Mandy Carter: Scientist of Activism

ELECTORAL POLITICS or VOTER MOBILIZATION

“Come Out Voting" Poster, Durham, NC (front)

“Come Out Voting" Poster, Durham, NC (back)

During the 1990 general election, Carter mobilized Black and LGBTQ voters across the state of North Carolina to vote incumbent U.S. Senator Jesse Helms out of office. Thus, she supported Harvey Gantt, Charlotte’s first Black mayor, as Helms’ Democratic opponent. Carter’s experience working on Senate Vote 90, as the campaign was called, inspired her to establish North Carolina Mobilization ‘96. Carter continued working in electoral politics, serving on the Democratic National Committee and co-chairing the LGBTQ Pride Committee for Obama’s presidential campaign.

Harvey Gantt and Mandy Carter at NCCARV Award Ceremony, North Carolina: Nov. 30, 1991.

Harvey Gantt, pictured here with Mandy Carter, was the first person to integrate Clemson University as well as the first Black mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. After serving as mayor 1983-1987, he ran for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat in 1990 against Jesse Helms. Gantt lost to Helms after a close race. He ran again in 1996, but lost to Helms for a second time. Carter’s efforts to mobilize votes made both elections close.

President Obama and Mandy Carter, 2011, North Carolina. Photograph by Peter Joseph Souza.

Carter continued working in electoral politics, serving on the Democratic National Committee and co-chairing the LGBTQ Pride Committee for Obama’s presidential campaign.

Photograph by Jenny Warburg of Mandy Carter with a drawing of Helms and purple shirt

Photograph of Mandy with a drawing of Helms in purple shirt, Durham, NC.

“Activists Meet to Plan Helms Defeat,” The Front Page

Newspaper Article, “Activists Meet to Plan Helms Defeat,” Raleigh, NC: Jan 23- Feb 9, 1990, The Front Page (Raleigh, N.C.).

Senate Vote 90 One Pager, Chapel Hill, NC: June 1990.

Postcard “Is Jesse Helms Enemy Number Two,” Washington, D.C.

Pink Memo Pad “You’re Fired, Jesse Helms,” Columbia, SC: 1996.

In the fall of 1989, Carter gathered with other LGBTQ activists to discuss what was then called “N.C. Project 1990,” a project to defeat Helms in the 1990 North Carolina Senate race. Over time, it would evolve into Senate Vote ‘90 and compel people to combat Helms and build bridges between the various marginalized groups who opposed him.

Carter used innovative methods of explaining to voters why Jesse Helms should be defeated. She devised a “pink slip” handout as a mock termination notice to Helms and a reminder to vote for Harvey Gantt during the 1996 election. Carter also worked with national organizations to create cards for LGBTQ people, encouraging them to vote against Helms due to his homophobic rhetoric. Noting that AIDS was public enemy number one of the LGBTQ community, Carter labeled Helms a close number two.

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