower the youth vote through education initiatives and by creating space to encourage those who are typically disenfranchised to freely discuss politics.The purpose of Be Woke.Vote is not only outreach to Black Gen Z and Millennial voters, but also to provide a culturally rich understanding of the meaning, history and purpose of civic participation as part of social justice.
What does Be Woke.Vote do?
Be Woke.Vote informs and engages. It is a creative nonpartisan platform for all Black voices.Be Woke.Vote’s Rep Your City Tour visited cities across the U.S. in October 2020 to mobilize Gen Z and Millennial voters.Be Woke.Vote provides factual voting information:
Conversations on Be Woke.Vote podcasts range from the profound to personal to the political. Hosts and guests of Be Woke.Vote include entertainers as well as political figures.
Rapper Killer Mike and actor Terrence J host a series of “Be Woke” conversations, one of which digs into the topic of drug reparations, specifically the lack of Black representation in drug legislation and legalization.
Who is behind Be Woke.Vote?
Director: Deon Taylor is an independent filmmaker, producer, screenwriter and founder of the Los Angeles-based production company Hidden Empire Film Group. A few of his recent directorial projects include: Black and Blue, Supremacy and Meet the Blacks. His upcoming film, Fatale, a thriller starring Hillary Swank, was released by Lionsgate on December 18, 2020.Executive Producer:Robert F. Smith is Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners. Smith is a Founding Partner of REFORM Alliance, joining REFORM CEO Van Jones, artist Jay Z and other leaders who advocate for policies to correct systemic bias in the criminal justice system.Taylor and Smith are also executive producers for the Webby-Award winning video podcast series Black History in Two Minutes (or so).Producer: Roxanne Avent is COO at Hidden Empire Films. She has television and film credits as a producer and executive producer of feature films including but not limited to, The Intruder, Fatale, Meet the Blacks andSupremacy.
