The story of my family is a story of firsts.

My grandma was one of the first Black graduates of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. After graduating in 1894, my grandmother, Estelle Livingston Stansberry King, became a nurse. She always championed to my family the importance of formal education and of working hard. The generations who have followed her have taken her guidance to heart.

One of her sons was my uncle, who served as a trailblazer in a different field. William “Dolly” King was a celebrated college athlete who became one of the first Black players to integrate professional basketball.

Another of my grandmother’s sons was my father — he was also a figure who helped achieve a “first.” After a career as a public school educator, my father became the first Black principal in Brooklyn, New York.

Another of Estelle’s children, my uncle Haldane King, was a Tuskegee Airman—one of the first African-American pilots to serve in the U.S. military—and a career Air Force officer.

Having so many people to look up to in my family has been nothing short of an honor. It inspires me to continue to blaze my own trail while always prioritizing helping others along the way.

Now, it’s my turn to accomplish something for the first time. With your help, I can be America’s first Afro-Latino governor. It’s time for people across Maryland — and even across the country — to see leadership that represents our country’s diverse identities.

So please, will you join our coalition of grassroots donors by contributing $1 or more and help us make history?

I am immensely grateful for your support,

John B. King Jr.