Jenifer Lewis, (Photo by Chris Haston/WBTV via Getty Images). David Banner, (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage). Marsai Martin, (Photo by Brianna Bryson/FilmMagic)
If you’re tired of politicians and skeptical that your vote counts, you’re not alone. But with so much at stake, this election cycle is one we can’t afford to sit out. With only days left until the 2026 midterm elections, many Black celebrities are sounding the alarm and urging their fans to get out and make their voices heard.
From Jayda Cheaves’ personal reckoning with the ballot box to Rihanna’s thoughts on non-voters, the message is sparking a bigger conversation about power, accountability and who pays the price when we disengage.
Jayda Cheaves Votes for the First Time in Years
Influencer Jayda Cheaves is keeping it real about political disillusionment and why she decided to vote after missing out on recent elections. “I made it my business this year to vote,” she said in an Instagram story, explaining that her grandmother’s warning and her own research pushed her to act. Cheaves said she didn’t vote in the 2024 election because “There’s no way they’re letting a Black woman [former Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris] be president, so why would I waste my time?”
Now, her message has changed. “You need to vote,” she stressed. ”It’s important.”
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Monaleo Endorses James Talarico
When it comes to young entertainers leading the charge for political engagement, Houston rapper Monaleo is at the top of the list. She recently took her voting message directly to students at Texas Southern University, joining Texas Senate candidate James Talarico’s campaign stop. “After we vote, we need to tell everybody else to get up and go vote,” she urged, calling on Gen Z to turn social media influence into real-world turnout.
John Legend Returns Home to Ohio
Grammy-winning singer and Ohio native John Legend’s civic influence is rooted in years of political engagement and public advocacy. He joined Democratic candidates Sherrod Brown and Dr. Amy Acton at a rally on October 26. His appearance brought star power to a high-stakes campaign focused on affordability and public services.
“In eight days, the nation will be watching Ohio. And when the nation sees us this time, it won’t be about some poisonous slander hurled into the headlines,” Legend said.
Marsai Martin Encourages Gen-Z to Stand Up
We previously told you that actor and producer Marsai Martin is part of a generation of young Black creatives who have been using their voices to reach first-time voters.
“My first vote taught me something I didn’t expect: participating is contagious,” she wrote in Teen Vogue. “When one person makes it feel normal and important, the people around them are more likely to get involved too.”
Kendrick Sampson Challenges Celebrity Politics
Actor and organizer Kendrick Sampson joined Houston’s “The Power of Showing Up” forum, where community members examined what voting must accomplish beyond Election Day. He challenged celebrity politics without community accountability, stressing mutual care and sustained organizing. For him, voting matters, but the work cannot stop at the ballot box. He told the audience that Black people in positions of power don’t always act in the community’s best interest.
“We can’t expect Black faces in high places,” Sampson said, according to The Defender. “Usually, Black faces in high places got to that high place because they compromised to get close to white people.”
Jenifer Lewis Uses Music to Reach Voters
Actress Jenifer Lewis is using music, humor and sisterhood to cut through election fatigue. In a recent video with prominent Black women, she leads a blunt refrain: “Get your ass out and vote.” The “Women Like Us” campaign points people to Vote.org, making a nonpartisan push for participation, rather than a candidate endorsement.
Piles Warns About a Plan to Disengage Black Voters
When it comes to voting, rapper Piles is questioning how and why Black Americans have been persuaded that voting does not matter. On social media, he’s stressing the important history of Black Americans voting while also reflecting on Barack Obama and Kamala Harris’s historic candidacies.
He said enthusiasm among Black voters can affect elections. “I’ll NEVER Allow This Country To EVER Fool Me Again,” he tweeted. “I Don’t Fight B/c I Believe In What America Is Selling. I Fight B/c They Hope I GIVE UP!!!”
Tasha Smith Stresses Civic Engagement
Actor and director Tasha Smith joined Jenifer Lewis and other Black women in a musical appeal urging Americans to vote in the midterms. The campaign’s direct, memorable message is designed to reach people tired of political noise. Her participation adds a recognizable entertainment voice to a collective, nonpartisan call for civic engagement.
Gail Bean and the Get Out the Vote Campaign
Actor Gail Bean was also among the Black women who joined Jenifer Lewis’s musical get-out-the-vote appeal. The group’s refrain, “This ain’t the election to sit home and lurk,” turns voter participation into a shared responsibility. Bean’s involvement helps carry that message through entertainment culture.
Danielle Pinnock Joins Black Women for Voting Rights
NAACP Image Award winner and actress also lent her voice to Jenifer Lewis’s collective midterm voting appeal. The campaign uses humor, music and recognizable Black women to challenge voter apathy, while directing audiences to Vote.org for practical information. Her participation reminds us that civic engagement should be a community effort, not a solo act.
David Banner Wants Politicians to Tell the Truth
Rapper and activist David Banner told the audience at Houston’s “The Power of Showing Up” forum that voting must be matched by accountability. “Although we do need to vote,” he said, candidates must be willing to explain what they will do for Black communities.
“The problem is most people who are running are too afraid to tell you what they’re going to do for your community,” he said. “They tell every other subsection in America exactly what they’re going to do.”
Rihanna Calls Out Non-Voters
Rihanna is calling out voter apathy after weighing in on a viral discussion about Trump’s 2024 reelection.
“And believe it or not, those who didn’t vote at all also did this!” she wrote on Instagram, arguing that non-voters also share responsibility for the outcome of the last presidential election. The Barbadian superstar continues using her platform to spark conversations about civic participation.
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