I recently attended an event for women involved in and interested in politics. Among the many brilliant female elected officials on the dais, I had the pleasure of hearing the ideas and policy proposals of the dynamic Kamala Harris, attorney general of the state of California, and Donna Edwards, a member of the House of Representative from the state of Maryland. Both are trying to make history by becoming the second and third Black women elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016.
Most people do not realize that there has only been one Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate, Carol Moseley-Braun from Illinois, who was elected in 1992 for one six-year term. If you are wondering about the number of Black women who have ever served as a governor of one of the 50 states, the answer is zero. None.
Next year’s election for Senate seats in California and Maryland will move beyond just state significance and will hopefully become “national” elections for Black women and Black voters more generally. These two women have the qualifications, the intellect, the energy and the determination. They also have grassroots support in their home states to make the dream of increased Black and female representation in the Senate a reality. However, one obstacle many Black candidates face, especially Black female candidates, is that of fundraising.
Every time I speak to Black female candidates, whether they are running for district leader, City Council, mayor, state representation or as a member of Congress, the frustration is palpable. Most express their appreciation for the incredible support they receive from community members in the form of the immense time and effort given to their campaigns. However, the dedication and hard work of community and district members does not necessarily translate into cold hard cash. Essentially, the Black community does not have a long-standing history of donating money to political campaigns for Black or non-Black candidates. Clearly Obama was able to motivate people to dig in their wallets, but candidates for smaller offices have not been as successful.
I would encourage all of us to find a sister and donate to her campaign. Harris and Edwards are a great first step. Think of this donation as a different form of tithing. Think of it as a way not only to support someone in their campaign efforts, but also as an investment to stop an opponent who may be vocal about “taking America back.”
I don’t know about everyone else, but a $500 donation is quite steep. However, a monthly donation of $25 or $50 can go a long way for a small campaign. If you are looking for amazing Black women to support, I would suggest checking out www.higherheightsforamerica.org and reading more about some of our future leaders from across the country.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at Fordham University and the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream.”