Friend, this Black History Month, I’ve been reflecting on the bold legacies of Black leaders throughout our nation's history – and the fights for freedom that would have been impossible without them.

I think about Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, whose refusal to accept the status quo made her a formidable catalyst for change. I think about my dearly departed friend and parishioner, John Lewis, who was a civil rights hero and an unwavering champion for voting rights. I think about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose pulpit I preach from to this day.

Black people’s faith in this country – not just as it is, but as it could be – has forced us to examine uncomfortable truths and rise up to meet the moment. Brick by brick, these leaders paved the path I walk on every day.

That's why I've committed myself to following in their footsteps – and making good on the promise that in America, anything is possible. It's what my mama has always told me, and it's what I believe. I'm humbled to be fighting every day in the Senate to keep this promise alive.

But the sad fact is this: The plague of systemic racism continues to hold our country back from reaching its full potential.

You can see it in voter suppression bills sweeping our states – and in racial disparities in everything from health care to housing. You can see it in our Congress, too. When I was sworn in last year, I became only the 11th Black senator in American history.

I ran for Senate to crack this concrete ceiling, build upon the bold legacies of those who came before me, and create a future in which all our children can achieve their American dream. But I can't continue this fight without you.

Right now, CNN is calling me the most vulnerable Democratic senator up for reelection – and polling shows me one point down. With experts at FiveThirtyEight saying that our battleground race could decide Senate control, the only way I can pull ahead and win is with your help:

Please, friend, will you give $5 or more now to keep Georgia blue, defend our Senate majority, and build a better, brighter future for our country?

Thank you for standing with me in our fights for justice. 

 – Sen. Raphael Warnock