With every step I take I think of where my mom would be in that very same position and time in her life. It really grounds me to think that at my age, my mother had a three-year-old son she was raising on her own and without the support of a college education because she was not permitted to attend. It reminds me of all the privileges I do have despite the oppressions I face: I am a free woman that is able to educate herself, marry whomever and whenever she desires, and can aspire to be anything I want to be. I would lie if I said I didn’t feel a responsibility and duty to use my privileges and freedoms to ensure that other women and girls in this country and around the world have the same. I truly believe I can do that through politics, but every person has their own path to that change. My mother has taught me strength, resilience, endurance, faith, and commitment. She has made me who I am today.
WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR 'WATCH. HER. LEAD' AND HOW HAVE YOU SEEN AN IMPACT SO FAR?
Since I have a passion for politics and running for office one day, I have been involved with different organizations dedicated to encouraging and helping girls and women run for office. One day, while I looked around the room in one of these spaces, I realized the lack of diversity and noticed that I was one of a handful of minority women there. After doing some research into the matter I came to find that women of color are heavily underrepresented in elected office. Women in general have dismal numbers in various elected positions across the country and generally around the world, but the statistics for women of color are absolutely abysmal. I realized the importance of not only recognizing the issue of gender in politics, but also race. That inspired me to start an initiative, Watch.Her.Lead., to encourage young women of color to think about running for office so that there was a space dedicated specifically to their needs and issues, but also a forum for talking about the issue and educating the public about it. I’ve been able to reach to hundreds of girls thus far, and I only hope to continue and expand my efforts with other women of color in the movement. I’m a firm believer that there is strength in unity. I’m currently working with one of my sisters (in spirit), Dorthea, in trying to figure out where we want to take WHL next.