Hi,

Happy Black History Month!

Presidents and philanthropists. Senators and scientists. Organizers and orators. Artists and athletes. Entrepreneurs and entertainers. Community workers and champions of change.

I could not be more proud to be a Black American -- because over the centuries, we have shaped our state, our country, and our party into what it is today. And this month, I join all Americans in reflecting upon and celebrating the contributions of Black Americans. Together, we remember the struggles of those who came before us, honor their resilience, and uplift the ways we continue to make history today.

Through the unspeakable crime of slavery, through the stinging injustices of Jim Crow, we have endured -- and have always pushed forward towards the dream of a new, more just America. We've diligently held onto our faith in a better future, and led the way towards it -- from giants like Dr. Martin Luther King, Barbara Jordan, and John Lewis, to the millions more who have fought for change in their own communities, one day at a time.

That fight continues today. Last year, we grieved the loss of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Javier Ambler, and too many others robbed of their lives by police brutality. We took our cry for justice to the streets -- and to the polls. Thanks to the millions who organized and came out to vote, we elected Kamala Harris as the first-ever Black woman to serve as our vice president. As a fellow Howard graduate and Divine 9 sister, I could not be more moved, proud, or excited to see Vice President Harris send that glass ceiling crashing to the floor.

Black Lives Matter. Black history is American history. We continue to forge a path to that better America, and Black voices, hearts and strength are leading the way. We've come incredibly far, and we still have so far to go -- from ending police brutality, to making voting rights a reality, to toppling the barriers that remain a boot on the neck of our communities. Right now, it's up to all of us to carry forward this fight for justice, and do the work in our own lives and among our own families to be the change we need.

We will get there. Because we will not stop until we do. Democracy is ours to fulfill. It's the promise of America for all individuals to experience liberty and justice.

In solidarity and pride,

Dr. Carla Brailey
Vice-Chair, Texas Democratic Party