While observing the campaign trail for the US Presidency my primary question has been, As a Black Woman, where do I fit in all of this? Thinking about the larger picture, there are over 50,000 elected seats in the United States. 90% of those officials identify as white. 65% of those seats are held by men. As I’m glued to the prime time news just about every night now, I feel like those stats are manifesting in real time. I don’t see my concerns or my experiences on the screen. How can I assure that my voice is represented in the way that I want it to be?
When I received an email from a mentor to attend the ninth annual Women of Color Political Luncheon I was eager to attend. Thankfully, New Voices Pittsburgh provided scholarships for me and three other fellows and Coro Staff gave us permission to attend the event during a busy State Affairs Week.
On Friday March 11, 2016 Coro Fellows Keyva Clark, Fatema Juma, Annie Natarajan, and myself attended the Women of Color Political Luncheon at the Jeron X. Grayson Center. New Voices Pittsburgh hosted the event in celebration of Women of Color HERStory Month, to “Celebrate the Power, Legacy, and Achievement of Women of Color”. The theme was “Women of Color and the 2016 Presidential Election”
A panel was held to discuss economic, social, and political issues affecting Women of Color. Jessica L. Byrd, Principal of Three Point Strategies facilitated the panel. The panel participants were Glynda Carr, Co Founder of Higher Heights Leadership Fund, Jessica Gonzales-Rojas, Executive Director of National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and Kimberly Kaplan, former Pittsburgh City Council Candidate for District 5.
Byrd opened the panel by discussing the national paucity of Women of Color in politics and the need to mobilize our networks. Panelists focused on how marginalized communities can leverage their power to shift the narrative and make issues in their communities priorities for elected officials. Light was also shed on stereotypes about the civic participation of Women of Color. I was unaware that Black Women have registered and voted at higher rates than any other sub group since 1998.
The largest takeaway of the panel was that our civic participation does not start and end on Election Day. We must think beyond the current election and start building a pipeline of diverse leaders. Panelists urged us to run for office ourselves and to help build capacity for a candidate or issue by volunteering and donating. Even though we will not experience wins for each campaign, “the win is in the fight”.
We would like to thank New Voices Pittsburgh for sponsoring our attendance!
Learn more about WOC HERStory month by visiting womenofcolorherstory.org.