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Hidden figures. She-roes. Makers of Herstory. Whatever you call them, women of color leaders are fighting their way up; no longer waiting for permission or their ‘turn.’ And in the famous words of Lizzo, “It’s about damn time!” There is no doubt that this generation of leaders is more diverse than the last. From our VP Kamala Harris, to the Squad’s AOC, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, Summer Lee and Delia Ramirez, we’re finally seeing more and more representation that is reflective of our nation. But sadly, as women of color rise and climb the ranks, they’re met with harder obstacles, higher standards, and harsher critiques. |
The bitter reality is that despite seeing an influx of women of color leaders stepping forward and running for office, the number of them who are successful in taking a seat at the “Big Boys” table is still slim. (It is a boys’ table after all.) And while it is important that women of color decide to run for office, it is equally important for the powers that be to recognize the hurdles and significance of leveling the playing field. But we know that the latter is a slow trod. Party politics still favors the leaders of the vanilla variety. One glance at the $$ funding $$ for women of color candidates in 2020 and 2022 is all the proof you need. That’s why PowerPAC and community organizations like ours are even more vital to the political landscape. By leveraging our collective political power in support of progressive women of color leaders, we can make an impact in our representation.
In fact, we can send the next black woman to the Senate. Because it’s about damn time, Edil Mari De Los Reyes, Political Director |
