Upon entering, guests were met with the quiet hum of conversations and the steady glow of MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on a large screen, where election updates scrolled continuously across the ticker. Groups sat at high-top tables beneath the phrase "Don't Watch Me… Watch Me," projected on the wall above the stage — a reminder of the importance of civic participation. The crowd, primarily from the Black community, conveyed a sense of shared purpose as they leaned in to discuss the unfolding events.
At one end of the room, DJ Super Dre spun oldies but goodies" like Curtis Mayfield's Diamond in the Back, with the lyrics "You may not have a car at all, but remember brothers and sisters, you can still stand tall" filling the room. On the mic, Super Dre tells the crowd, "Shout out to all my beautiful Black people here tonight. We in here, we about to see what happens. This is the kind of music I'm feeling tonight."
As the night progressed, however, reports began surfacing that Florida voters had rejected both Amendment 3, which would have expanded the legal use of marijuana beyond medical purposes, and Amendment 4, which sought to extend abortion access past six weeks. For supporters of these amendments, the results marked a setback, with abortion opponents like Gov. Ron DeSantis celebrating a victory.
Just Vote Period T-shirts with QR codes beside them, promoting civic engagement
Photo by Zulekha Pitts
Gilbert noted that while most Floridians seemed to support both causes, the state's 60-percent threshold for constitutional amendments presented a challenge.
"As it stands, the majority of voters in Florida believe that a woman should have reproductive rights to her body, but not 60 percent. A majority of voters in Florida believe that adult use of marijuana should be legal, not illegal, but not 60 percent. Our job is just to do better. Communicate better," he said. "I trust everybody to understand that these are the obligations of using marijuana, these are the detriments, and you can make a decision the same you do for alcohol."
Papa Keith took a more critical view, expressing disappointment with voter turnout.
"I'm more disappointed with the people," he said. "I love my people, and I talk to my people every day on the radio, but I believe that a lot of people who could've swayed a lot of the votes didn't show up or show out, and these are things that they can benefit from."
When asked if the issue stemmed from apathy within the community, Papa Keith quickly defended his listeners.
"It's not their fault," he said. "Billions of dollars and many years have been put into people feeling the way they did or feeling the way they do. It's not going to happen overnight. It's not going to happen tomorrow. We just have to understand it better, and we have to open up ourselves to wanting the change that we seek."
Both men maintained a sense of optimism for the future, though. When asked about the potential for passing Amendments 3 and 4 down the line, they were hopeful. "Yes," Gilbert answered simply, with Papa Keith echoing, "Absolutely."
Turning to the future of Gov. DeSantis, Papa Keith dismissed it with a laugh, saying, "What future?" while Gilbert acknowledged the governor's strategic advantage within the state's 60-percent rule. "He's done a good job of taking advantage of the process," Gilbert added. "We knew what it was. Now we know what we have to do."
As the evening continued, McDowell moved through the crowd, gathering reactions to the election results and Amendments 3 and 4 outcomes. The discussion grew more intense, with many expressing concerns about the disconnect within the community and the barriers to unity and action.
City of Miami Gardens Vice Mayor Katrina Wilson spoke passionately about the need for earlier conversations and a stronger collective effort. "We didn't have conversations earlier than this, so we could've gotten on one accord as a community to talk about the things that were concerning us," she said.
Reflecting on her own concerns heading into the election, she added, "When I went into this election, I was asking myself, 'Who are the Black men that are voting for Trump? And why?' But we were not as a community having conversations that will allow us to really get on one accord."
Shareef Nash, founder of PS Social, addresses the crowd at the Just Vote Period watch party.
Photo by Zulekha Pitts
"If you have your own conversation, here's the mic. So, who has something to say about what's taking place right now?"
Local activist and entertainer Diego Brazil quickly stepped up to speak. "I'm not Rihanna. I don't have a billion dollars. This is a problem for me," he began, addressing the financial and social obstacles he felt were particularly pressing for Black men.
"When you get pulled over, you get your ass beat and dragged, you can't afford to hire a law firm like I couldn't and ended up being a convicted felon because I didn't understand the laws," he shared, recounting his own struggles with the justice system. "So at 52, this is troublesome because I thought at 52 I would be at peace and live the remainder of my life peacefully. I can't even afford a house! So, to me, this is problematic."
Brazil didn't hold back in his critique of community priorities, challenging attendees to shift their focus toward political awareness. "Black people know all the lyrics to all the rap songs, but they can't even tell you what the senators are. They can't even tell you what the amendments are. They got half of the ballot empty. Wake up!"
He pressed the crowd to examine their motivations and decisions. "You're voting wrong because you don't want a woman to win?" he asked, urging them to confront internalized biases. "You got to dig deep down in yourself and figure out what's wrong with you. And while you trying to figure it out, you ruining my life in the process."
By the next morning, it was announced that former president Donald Trump had won the 2024 presidential election, defeating Harris. For many who had gathered at the Just Vote Period watch party, the outcome reinforced a somber reality — that the road to change remains steep and filled with obstacles.
Yet, the event highlighted more than just the results. It underscored a call to action within Miami's Black community to unify, communicate, and stay engaged in the democratic process.
