WELCOME TO BLACK WOMEN UNMUTED!
| Here’s what we’re taking off mute this week: the unique ingenuity of Stacey Abrams, who came up with the strategy that flipped Georgia for a Democratic presidential nominee for the first time in a generation. Abrams redefined what success in politics looks like — without winning elected office herself. Black Women Unmuted’s editor-at-large Kelly Macias delves into how Abrams pulled this off, a feat she just might repeat through her efforts to help elect Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock in the upcoming runoffs for Georgia’s two Republican-held U.S. Senate seats — an outcome that could determine the balance of power in Congress. Now, Stacey Abrams certainly hasn’t been battling voter suppression by herself. A whole lot of sisters have had her back, a role that Black women routinely played over many generations. Among those in the fight alongside Abrams: LaTosha Brown, founder of Black Voters Matter. Watch this amazing sister explain on C-SPAN what her group has done to empower Black voters, especially those in the Deep South. EYE ON KAMALA This week, Madam Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is living up to the old political axiom, “dance with the ones who brought you to the party.” She announced her choices for three senior staff positions, all Black women. They are Tina Flournoy, chief of staff; Ashley Etienne, communications director; and Symone Sanders, senior adviser and chief spokesperson. BLACK GIRL FLASHBACK: Remember that special election in 2017, when a stunning 98 percent of Black women voters in Alabama’s special election cast their ballots for Doug Jones and helped send a Democrat to the Senate from that state for the first time in a long time? Just as interesting, but hardly talked about: The following year, a record number of Black women — 70 — ran for office. Out of that number, 14 were elected. One of them, Tashina Morris, became the first woman to join Montgomery’s delegation in the state Legislature. Here’s a look back at Alabama’s winning ladies of 2018. HASHTAG AFTER OUR OWN HEARTS: #ROMANCINGTHERUNOFF  Organizers Courtney Milan, Alyssa Cole & Kit Rocha (aka Bree & Donna). (Photo: Romancing The Runoff) Romance novelists auctioned off copies of their books & related items to support voter mobilization efforts for the Georgia Senate runoffs. Among the authors participating: Stacey Abrams, who contributed a copy of her first novel, Rules of Engagement. Romancing The Runoff‘s auction, which ended Dec. 1, raised more than $450,000 for voter advocacy groups the New Georgia Project, Black Voters Matter and the Abrams-founded Fair Fight. That’s all for now. See you here again real soon! Sonya Ross, Founder & Editor in Chief —– Kelly Macias, Editor at Large |
