meet massachusetts’ first black congresswoman

Change is coming—and it looks a lot like the Black and Brown faces that Republicans and their base are so anxious to exclude from their America. Ayanna Pressley is a Boston Democrat who just unseated 10-term Representative Michael Capuano, setting herself on course to become the first Black woman to represent the state of Massachusetts in The House of Representatives. Pressley is no stranger to making history: back in 2009, she was the first Black woman elected to Boston City Council. With no Republican opponent in November, Pressley is bringing her “Change Can’t Wait” mission to the political body that needs it the most.

https://twitter.com/jessemermell/status/1037159771416276992

Pressley continues the season of the Progressive insurgency. She exceeded polling expectations to unseat an establishment Democrat who was, according to the New York Times, “a reliable progressive vote,…an early advocate of sanctuary cities, opposed the Iraq War and the Patriot Act, and sat out Mr. Trump’s inauguration…[who] funneled millions of dollars home for much-needed transit, housing, and healthcare projects.” Despite Capuano’s impressive record, Pressley offered voters someone who had a personal stake in the issues of marginalized communities. As the daughter of a father who was in and out prison, as well as a survivor of sexual assault, Pressley ran on a platform of being able to serve the people because of her life experience, with a core belief is that “The people closest to the pain should be closest to the power.”

She is the real deal.

Pressley’s win, along with the surge of Progressive Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Stacey Abrams, Andrew Gillum and Ben Jealous, is a response to the flagrant disregard of the American public’s inalienable rights by the Trump administration. It’s also a wake-up call to the Democratic establishment that favors a moderate stance when it comes to major issues. The people are tired, and they have noticed things like the fact that no one in the Democratic establishment is speaking about the prison strike, the type of silence that has bred a restlessness in Democratic voter base, setting the scene for upsets taking place in Democratic primaries across the U.S.

When addressing the exuberant crowd of supporters after her win, Pressley’s opening remarks were, “It seems like change is on the way.” She went on to tell the crowd “we have together ushered in something incredible. People who feel seen and heard for the first time in their lives, have a stake hold in democracy and a promise for our future. That is bigger than any electoral victory. And I want to thank you all for being foot soldiers in this movement and for ushering in this change.”

When a Black woman tells you change is coming, it’s best to believe her.

Make sure you’re registered to vote in November!