Once again, Black women have proven to be this nation’s enduring political heroes. They have organized and voted to save American democracy, and many argue, drove the slim margin by which Democrats succeeded. Following the 2020 elections that handed multiple wins to Democrats across America, Black women are finally being recognized for their incredible political and social contributions. Stacey Abrams, for example, will be remembered as one of the most politically influential figures of our generation; Vice President Kamala Harris has become the face of the Democratic party’s future; and Black women activists and organizers are being credited for flipping the notoriously red state, Georgia, twice in the same year. However, the outpouring of thanks and gratitude to Black women falls short of the real justice that they deserve. Black women give back to a political party that fails them time and time again with a lack of comprehensive legislative action towards erasing economic racial inequalities, bridging wealth disparities, ending police brutality, updating the Equal Rights Amendment, and the list goes on. The Democratic Party owes a huge debt of racial and gender equality policy and legislation to the Black women that are giving them their platform. The reliance on Black activists is crossing into perilous territories. Black women are being idolized and used as a seemingly inexhaustible resource to save American democracy against oppression – oppression that affects them the most. While the celebration of their efforts may seem innocent at first, the lack of a deeper understanding of the enormity of their tireless political contributions to the racial equity in the United States will sadly repeat yet another chapter in America’s history of political ignorance towards Black women. The current political characterization of Black women faithfully doing the work of reforming a country that is still oppressive both in theory and in reality is a sad truth of America’s political failings. With menial compensation as a trivial punchline rather than a moral imperative, it is merely the most recent incarnation of this painful construct.
3 | COLLEGIETTE
Grace Nowak
The Most Politically Influential Woman in Our Generation It is important not to rely upon Black activists to save American democracy. However, when they do remarkable work, it is essential to acknowledge their extraordinary contribution and give credit where credit is due. Obviously, Stacey Abrams, a personal icon and hero of mine, who has worked tirelessly to ensure voter rights and protections are being met in her home state of Georgia. While most know her as a voting rights activist, Abrams is also a lawyer and author who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017 and as minority leader from 2011 to 2017. In addition to her already impressive background, Abrams founded Fair Fight Action, an organization to address voter suppression and her efforts have been widely credited with boosting voter turnout in Georgia. Stacey Abrams was the Democratic nominee in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, becoming the first AfricanAmerican female major-party gubernatorial nominee in the United States. Losing by a small margin to Brian Kemp in 2018, this election was surrounded by accusations that Gov. Kemp engaged in voter suppression as the then Georgia Secretary of State. Due to his alleged suppressive means of ensuring primarily Black counties in Georgia did not receive voting machines on time, had understaffed polling locations, etc., Ms. Abrams has continued her charge to end voter suppression, furthering her extraordinary dedication. After her loss in Georgia, members of the Democratic party called upon Ms. Abrams to run for the open Senate seat in Georgia in 2020, but Ms. Abrams had an even more formidable idea in mind. Her work in political activism, voter registration, and southern mobilization led to two Democrats being elected in a heavily red state and thus handing the Senate majority to Democrats and painting a blue Georgia on the election map.
