“Black Women Leading the Change” panel discusses political, social impact Black women have on society

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (October 30, 2020) – Black female leaders were the topic of discussion at a Zoom webinar on Oct. 28, hosted by The Vote Gals, Prairie View A&M University’s (PVAMU) Student Government Association (SGA), and the Campus Election Engagement Project. Open to the public and featuring a spectrum of highly successful Black leaders, the event dialogue ranged from the panelists’ upbringings, challenges, advice, and perspectives on the future.

The dynamic panelists included Harris County Judges Erica Hughes ’03, ’06 and Lori Chambers Gray, Waller County Judge Marian Jackson, Representatives Senfronia Thompson (D-TX) and Alma Allen (D-TX), and PVAMU Professors Melayne Price ‘95 and Tabitha Morton. Hosted by Alanna Gaskin, SGA president, and PVAMU seniors Domonique Roy and Kaela Watson (Campus Election Engagement Project Fellow), the event was moderated by Tia Johnson ‘17, a reporter at Fox 4 Kansas City News.

“We wanted to put an event together that discussed the struggles of Black women and highlighted how they shine despite their lack of recognition and disparities,” said Watson. “Black women are often silenced, and it is time we give them platforms to be heard.”

After welcoming remarks from Miss Prairie View A&M University 2020-2021 Jada Johnson, the panelists answered a list of questions. A major theme shared among the panel participants was the essential role Black women play in political movements and advocacy, and why it’s important for them to be represented in elected offices.

“I believe that Black women are the foundation of the country,” Judge Hughes said. Judge Hughes represents Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 3. “People have relied on Black women for their vote, for their support, and for their work ethic. It has been time, and it is time that Black women start leading. We have the education and the expertise to secure leadership positions. Don’t rely on our vote and not expect us to be in these positions and lead from the front. The time is now; here we go.”

The conversation touched on Judge Hughes’ and Judge Gray’s elected judicial seat wins in Harris County, alongside 17 other Black women.

“When I started on the journey to run for judge in the 2018 election, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would run into so many dynamic, motivated, and intelligent Black women,” said Judge Gray of the Texas 262nd District Court.

“A lot of times, as African American women in these roles, you’re the only one in the room,” said Judge Hughes. “From my electrical engineering classes [at PVAMU] to my time in the military, there weren’t a lot of minorities in leadership positions. I was delightful to look to my left and right and see women who looked like me, and to see these women who were powerful, educated, and could hold a room on their own. Having the sisterhood of the 19 was definitely one for the history books, and we were glad we could all win.”

Next, the panelists discussed how they feel the need to look or behave in a certain way in professional settings.

“When you walk into a room with people making so many assumptions about you, the goal is to not give them fuel,” Dr. Price said. Price is an endowed professor of political science at PVAMU. “And that’s way more important when they’re first getting to know you. When I was a young professor, I wore suits, I dressed up, and looked a certain way. The older I get, the more gray hair I have, the more distinguishing features I have that mark my age, I feel less committed to that.”

“I always dress up to look like a state representative,” Representative Allen said. “I dress nicely to go to the grocery store, because even at the store, I am still a state representative, and there is a certain image you should represent if you’re going to be in a leadership role.”

Moderator Johnson steered the conversation toward Black women and politics.

“In recent years, African American women have outperformed almost every group in all of the major elections,” said Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Morton. “And because of that, we are finally starting to see ways in which they are translating that voting power into actual power. If you look at the fact that Kamala Harris is on this ticket right now, a lot of that was done through strategic democratic channels employed by African American women. We see them in the forefront running for office, we see them managing campaigns, we see them writing for campaigns, we see them working as legislative aides, and all of the ways in which Black women are sort of coming into their full power.”

The next topic focused on Judge Jackson’s advice to Black women who feel their vote doesn’t matter.

“I would remind her of the sacrifices that many other Black women have made, and that when Black women lead the way, they bring everyone with them,” said the Justice of the Peace. “Not only will their vote count, but it can change the direction of the entire election. Being a Black woman is very unique — we are the backbones of our communities and households. We have led the way, and we will continue to lead the way.”

Then, the discussion focused on the importance of breaking glass ceilings even after achieving leadership positions.

“When I first went to the legislature in 1973, Roe vs. Wade was decided the very month that I was sworn in,” Representative Thompson said. “Women could not get a credit card in their name because of their gender. Even though I was in a leadership position, I was discriminated against as a woman of color. That never goes away for some reason.”

The panel concluded with the topic of Black women’s power when they rise up and come together.

“African American women sit at the intersection of a lot of forms of oppression — racial, gender, and class oppression,” Dr. Morton said. “One of the reasons why we are so good at making something out of nothing, as people like to say, is because we often are given nothing. We have to figure out how to build, to imagine, and to create a better world for ourselves, our children, and for other people in our community. If we leave it to society to tell the story of Black women, it’s not a great story at all. But when Black women tell their own story, it becomes a story of joy, a story of solidarity, a story of laughter, a story of sisterhood, and it becomes a story that is so robust, it actually is the most American of all.”

Published at: https://www.pvamu.edu/blog/black-women-leading-the-change-panel-discusses-political-social-impact-black-women-have-on-society/.