Greetings, Friends, Family, And Future Constituents:
September 11, 2001, was a defining moment in American history. Our republic was tested and the days following we lived out parts of the Pledge of Allegiance as one nation...indivisible. As we look back, let us also look forward as we are called to teach tolerance.
Let us look forward as we bring about an effort of understanding, and to lead with compassion. Let us look forward as we project the ethics of love and make it the center of our lives. Let us look forward as we restore communities, resist injustices, and meet the needs of our brothers and sisters of every race, creed, color, nationality, gender and sex, and faith. Let us look forward as we reshape our relationships with one another and usher in a breakthrough to a new level of social reform and profound structural institutional change.
When the rules are clear and the field is leveled, we all win. It is the same in NCAA athletic competition whether it be the Southwestern Athletic Conference (UAPB), Southeastern Conference (U of A), the Sunbelt Conference (ASU), and the Great American Conference (Arkansas Tech). We win together when the best in the field challenge one another on common ground and mutual objective. People of varying classes, racial demographics, and statuses come together to achieve heights together with the hope of attaining victory and win a championship.
Yet, in the Second Congressional District, the goalpost was moved during reapportionment. The field has elevations. The Republican supermajority racial gerrymandered it and divided Pulaski County into three (3) districts (1, 2, and 4). The African American vote was cracked. Such action debases and dishonors our democracy and enables politicians, the Republican incumbent to entrench himself and the party in federal office. There are three (3) pending lawsuits addressing this matter. Our governor refused to sign into law the manipulated map because it disproportionately impacted the African American vote.
As we look forward, the integrity of our democracy and Central Arkansas politics has to be aligned to the increasing diversity of its approximately eight hundred thousand (800,000) people. Red states and blue states alike believe that trust and efficacy have to be restored in the highest level of government. Political participation, voter registration, and turnout have to grow not just during presidential election seasons but this midterm election cycle. Women and minorities have to be fully integrated and proportionally represented in our state. Good governance has to rain down like water and greatness like a mighty stream. In the spirit of 9/11, let's take Central Arkansas Onward, Forward, Upward, And Outward!
Note:
If elected, Dr. Quintessa Hathaway will break a glass ceiling for Arkansas as among the first persons of color and first African American woman to ever win a U.S. House of Representatives seat from the state.
