“As a son of two immigrants… it’s like presidents have changed and nothing has changed for us.”

Thaduba Taylorkamara is a 22-year old, first-generation immigrant who intends on voting this 2024 election, but is hesitant in choosing who to vote for. Conflictions with race, presidential campaigns and societal expectations have led Taylorkamara to feel the pressure to vote. Yet, he has found himself reluctant to choose either candidate. Although he still intends to vote, Taylorkamara explains his thought process behind “choosing the lesser evil.”

Jen Gregorich: What makes you hesitant to vote?

Thaduba Taylorkamara: I feel like there’s a lot of pressure and I’m just not excited to do that.

Jen Gregorich: How do you feel there’s pressure?

Thaduba Taylorkamara: I would say that there’s like two forces being advertised to the whole nation and it’s kind of like, whatever force we decide to pick is going to impact us in such a great way that it’s going to, like, change the course of the country. And none of them seem to fit, what I would see, as a great country.

Jen Gregorich: What would be the solution to that?

Thaduba Taylorkamara: I feel like if it was a little more, I don’t know how to say, ‘laxed and inclusive. Or yeah, ‘laxed and inclusive. Maybe inclusive of just the generation that is living in it now. Rather than 60-year-old people or 80-year-old people.

Jen Gregorich: As far as inclusive goes, is there anything else [besides age]? Race? Gender?

Thaduba Taylorkamara: I feel like that’s another thing that makes me feel a little bit more pressure. It’s almost like depending on who you select, you almost pick a race with who you select at this point. It’s kind of scary that we are able to go at each other’s throats because of someone who represents the way that we “look” at another person.

Jen Gregorich: Where did you draw that conclusion?

Thaduba Taylorkamara: I’d love to say propaganda, but it’s just the media. It’s just my phone. It’s the billboards. It’s campaign ads, it’s going to happen every time.

Jen Gregorich: Do you know who you’re going to vote for then?

Thaduba Taylorkamara: I think, to weasel my way out, I’d have to take the lesser of evils. Which would be Kamala Harris.

Jen Gregorich: That’s an interesting way to put that. Can you explain why you would word it that way?

Thaduba Taylorkamara: As a son of two immigrants… when I look at them, it’s like presidents have changed and nothing has changed for us at all. Who is going to be superman? Why are we supposed to be enthralled with these people? Now I’m here as a first-generation immigrant, like, okay I see what’s changing and what impacts from certain people. But also, nothing really changes for me either and I kind of have somewhere to go. The closest thing they’ve done to help my family is bring them here.

Jen Gregorich: What change would you want to see from a president?

Thaduba Taylorkamara: I don’t know what changes it would need to take. You’re working so hard and you’re having such problems, and you go outside and you’re going to get a lot of problems. From police, you’re late on bills, you’re worried about that stuff. You can’t even worry about a bigger picture.

Jen Gregorich: What would it take for you to feel confident in your vote? Is it the candidates? Is it the need to do more research? What would make you feel more secure in a vote?

Thaduba Taylorkamara: The candidates’ transparency. I would like it if we had candidates who wanted to introduce plans that weren’t hooked on the way people look or their race. I feel like a lot of plans are hooked on people. It’s like ‘you’re this! I’m going to do this for you because you’re this! because you’re black.’

Jen Gregorich: Do you think your race affects the way you will vote? What role does it play, if any?

Thaduba Taylorkamara: I guess it does, because I want my people to progress. The way I can help that is to vote. That’s what I’ve been told. If I vote that means we’re one step closer. So, I guess I have to play that part.