Below is a speech delivered by Queen Latifah at Essex County College. Click here to view news coverage of the event.
Good afternoon everyone.
Thank you for being here today and listening to all of our wonderful speakers. Today we are here to talk about something very important – something that touches the very essence of who we are. I won’t go into too much detail because I think a lot that needs to be said has already been covered. But let’s get started.
First, we always focus on what is happening. Whether you realize it or not, hip-hop has always been influenced by the biggest challenges we face. We talk all the time. Today, I wonder where some of these young rappers are and the voices calling for change. We had documented our struggles so that people couldn’t ignore them – there was always a message. I chose the name “Queen Latifah” for a reason. This is a statement that every woman should be treated like a queen and be respected and protected.
I want to say a few words to our black people. I love you all. I need you to hold us down, encourage us, protect us. We are not separate. Let no one come between us. But know this: I will be respected. We need to respect each other and stand strong together.
Thinking back on my journey, I think of my mother, who went to college here. She wanted to be an educator and she cared deeply about every student she taught. My mom knew their names, where they came from, and their stories—whether they were from here or from far away. This is America—a nation of immigrants, a nation founded by former slaves. We have a right to be here. We built this.
One of our greatest powers is our right to vote. This is not something that everyone in this world has. In some places you are told what to do, what to eat, where to live and who to love. But that’s not America — not in my home, and I hope not in yours. However, if we do not remain vigilant, if we do not exercise our right to vote, these freedoms may disappear. Some people want to tell us who we can love, who we can be, and what we can believe. I said, “I don’t think so.”
I know there are people who haven’t registered to vote. I understand that sometimes you may wonder, “Does my vote really matter?” But I’m telling you, if your vote didn’t matter, they wouldn’t be suppressing it so hard. They’re not trying to make it harder for you to vote. So, sign up, make sure you know your deadlines, and then show up.
For us in New Jersey, the registration deadline is October 15th. If you are not registered by then, you will not be able to vote in the upcoming election. It’s not about waiting until the last minute. This is your voice, your power – don’t let it be silenced.
When you register to vote, you’re not just advocating for yourself. You are standing up for children who need enlightenment and for the next generation who deserve a quality education. You are defending every right we hold dear. When did we get to the point where getting an education is a bad thing? When did understanding our own history become negative?
If we work together, we can accomplish a lot. We are human beings first and we must come together. If we work together, if we respect each other, if we value each other’s contributions, we have the power to create real change.
We’ve seen what the department looks like and I don’t want to go back to that. I don’t need anyone to tell me what to do and who to be. We don’t need dictators. We need unity, we need the power of community. The only way to ensure this is to vote.
So, I ask you to register to vote. Use your voice. This is your power. This is our strength. Let’s get out there, let’s register, let’s vote, let’s change the world. Thank you so much.
