[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 37 (Friday, February 26, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E180-E181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY MONTH ESSAY CONTEST WINNER TOBI OJO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. A. DONALD McEACHIN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 26, 2021

  Mr. McEACHIN. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize the exemplary work of Tobi Ojo, an 11th grade student at 
Grassfield High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, and the high school 
winner of the Black History Month essay contest I hosted earlier this 
month. Ms. Ojo wrote a powerful essay on Stacey Abrams' groundbreaking 
electoral successes and the exceptional work of African-American women 
across our nation. I am inspired by Ms. Ojo's words, and I encourage 
young people across our country to reflect on what this month means to 
them.
  Since its creation less than 50 years ago, Black History Month has 
been a time to honor and reflect upon the remarkable achievements of 
the African-American community.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Tobi 
Ojo's exceptional work in celebration of Black History Month.

       February is the month to celebrate black history, 
     accomplishments, and excellence. When thinking of historical 
     figures who embody these ideologies, many individuals would 
     mention Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks. If neither of 
     these historical figures is mentioned most people would say 
     another popular African-American man. Black excellence in 
     terms of African-American women is hardly recognized. One 
     African-American lady who has been currently seen breaking 
     societal expectations is politician and lawyer, Stacey 
     Abrams.
       Mrs. Abrams broke history by being the first black woman to 
     be a major party nominee for governor in the United States. 
     She was a former liberal State House leader who wanted to 
     change the historically conservative state of Georgia. Her 
     campaign was centered on ``the Georgia of tomorrow.'' 
     Although she is not currently the governor of Georgia, no 
     woman has ever come close to holding that position. Moreover, 
     there has not been a governor position held by a black 
     individual since the Reconstruction Era.
       Stacey Abrams is also a successful graduate from Yale Law 
     School. Outside of politics, Mrs, Abrams runs a small 
     business and is a successful writer. Most of her successful 
     books, such as Minority Leader: Lead From Outside and Our 
     Time Is Now, center around her struggles and achievements in 
     her life. These books inspire others like Mrs. Abrams to 
     break societal standards set to hinder black lives in 
     America.
       Instead of allowing her race and gender to become a 
     hindrance, Mrs. Abrams continues to strive to make a change 
     in the state of Georgia. Georgia has had a history of black 
     representation in small positions but not in statewide 
     positions. Abrams continues to work to improve black 
     communities in Georgia. One of her top priorities is to see 
     more black women leaders in government positions (The New 
     York Times 2021).
       Stacey Abrams is also a voting rights activist who fights 
     for Americans to have their voice heard through their votes. 
     After seeing the massive mismanagement of Georgia's 2018 
     election, she decided to combat this problem. This was one of 
     the reasons why she founded the Fair Fight. The Fair Fight 
     helps educate voters on election reforms and advocate for 
     election reform on various government levels. This 
     organization promotes fair

[[Page E181]]

     elections by encouraging fair elections in Georgia. Fair 
     Fight focuses on empowering the voices of minorities and 
     diminishing voter suppression (About Fair Fight/Fair Fight'' 
     2020).
       Fair Fights was one of the many organizations that Stacey 
     Abrams founded. In 2019, Fair Count was created. Fair Count 
     was established to increase civic engagement in states and 
     improve Census accuracy. Another organization that was 
     created by Stacey Abrams is Southern Economic Advancement 
     Project. The Southern Economic Advancement Project promotes 
     public policies that improve economic power and increase 
     equity in the South.
       Stacey Abrams seeks to create change outside of Georgia and 
     the United States. She is a member of former Secretary of 
     State John Kerry's World War Zero bipartisan coalition which 
     tries to educate individuals on climate change. Stacey Abrams 
     has met with politicians in Taiwan, South Korea, Israel to 
     bring about change on different issues worldwide (``About 
     Stacey Abrams/Fair Fight'' 2021).
       Politician and writer, Stacey Abrams, has won awards that 
     shine her accomplishments and works. She was a recipient of 
     John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award. Stacey Abrams continues 
     to break history day by day by fighting for those who do not 
     have a voice and representation in government policies and 
     positions.

                          ____________________