Every Inauguration Day is an important milestone, but this year's transition of power is particularly special as we celebrate history being made and glass ceilings being shattered by the first woman in the White House, Madam Vice President Kamala Harris. During such a critical moment in the United States, it is fitting that we celebrate the Biden-Harris Inauguration the same week as we commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As we collectively navigate the crossroads of racial injustice, political turmoil, climate change, and economic instability, all during a global pandemic, we remain inspired by the trailblazing women that paved the way and opened paths for us in civic and human rights leadership.
Here at Step Up, we support girls of color to become confident, capable, career-focused, and ready to join the next generation of womxn leaders; representation is crucial to that vision. Though we as a country have a long way to go, I feel grateful to follow the leadership of Black, Indigenous, and womxn of color spearheading the forefront of change.
Here is a list of 5 extraordinary sheroes that dared to break the modern day status quo. From combatting oppression and challenging the system, they continue to push the envelope by reimagining the world and opening paths for today's generation of women: Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Alicia Garza, and Angela Davis.
Kamala Harris – Prosecuter-turned-politician, our 46th Vice President is not new to being the "first" in any of her leadership roles. Beginning her career as the deputy attorney in Alameda County, Harris rose through the ranks and continued to break barriers throughout her life. She became the first African-American and first woman to serve as California's attorney general in 2010, the first Indian-American woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016, and is the first woman, as well as the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent, to be sworn in as Vice President in 2021. As the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, Madam Vice President represents a bold new future in America, one filled with hope and new possibilities.
Stacey Abrams – Political leader, lawyer, and voter rights activist, Stacy Abrams is notably praised for fighting voter suppression and empowering Georgia's disenfranchised community. After serving in the Georgia House of Representatives for 11 years, she became the first Black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in the U.S. Though she lost the race, Abrams launched the nonprofit organization Fair Fight to ensure voter protection for all. She worked tirelessly with other grassroots organizers to register almost 800,000 voters from Latino, Black, and Asian communities, and those registrations turned into votes that helped flip Georgia blue, a key battleground state that ensured Joe Biden's presidential victory.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – From a people-funded, grassroots campaign, AOC became the youngest woman to be elected to Congress in 2019 and continues to be a key player in pushing for progressive policies. An educator and organizer, Congresswoman AOC serves the 14th district of New York in the Bronx and Queens. She is deeply committed to serving working-class people and advocating for social, racial, environmental, and economic justice.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@aoc)
Alicia Garza – Organizer, author, and Co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, Garza challenges the world to honor Black queer women's work within social movements. Alongside co-founders Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors, she launched a global movement through a simple Facebook post in 2013, "Black lives matter," in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin's murderer, George Zimmerman. She has decades of grassroots organizing experience and is a powerful voice in media, delivering commentary on politics, race, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Alicia Garza (@chasinggarza)
Angela Davis – Political activist, educator, and author, Davis is an icon for fighting for civil and women's rights and for all those oppressed. She is most known for her affiliation with the Black Panthers during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Her activism in prison reform resulted in her own arrest but her case became a symbol of the abuse of power by our flawed criminal justice system that targets marginalized communities. Davis taught at UC Los Angeles and UC Santa Cruz and continues to educate others about race, the criminal justice system, and women's rights today.
Despite 2020 being the most formidable year yet, a new year is upon us and hope is on the horizon. Let us continue to seek guidance and wisdom from fierce women everywhere in order to help our girls fulfill their potential in becoming the next generation of thriving scholars, leaders, and citizens.
