[ [link removed] ]Ayanna Pressley for Congress

A parent is a child’s first teacher — and I
had a great one in my mother.

My mother, Sandy, may she rest in peace and power — gave me my roots and
my wings. And as I reflect on the story that brought me here — the
historic moment in 2018 when I became the first Black woman elected to
represent Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives — I keep
going back to my mom, who shaped the soil in which I am rooted.

I grew up as an only child born during the month of February — Black
History Month. And my mother declared at a young age that I was destined
to make Black history.

[ [link removed] ]Photo of Rep. Ayanna Pressley as a child being held by her mother.

From the day I was born, my mother made sure I understood my power and my
worth, but also that I was being born into a struggle. And it was her
expectation that I would play a role in that struggle — the fight for
justice and our collective liberation.

She raised me on her hip at tenants’ rights organizing meetings, on the
campaign trail, and in the voting booth. My first coloring book was by the
Chicago Defender — Chicago’s historic Black newspaper — where I filled in
sketches of afros and Black liberation fists. Instead of telling me
fairytales, she read me the speeches of Barbara Jordan and Shirley
Chisholm.

She was a super voter and fierce activist who taught me the difference
between your job and your Work: Your job is what you do to pay the bills.
Your Work is the Work of organizing, of community-building, of
justice-seeking.

Through her dedication to activism, she taught me that the power of the
people is always greater than the people in power.

And she
taught me the importance of standing in my power fully.

It’s because of her guidance and unwavering support that I came to Boston
and started on a trajectory that would change my life. A trajectory that
would lead me to speak truth to power in Congress. A trajectory that would
become the origin of my leadership story.

In moments where I question if I’m on the right path, I go back to my mom.
I remember how some of the greatest injustices and disparities I’d ever
witnessed and lived through — injustices my mother helped me understand —
were legislated at the federal level. And I remind myself that the
decision I made to run for Congress is one I would make over and over
again.

When I look at families struggling to afford housing, the life-saving
drugs they need to survive, the cost of a quality education, I hear my
mom’s voice reminding me that I was born two months early because I was
ready to get to Work. And I’m reminded that we have to keep governing like
lives depend on it, because they do.

That’s why I’ll never stop fighting to ensure the people closest to the
pain are closest to the power. [ [link removed] ]So if you’re all in to fight for justice
and our collective liberation — just like my mom — please make a
contribution now to power our movement for bold, transformative policies
that put people first and deliver real results for workers and families.

DONATE NOW

Yours in service,

Ayanna





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