“One of our biggest things is getting African-Americans to vote,” Kramer said.
“But there seems to be an equal effort by Republicans to suppress their vote.”
James Granger ’05-’06, has dedicated his semester to voter registration as the tour manager for MTV’s non-partisan Rock the Vote bus tour, which focuses on young people.
“Politicians have a limited amount of time that they spend on people who have a history of voting. [Young people] don’t have that,” Granger said. “It’s not cost effective for them. We need to vote to make a history so politicians will no longer ignore us.”
The bus tour, which consists of over 100 stops in more than 27 states, has registered 1.4 million voters. Granger planned a five-week concert series that featured political speakers and upcoming rock bands that played at colleges around the country.
Granger said the most rewarding part of his job is the opportunity to speak publicly about issues that most concern young people such as the war on Iraq, healthcare, the rising cost of education and the poor job market.
“Eighty percent of the military is under 35, and whether for or against it, it’s our war to fight,” Granger said.
The campaign workers said the decision to take the job wasn’t an easy one.
Although Hawkins’ immediate family also supports Bush, she said that the rest of her family and all of her black friends are anti-Bush, which puts her in a tough position.
“I wish it wasn’t that negative. Usually people can agree to disagree,” Hawkins said. “The harsh labels placed on me just because of where I work is hurtful. I love my community and I don’t like being accused of being a sell out.”
Granger also mentioned the social difficulties that come with accepting the job at Rock the Vote, but said he does not regret his decision.
“I’m sad because most of my friends are seniors graduating in the spring and that is something I will never get back,” Granger said. “I saw problems and had the opportunity to do something about it, and I couldn’t pass it up.”
Firestone, a Brookline native, said he was sad to miss the recent baseball celebrations.
“One disappointment was not being back in Boston supporting Red Sox fans,” he said.
—Staff writer Monica M. Clark can be reached at mclark@fas.harvard.edu.