[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 105 (Friday, June 22, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING THE RISE OF BLACK WOMEN IN POLITICS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 22, 2018

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to 
address a new wave sweeping the state of Alabama and the nation. In 
response to the Trump administration's continued attack on women as 
well as the #MeToo movement, at least 70 African-American women ran for 
office in the Alabama primary on June 5th. These women ran for their 
local school boards, for county judgeships, for state lawmakers, and 
for Congress.
   Black women have been the backbone of families and communities for 
generations, providing an unwavering source of strength. I know I stand 
on the shoulders of such women of strength, like Shirley Chisholm, 
Harriett Tubman, and Amelia Boynton Robinson. Moreover, I am inspired 
every day by my mother, Nancy Garner Sewell, who was the first African 
American female elected to the City Council of Selma, Alabama. These 
dynamic black women gave all they had to create a more just and free 
America. Yet, the fight is long from over.
   As the first African-American woman elected to Congress from the 
State of Alabama in 2010, I am overjoyed to see so many others 
enthusiastic to serve their communities by running for office. Black 
women are refusing to sit idly on the sidelines. Whether it is on 
issues of access to quality healthcare, education, equal pay for equal 
work, or engagement in the political arena, we have women from around 
the country that are joining the fight to let the world know that we 
will hold our elected officials accountable on issues that affect us, 
our families, and our communities.
   As more black women continue to speak out and run for office, I look 
forward to welcoming them to the table.

                          ____________________