Saturday, August 9, 2014

Single. Black. Female. Why Muriel Bowser's Win Motivated Me to Run


(Published April 4, 2014)

Black, Female Politicians in Arkansas
Born and raised in rural Arkansas, the only Black female public official I ever knew was Mrs. Elaine Sullivan, a member of the local school board. Mrs. Sullivan played a major role in my and my sisters' academic and social success. To this day she fights for students and encourages them to work diligently in and outside of the classroom, on and off the courts and fields. 

Those who know me know I love politics. And since taking Civics with Mrs. Helen Payne, the woman who inspired me to become a teacher, I've always found the topic and field amazing. Think about it. What other occupation gives people the power to regulate taxes and clean streets; renovate schools and increase the minimum wage? Politics and the power of politicians amazes me. And although it makes me sad to see some of them abusing or under utilizing their power, voting in a democratic society - like I did Tuesday - reminds me that I have the power to make a difference by either voting, speaking out against wrong doing or - more importantly - running for office. By running for office, I put myself in the position to be a change agent. 


Reality Check at the University of Arkansas
When I enrolled at the University of Arkansas and began to study U.S. Government and Arkansas Politics, I began learning about what running for office actually looks like.  I had it all planned out. I would attend college, study politics, become a high school Government teacher and run for office in my home state of Arkansas. I would lead my community and make a difference. No one could stop me because I was determined and I had the skills, expertise and support to be successful. How could I lose?

Unfortunately, soon after starting my Arkansas Politics course, I realized my state didn't have a rich history of electing women or people of color to congress or state-wide positions. Arkansas had elected 2 women to the U.S. Senate and I interned for one - Senator Blanche L. Lincoln - whom voters voted out of office in 2010 even after she out raised her opponent by millions. Sadly, Arkansas is the only state in the Old South that has yet to elect an African-American to a state-wide or national office. I was disappointed and somewhat discouraged but that didn't ruin my dream of running for office. I thought to myself, I can be the first! Or at the very least, I can help someone else become the first. 


But when Democratic candidate State Senator Joyce Elliot, an African-American high school English teacher of 20+ years and staunch supporter of so many great initiatives loss to an opponent who couldn't dare compete with her lifelong list of service, I didn't know how to feel about my chances of running and winning in my home state. I had written about Elliot and other Black Arkansan legislators in my Arkansas Politics class (to the disapproval of my advisor who said I'd never find enough data on Black State Legislators in Arkansas to write a full research paper). I wrote about her support of educational initiatives and about the significance of educators in political leadership positions. As one can imagine, I was hurt, confused and disappointed - again.        
                               

My New Journey in Washington, DC
Fast forward to today and I find myself living in Anacostia, the heart of Washington, DC in my opinion. Never ever have I felt more at home. I often attribute this to the fact that Anacostia is located in Ward 8 and 8 is my favorite number. It was my softball number as a young girl. My birthday's on the 8th and my sorority number is 8. Go figure. Anacostia is the type of place I always wanted to live in growing up but didn't know what it actually looked like or felt like in reality.  I moved to the area to teach high school government and history and ended up working in politics - big surprise. The past few years here have been nothing short of amazing. 
                             
                             


I love the work I do but always find myself thinking about if, when and how I'll ever become an elected official. I know I want to do great things for people and change the world somehow - but how? Can I win an election in DC if I'm not from here? I imagine myself knocking doors for support and people asking me where I'm from because of my strong, southern accent. Will they take me seriously? I then remember that Marion Barry is from Itta Bena, Mississippi and figure I'll be fine. I'm passionate about Ward 8 and voters will sense that I tell myself. But I'm not married. I don't have a husband or children. I can't even find a date here in DC - the worst city to find a spouse according to literally every poll out there. Thus, I often feel I'm not where I 'need' to be to run for office. I don't have it all together is what I thought until Tuesday happened. 


Gray vs. Bowser 2014
On Tuesday, the Democratic primary occurred in our nation's capital. The top two contenders were incumbent Ward 7 resident Vincent Gray and Ward 4 Councilwoman Muriel Bowser. 

On one hand, I remember when Gray visited Anacostia prior to even announcing his intention to run for Mayor. He was the Chair of the City Council at that time and was actually visiting a classroom at Anacostia! We couldn't beg a member of the council to visit our school during that time but there he was - entourage free - visiting the "worst" school in the city. He toured the school, every inch, promising to push the button on the remodeling efforts. My respect level skyrocketed in that very moment. And when the school began remodeling at the end of that year, I couldn't help but think that government could actually work when the people at the table cared to actually work.  

And then there was Councilwoman Muriel Bowser. She was the youngest candidate in the race. She was African-American and she was a SHE. One of my Team Bowser friends - and there were lots of them - told me I should vote for her simply because she was a Black woman. After schooling him on why that would never be my reason for voting for her, he actually understood and agreed with my logic. I did, however, explain to him that if I did choose to support her it would be because she was single, never married, without children and unafraid of anything that came her way. It would be because she faced adversity, injustice and inequities sternly but with a smile. She didn't allow people's comments, judgments or negativity toward her alter the way she ran her Ward or campaign. She didn't allow her past connection with Fenty effect the way she moved forward with her race and goals for the city. As a campaigner myself, I admitted that she ran a tight, professional ship. She had a campaign office on MLK and she literally didn't take any vote in Southeast for granted. "All 8 Wards" actually worked - it actually worked. She was what my twin sister, Trina, would call A Beast (no worries, it's a compliment). 


It's Possible and It's Time
So when Councilwoman Bowser became the Democratic nominee on Tuesday, I realized "IT" was possible. One can be a woman, African-American AND single (never married and without children) and still have a shot at becoming the leader of a major US city. Pretty interesting and inspiring. I recall one of my Team Bowser friends saying to me, "Why isn't it okay for a woman to deem herself a servant of her city. It is not okay to want to dedicate your life to serving others?" I replied, "You're right. There's nothing wrong with wanting to serve especially if it's your calling." I must admit, I'm seriously considering running for ANC now. I'm inspired and excited because despite the outcome, I can finally say I've taken on my life-long dream of running for office. "I can run. I can lead. I can make a difference." 


Monday, June 30, 2014

Political Power Couples Emerge after Maryland's Primary Election

On June 24th, history was made in the state of Maryland. The state's current Lt. Governor, Anthony G. Brown, named the Democratic nominee for Governor. If elected in November, Brown will be the state's first African-American Governor and the 3rd African-American to be elected Governor in the United States of America. 

A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Brown is also a member of the Army and served as a state representative before becoming the Lt. Governor. Brown is married to Karmen Walker Brown, a government relations liaison at Comcast. The couple has three children. 



In another highly contested Baltimore City primary race, Marilyn Mosby defeated her former boss Gregg Bernstein as she became the Democratic nominee for Baltimore City State's Attorney. Mosby is the wife of Baltimore City Councilman Nick Mosby (7th District). They have two young daughters. In spite of raising less money, Mosby won the race with a very strategic, hard working grassroots campaign. 

A native of Dover, Massachusetts, Marilyn Mosby is a first-generation college student and attended Tuskegee University at in Alabama as a Presidential Scholar. Mosby graduated with honors with a degree in Political Science. It was at Tuskegee that she met her future husband Nick Mosby. Marilyn went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from Boston College Law School. 



November will definitely be an exciting month for the Browns and Mosbys.  

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Who's Winning? Kevin Durant's 2014 NBA MVP Speech

Fresh off a close win yesterday evening, Kevin Durant is one step closer to possibly winning a National Basketball Association title. While many in the basketball world may not deem the Oklahoma City Thunder a title worthy team - just yet - I think they have what it takes to present Oklahoma City with its first ever national title. 

Since team Captain Kevin Durant was named the NBA's MVP - and consequently giving the most emotional and heart-warming speeches in the history of American sports - the Thunder have been nearly unstoppable. Not only are they giving 100% all 48 minutes of each and every game, they're playing together - as one - and it's showing. 

On May 6th, Durant became the 2014 NBA MVP. Among league and team leadership, staff, family, friends and his teammates, Durant shared his story of growing up in Maryland's infamous Prince George's County, the financial struggles of his mother Wanda Pratt and the circle of mentors and motivators who helped him reach the very stage he stood on that day. Durant spoke candidly about his faults and recognized all of his teammates and their individual and collective roles in his success as a player on and off the court. 


Durant has always been very open about his relationship with his Mom and the fact that she is his rock and the sole reason he kept pushing, fighting and was able to stay focused on his dream. In celebration of Mother's Day, the NBA created a thirty second commercial featuring Duran'ts mother Wanda and a few lines of Durant's speech. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. 


For anyone familiar with the world that is professional basketball, you know Kevin Durant, his skills and his ability to take a mediocre team and mold it into a dominant force within the league. Unlike other teams in the league who have built their dominance off trading a group of All-Stars to one team, OKC is made up of players who work diligently to make it work by any means necessary. 


Monday, March 3, 2014

Women's History Month Spotlight: Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm

In honor of Women's History Month, I wanted to write a piece about a woman who made history when - in 1968 - became the first African-American woman elected to the United State Congress.  Below is a biographical sketch of Congresswoman Chisholm, her work and her accomplishments. Enjoy!

Born Shirley Anita St. Hill, Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York to immigrant parents. She is an alumna of Girls' High School, earned her BA from Brooklyn College in 1946 and earned her MA from the Teachers College at Columbia University in Elementary Education in 1952. 

In 1964, Chisholm ran for and was elected to the New York State Legislature. In 1968, she ran as the Democratic candidate for New York's 12th District congressional seat, and was elected to the House of Representatives. 

In the 1972 U.S. presidential election, she made a bid for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. She survived three assassination attempts during the campaign. She campaigned in 12 states and won the Louisiana, Mississippi and New Jersey primaries earning 152 delegates. 

Chishom's base of support was ethnically diverse and included the National Organization for Women. Chisholm said she ran for the office "in spite of hopeless odds...to demonstrate the sheer will and refusal to accept the status quo."

Among volunteers who were inspired by her campaign was Barbara Lee, who continued to be politically active and was elected as a congresswoman 25 years later. 

From 1977 to 1981, during the 95th and 96th Congress, Chisholm was elected to a position in the House Democratic leadership, as Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus. 

Throughout her tenure in Congress, Chisholm worked to improve opportunities for inner-city residents. She was a vocal opponent of the draft and supported spending increases for education, health care and other social services and reductions in military spending. 

Chisholm's honors and awards include receiving an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Smith College in 1975, being inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993 and having a Forever Stamp issued in her name this year. To learn more about Shriley Chisholm, her story and her journey, purchase a copy of her book Unbought and Unbossed today. You can also view a trailer to the corresponding film below.

Monday, February 17, 2014

20 Women to Watch in 2014

Mid-term election year is here! Super excited to see what the year has in store for many of the candidates running for office all over the country. Jennifer Armstrong, co-founder of sexyfeminist.com, published an article today that I just adore: 20 Women to Watch in Politics in 2014. There were a few women on the list that I expected to see - a few women I've actually recently written about. However, there were a few individuals on the list that I wasn't too familiar with and am now interested in learning more about. 

Below is a list of the 20 Women included in the article, three of whom I'm looking forward to learning more about.  
  1. Hillary Clinton 
  2. Wendy Davis
  3. Leticia Van de Putte
  4. Mary Burke
  5. Amanda Renteria
  6. Allyson Schwartz
  7. Susana Martinez
  8. Elizabeth Warren
  9. Nina Pillard
  10. Alison Lundergan Grimes
  11. Kirsten Gillibrand
  12. Natalie Tennant
  13. Shelley Moore Capito 
  14. Terri Lynn Land
  15. Heather Mizeur
  16. Martha Coakley
  17. Kamala Harris
  18. Mia Love
  19. Michelle Nunn
  20. Gina Raimondo 


Leticia Van de Putte, Candidate for Lt. Governor of Texas. 
Although Wendy Davis' filibuster was an extremely hot topic in Texas, Van de Putte, you'll recall, is the one who showed up to the filibuster from her father's funeral and asked, "At what point must a female senator raise her hand or her voice to be recognized over her male colleagues? Van de Putte - alongside Davis - offer a strong chance that two women will lead a majority party's ticket for the first time in the state's history. And even though as Democrats, they still face an uphill battle in the conservative stronghold, their presence in the election guarantees all candidates will be paying more attention to female voters. 



Susana Martinez, Governor of New Mexico
A Republican, Martinez is the state's first female governor and the first Hispanic woman to run the state - and this year, she was named one of Time's most influential people in the world. She pushed for tough education reforms and budget cutbacks, including selling the state's luxury jet for $2.5 million. She's also earned one of the highest approval ratings in the country, never dropping below 60 percent, and she's been mentioned as a possible running mate for Chris Christie in 2016. 




Kamala Harris, California's Attorney General
When Harris was elected Attorney General in 2010, she became the first African-American and first Indian-American to hold the office in the state. In the position, she's cracked down on hate crimes and negotiated a huge deal with mortgage lenders to help end the foreclosure crisis, and she's running for reelection in 2014. She is becoming increasingly known as a front-runner to succeed California Governor Jerry Brown in 2018. 



Monday, January 13, 2014

Showdown in Hawaii: Can Hanabusa Bring Home the W in November?

Anyone who knows the story of how America acquired Hawaii knows that that there is still a division there between the natives and the newcomers persay. So it came as no surprise when the most well-known and powerful Hawaiian politician in history, Senator Daniel K. Inouye, passed away in December 2012 but not before asking Governor Neil Abercrombie to give his seat to Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa.

The late Senator Inouye with Congresswoman Hanabusa


What did come as a surprise was Abercrombie's decision to give the seat to then Lt. Governor Brian Schatz. Now, in 2014, the seat is open and guess who's running? Hanabusa and Schatz. The race is definitely going to be one to watch. It will be one of the most interesting races not just because of the story behind it but also because of the history of the islands and the dynamic of the changing party demographics. 


Senator Brian Schatz (left) Governor Neil Abercrombie (Right)

And although Schatz has out raised Hanabusa thus far (with a little help from the party), Hanabusa has the support of the infamous and extremely profitable Emily's List and is favored is in the state. This is definitely a race to watch. Visit here to learn more!