Black women in politics opened many new doors, ran in many areas across the country, who won and helped others win. We’ve come a long way since Rep. Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to Congress.
Underdog gun control advocate Lucy McBath won a Georgia House Seat against GOP incumbent Karen Handel. Handel beat Democrat Jon Ossoff in last year’s special election. On Wednesday, November 8 midday, McBath declared victory in the very tight race. Handel did not concede until Thursday morning.
This past week, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris delivered remarks at Spelman College, America’s oldest private, historically Black liberal arts college for women, as part of the school’s annual Homecoming weekend. Speaking to students from Spelman College and the Atlanta University Center, Harris emphasized the urgency of the current political moment, highlighted the importance of young women of color taking on leadership roles, and drew from her own experiences to suggest how young women can remain undaunted by the challenges ahead.