Throughout history, there have been numerous black women who have paved their way in the political sphere. The field of politics is largely known to be dominated by white men, so it is incredibly important when a woman of colors holds, or even runs for, a political office. Diversity within politics is vital to America’s democratic setup. It is important that constituents have people who look like them and have had similar life experiences to hold office. The American government is for the people and by the people, so everyone needs to be represented. This Black History Month let’s take a look at just a few black women who have changed the world of politics.
Shirley Chisholm, daughter to two immigrant parents, was the first African American woman to hold a seat in Congress. She held this office in 1968, and in 1972, she sought presidential nomination from two political parties. Chisholm was a strong advocate for both women and minorities in America. She had earned her bachelor’s degree at Brooklyn College, and later a Masters in elementary education from Columbia University. When Chisholm joined Congress, she also helped to form the Congressional Black Congress, which was an organization that boycotted Nixon’s State of the Union address. Chisholm was a trailblazer for black women everywhere. She paved the way for minority women in politics, and she showed that it was possible to hold an office in Congress and run for President. Although she did not win the presidency, she made it possible for black women to take part in politics.
Condoleezza Rice was the first black woman to hold a variety of different posts. She was the first to serve as Provost at Stanford University, the first to be National Security Advisor, and the first to serve as Secretary of State. Rice created a “Roadmap to Peace” for the Israelis and Palestinians, she helped to shape nuclear diplomacy, and she created the Director of Foreign Assistance. She paved the way for black women in international relations, as well as national security.
Stacey Abrams is the first black woman to have held office in both state and national politics. She attended Spelman College, and it was there that her political journey began. She co-founded a group on campus called Students for African American Empowerment and participated in civil rights protests. After undergraduate schools, Abrams earned her master’s at Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and then began her career as an attorney. She was later elected to the Georgia House and was the first black woman to lead in the Georgia General Assembly. When Abrams ran for Governor in 2018, she lost the election. She is currently running for Georgia Governor again. Abrams is a staunch advocate for large voter turnout and is currently engaging in a battle against voter suppression.
These are just a few of the many amazing black women who have both held and ran for public office. There are so many out there that have done astounding things. There are so many more who are running for office as we speak. It is incredibly important that we have diversity within our government, and the first step to normalizing diversity in public offices is to recognize the women of color who have paved the way for others.