Booker T and Sharmell Huffman recently spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about their upcoming event “Swing Vote” on Saturday, October 10. “Swing Vote” is a social distancing friendly show that will raise awareness and engage people of color and other historically disengaged groups about the electoral process, and it is co-promoted by Reality Of Wrestling and Be Woke.Vote.
Booker and Sharmell spoke about the importance of voting and getting involved, with Sharmell explaining how she first learned about Be Woke.Vote.
“As small business owners, COVID-19 has affected us just like the rest of the world and we had to change our business model, so we started doing the drive-in shows. Our shows are always the second Saturday of every month, but because we’re facing so many issues with this election,” Sharmell said, “we just wanted to get the community engaged and get them to go out and vote and have their voices heard.”
In regards to Be Woke.Vote, Sharmell says she looked into the organization and really likes what they stand for.
“They are non-partisan and really encourage voter engagement and voter education, so we reached out and asked if we could partner with them. We ended up making this happen and it actually worked out great because Reality Of Wrestling has a character [named] Abel Andrew Jackson and his finishing move is the Swing Vote. He has a manager, Paula Ticks, and our show is always family-friendly fun,” Sharmell said, “so we thought we would bring that entertainment element to a serious issue, which is voting. We’re hoping to get all of our wrestling fans out and explain to them or just show them the importance of voting, and hope that they keep the same energy that they have for the wrestling matches and take that energy to the polls.
Booker noted that this show is free to attend, and added that they’ve been trying to educate the younger crowd because in the past they might not have taken much of an interest in politics, but it’s more important than ever.
“Young people really need to know how important they are in an election, especially in this election. This is probably the most important election in my 55 years,” Booker said, “and as far as people wanting to make a change, the good way to do it is to get out there and vote.”
Booker continued, speaking about using motivation as a way to get through to people, adding that he also sees things on a personal level and wants to make sure his kids know they should be respected.
“If we don’t motivate—and I always talk to young people about motivating as far as making change—I was around when [George H.W.] Bush got elected in and I was around when [George W.] Bush got elected in, Clinton. I’ve been part of all of those presidencies. I wouldn’t say I voted in all of those,” Booker said, “but I would say I started becoming more aware in the last ten years as far as what’s going on in America. Social media has picked up as well, which makes us more aware, not just in our city, but around America. I think that’s what’s galvanized myself, as well as other people, to think about what’s going on right now.
“It’s our job to go to the polls and vote if we want change, especially if we don’t see people like us being represented. I just encourage people to think—my mother used to say, ‘Junior, there’s no gray area between right and wrong’ and I think that’s what this election is going to come down to. It’s not a referendum on Trump’s policies or anything like that, it’s just going to come down to what’s right and wrong, and how do we want our kids to see life. We’ve lived it, we know what we are in life, but our kids,” Booker explained, “it’s so important for my son and daughter to understand what respect is really all about. With that word ‘respect’, I always say you’ve got to be able to give it to get it no matter who you are, and I just want my kids, and the kids around the world, to know that.”
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Be Woke.Vote is a nonpartisan initiative co-founded by Director Deon Taylor and Producer Roxanne Avent Taylor, and they will be partnering with Booker T’s Reality Of Wrestling promotion for their upcoming show titled “Swing Vote” on Saturday, October 10.
The event takes place at the Booker T. World Gym Arena (10000 Emmett F. Lowry #1152, Texas City, TX) with a bell time of 8:00 pm and the event is free, limited to the first 500 cars in attendance. Fans will be able to park their cars around the ring and they can listen to the commentary by Booker T & Brad Gilmore from their cars, portable radios, and or smartphones via FM transmitter.
Related: Booker T & Sharmell Partnering With Voter Engagement Group For Free Drive-In Live Event ‘Swing Vote’
