The Indomitable Impact of Black Women in Shaping Our Democracy

by Staci Bryant, Family Values @ Work 

I had the pleasure of attending the America Votes Conference in Washington D.C. last week. Folks across the country collectively came together to address the pivotal climate we are in for the upcoming election and the attack on voting rights across the country. It is no secret that our communities are directly impacted by the lack of accessible, equitable, and supportive policies around our economic care infrastructure. I personally believe that all issues are rooted in economic care and the time is now to create more organic and transformative relationships in both our communities and across the country.

As we finish out Women’s History Month, I can’t help but highlight the impact of the women in this work, especially black women. It was so inspiring to hear from Daria Dawson, the first black woman Executive Director for America Votes and New York Attorney General Letitia James. If we look at the quantitative data on black women as caregivers, advocates, labor workers, leaders, and issue-based voters we see a shift in the momentum of changing the narrative about the political landscape and the demands of our democracy to meet our collective community needs. 

It was mentioned through several plenaries, breakout sessions, and conversations that the investment in black women is imperative, as we are a force to be reckoned with in terms of voter education, grassroots organizing, showing up to the polls, and people power. Whether black women are boots on the ground, organizing digitally, advocating state-wide or federally, our resilience and dedication to dismantling systemic and institutionalized racism that upholds and implements poor policies is a powerful catalyst in this movement. 

For some, this may be a new concept or perspective, but was astoundingly acknowledged that historically the progress that has been made in our democracy is because of the evolution of black women in spaces we are often not welcomed in. I was pleasantly impressed by the America Votes conference in honoring black women in this movement and trusting black women in leadership. This is why as the Democracy & Integrated Voter Engagement Coordinator at Family Values @ Work, it is my mission to continue to create spaces for the disenfranchised, underrepresented, unheard and unseen in our communities and democracy.