Hi John,

Happy Black History Month! American history IS Black history: our country was built on the exploited labor of Black people.

Wilmington, where I live, is a majority Black city. We are a community rich with Black history: there are incredible murals in West Center City, memorial squares on the East Side, and beautiful, historic Black churches throughout our neighborhoods.

On the other hand, Wilmington is ground zero for anti-Black racism. Our Black neighbors are suffering from police brutality, our majority Black neighborhoods are being disproportionately polluted, and our schools are rapidly resegregating.

If we really want to celebrate Black History Month, we must pursue true racial justice.

As Senator, I will fight for:

• Fully desegregated, equitably-funded, and culturally competent education
• Ending racial discrimination in housing, employment, finance, and healthcare institutions
• Reparations for Black Americans to finally close the racial wealth gap
• Holding corporations accountable for polluting Black communities
• Increased representation of Black people in education, government, and leadership positions

Here in Delaware, our state and local politics have lacked significant Black representation. Fortunately in 2020, there are lots of strong, justice-oriented Black candidates running for office.

Black candidates often face institutional barriers that myself and other white candidates do not face.

So today, please consider donating to General Assembly candidates like Madinah Wilson-Anton, Larry Lambert, and Marie Pinkney, and City Council candidates like Coby Owens and Shané Darby.

We must elect more diverse representation so that we can pursue racial justice, today and every day.

- Jess