This year we mark Black History Month amidst ongoing efforts to strip our government and institutions of civil rights and diversity protections. In the face of this insidious onslaught, it becomes more important than ever that we continue to honor, highlight and celebrate the work of the trailblazing Black women leaders who fought to make our country a more equitable and inclusive place. In the spirit of Black History Month, we acknowledge their historic accomplishments:
- Shirley Chisholm, in 1968, became the first Black woman elected to Congress. In 1972, she became the first Black candidate for a major-party nomination for President and the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination.
- In 1992, Carol Mosely Braun became the first Black woman elected to the Senate. She was also the first Black Democratic Senator and the first woman elected to the Senate representing Illinois.
- In 2016, Kamala Harris became the second Black woman and one of the first South Asian American women elected to the Senate, alongside Sen. Tammy Duckworth. In 2020 she was elected the first woman and woman of color Vice President. She became the first woman of color major-party nominee for President in 2024 and inspired us all with her fierce leadership and determination.
- In 2023, LaPhonza Butler was appointed to fill Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat, becoming the third Black woman in the Senate.
- This past year, we helped elect Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Angela Alsobrooks. It marks the first time in history that two Black women serve in the Senate at the same time. We need their leadership now more than ever and we are grateful for their voices as we push back against ongoing Republican extremism.
As we honor these powerful women and their leadership, it remains true that our country has a long history of failing to elect Black women and women of color more broadly. There are now only five women of color serving in the Senate and we have never elected a Black woman governor.
Looking ahead, we must continue to support the next generation of Black women leaders who will shape our nation’s future. These women are poised to make an even greater impact, and it’s our responsibility to ensure they have the resources, support, and visibility they deserve. Research shows women of color rely more heavily on women donors and it’s incumbent upon us to support these candidates when they step up to run. As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s commit to empowering, elevating, and electing even more of these trailblazing women. For as Shirley Chisholm said “At present, our country needs women’s idealism and determination, perhaps more in politics than anywhere else.”