March 11th 2024.
Since 1968, Black women have been making significant moves in the political sphere, with the first Black woman, Shirley Chisholm, being elected to Congress. And over the years, many more have followed in her footsteps, making waves and creating change in their own unique ways. Among these powerful women are Jasmine Crockett, Cori Bush, and Ayanna Pressley, who have been using their positions to make a difference and speak up for what they believe in.
Jasmine Crockett, a freshman congresswoman from Dallas, has been utilizing social media to control her own narrative and make an impact. Her online reach is even bigger than most Texas Democrats, and her outspoken nature has led to some viral moments. One of her clips, where she called out Donald Trump for keeping classified documents in the bathroom, gained millions of views on platforms like Reddit and TikTok. Her unique approach, combining her legal training with a Texan charm, has caught the attention of many, including her colleague Rep. Jamie Raskin.
Cori Bush, another Black woman in Congress, has also been vocal about her beliefs and has gained praise for her work as a Black Lives Matter activist. She has been part of the "Squad," a group of progressive Congress members, and has been pushing for more decisive action on issues like Palestine. She even invited a Palestinian dentist, Intimaa Salama, as her guest to the State of the Union Address, highlighting the ongoing conflict and its impact on families like Salama's.
Ayanna Pressley, the first Black woman to represent Massachusetts in Congress, also made history in 2018. Her grassroots outreach and ability to energize non-traditional voters played a significant role in her win. She has been using her platform to address issues like racial and gender justice, inviting a teacher to the State of the Union to shed light on the student debt crisis. She has also been vocal about the impact of corporations, like Walgreens, on predominantly Black and Brown communities, calling out their discriminatory actions.
These Black women in Congress are not afraid to speak their minds and fight for what they believe in, making them powerful and inspiring leaders. They continue to pave the way for future generations and have proven that women, especially Black women, are a force to be reckoned with in the political arena.
Over the past 60 years, Black women have been making significant strides in the political world. It all began in 1968 when Shirley Chisholm broke barriers by becoming the first Black woman elected to Congress. Since then, many other trailblazing Black women have followed in her footsteps, making their own waves in the political arena.
One of these remarkable women is Jasmine Crockett, a freshman congresswoman from Dallas. Crockett has been using her social media platforms to make a real impact and control her own narrative. According to the Texas Tribune, Crockett's online reach is second only to Joaquin Castro, brother of former presidential candidate Julian Castro. Her outspoken nature has even led to a few viral moments, such as a clip of her calling out former President Donald Trump for allegedly storing classified documents in the bathroom of his Mar-a-Lago resort.
This off-the-cuff clip gained traction on social media, particularly on Reddit and TikTok, with one user's edited version racking up over 8 million views. Representative Jamie Raskin praised Crockett for using her legal training and Texan charm to make a unique impact on social media. She now holds the seat previously occupied by the late Eddie Bernice Johnson, a legend in Texas politics.
Crockett's fire on the Congressional floor is partly due to her stance that she is not looking to make a long-term career out of politics. This refreshing honesty is evident in her approach to speaking on the floor, and it has resonated with younger voters. As 21-year-old Texan and political activist Olivia Julianna puts it, "That's why people respect her so much, because she says what a lot of people are thinking, but they don't have the platform to say it."
Another Black woman who is unafraid to speak her mind is Representative Cori Bush, who gained recognition as a Black Lives Matter activist before being elected to represent St. Louis's first district in 2021. Bush's idealism sets her apart from others, as she is not afraid to stand alone in her beliefs, even without backup. As part of the "Squad," which includes fellow Representatives Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Rashida Tlaib, Bush can rely on their support or offer her own in times of need.
Recently, Bush and the Squad have been pushing President Joe Biden to take more decisive action on Palestine. While the administration has promoted a rebranded "pause," Bush and others are calling for a permanent ceasefire. As a powerful statement, Bush invited Palestinian dentist Intimaa Salama, who has lost many family members in Israel's bombing of Palestine, as her guest to the State of the Union Address.
In 2018, Ayanna Pressley made history by becoming the first Black woman to represent Massachusetts in Congress. Her victory was not based on her policy platform, but rather her grassroots outreach in the state's only majority non-white district. As Northeastern political science professor Costas Panagopoulos explains, Pressley "energized the kinds of voters - minorities and young people - who don't typically vote in large numbers, and the outcome shows us they did."
Pressley also used her State of the Union guest invitation to bring attention to the racial and gender disparities in student debt by inviting Priscilla Valentine, a Boston public school teacher. Speaking to WBUR, Pressley highlighted that two-thirds of the $1.7 trillion student debt crisis falls on the shoulders of women, particularly Black and brown students. Additionally, Pressley called out Walgreens for closing a pharmacy in a predominantly Black and Brown neighborhood in Roxbury, stating that these closures are not arbitrary but rather "life-threatening acts of racial and economic discrimination."
In a statement to the House Speaker, she demanded answers from Walgreens' CEO, questioning the lack of community input, adequate notice to customers, and transition resources to prevent gaps in healthcare. Pressley passionately exclaimed, "Shame on you, Walgreens," for their actions. These inspiring Black women in politics, along with many others, continue to make their voices heard and demand change for a better future.
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