In an effort to encourage people to vote in the upcoming national election on November 3, 2020, a group of Atlanta strippers directed by Angela Gomes created a non-partisan campaign to reach individuals who don’t participate in the election process.
In the 90-minute video titled “Get Your Booty to the Poll,” seven dancers (Cou, Bunni, Imani, Jordan, Jenny, Nikki and Zippora) mix poll dancing with messaging driving home why viewers should vote for not just the president but also district attorneys, school boards, sheriffs and county officials.
Press explaining the reasoning for the video states, “The entire crew was made up of volunteers who were dedicated to the message and idea of increasing the voter turn-out amongst the black male demographic. We hope that our passionate message becomes your reality when you take your booty to the poll and vote this election cycle.”
In the video, two of the strippers state, “It’s clear black lives don’t matter to some of our current elected officials. If they matter to you, then don’t let other people decide who’s going to run your community.”
While some on social media criticized the ad as a poor reflection of how Democrats view Black voters, Gomes, a Black woman who used her own money combined with funds raised through a GoFundMe, stated on Twitter, “Black people, especially Black men are ignored by our govt & I want them to know they need to start paying attention.”
Those who are seeking additional information about where to vote, are encouraged to visit getyourbootytothepoll.com.
I am the writer/director & I am a BLACK WOMAN. I was NOT paid for this & used MY OWN MONEY & money raised from a GoFundMe to pay for it. Black people, especially Black men are ignored by our govt & I want them to know they need to start paying attention. #getyourbootytothepoll
— Angela Barnes (@AngelaBDirector) September 22, 2020
