The students of Skyline College were gifted with a visit from Cleo Scott Brown, daughter of civil rights activist John H. Scott. Brown came to the school to speak about her book, “Witness To The Truth: John H. Scott’s Struggle for Human Rights in Louisiana.” The book details her father’s struggle to gain African Americans the right to vote in the United States.

Set in the Gallery Theatre of Skyline College, Scott was surrounded by the interactive exhibit, “What Do You Mean You Don’t Vote?” This exhibit was an attempt to inform and encourage student voters at Skyline-it was appropriate for Scott’s message.

Scott’s main purpose in coming to Skyline was to rally the youth to vote in the presidential election. Her father’s work to teach young people about voting and get them to the polls was pivotal in the history of this country.

“First of all, people still wouldn’t be voting, probably,” Brown said, revealing her thoughts on what may have been without John H. Scott’s activism.

“His work at teaching young people to become involved in the political process has had a big impact because those students are now in their 40s and 50s and 60s… they’ve been greatly involved in their neighborhoods and their communities, and they really don’t feel weak. They feel like they have power because they saw what was going on as children.”

Now, Brown carries on in her father’s footsteps, striving to keep the students of America involved and helping them understand the importance of their vote.

“[My father] inspired me to fight for what was right… to have extreme confidence in any situation… to be comfortable with people… with homeless people on the corner all the way to the president of the United States,” Brown said. “He taught me to never think little. I always think that anything is possible. He taught me to think big.”

Brown has strong views about democracy and the state of today’s American government.

“We’re in a very, very bad place. I am actually fearful that democracy is on its way out,” Brown said, adding that when politicians can’t communicate, when they act like they hate each other, the nation suffers.

Brown is continuing her father’s legacy of bringing understanding to students everywhere while, in turn, convincing students to go to the polls.

“My vote does count, Skyline student ‘Emalu’isa Katoa said. “Now I want to vote even more. She’s an inspiration.”