
On January 14th, the most diverse delegation of Black women’s organizations convened at the Georgia State Capitol, following the recent election. The groups came together as the Georgia Black Women’s Round Table and United, Unapologetic, Unstoppable (U3). While Black women’s organizations traditionally meet at the Capitol during the legislative session starting in January, this year’s gathering was unique due to its unprecedented collective approach. Over fifteen organizations came together, united by a shared vision for justice, progress and advocacy.
Historically, Black women’s groups have gathered to listen, learn, and advocate for issues directly impacting their communities. Why, some might ask, do we still need to meet now that the election is over our candidate lost? The answer lies in the realization that our collective focus and influence are more crucial than ever. This year, our collaboration is a testament to the power of unity. The loss of Vice President Kamala Harris in the Presidential election was a disappointment, but it only strengthened our resolve to continue the work. “When we fight, we win”—and the fight is far from over.
Facts: Remarkably, 558 Black women were elected to public office this year alone. Despite being among the most educated demographics, Black women remain underpaid and undervalued. We are the most reliable voting base, yet our contributions are often taken for granted. This disparity underscores the urgent need for equity and inclusion and to remind the majority we make a difference.
The importance of our political activism became even clearer today when we learned about new strategies being implemented by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to benefit Republican legislators. Among these was a new rule limiting the number of legislative initiatives that could be introduced in a year, ten! This tactic, we discovered, is being rolled out in multiple states, not just Georgia, highlighting the systematic barriers being erected against progressive legislation which typically impacts minority constituencies.
The legislative priorities discussed at this year’s gathering included reproductive rights, reducing infant mortality, economic development with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and affordable housing. We heard from legislatures on critical issues like human trafficking and concerns affecting transgender youth. What is evident is that this gathering embodies the spirit of “motherism”—the ability to identify and prioritize the most pressing issues and bring them to the community for the purpose of ordering. The collective movement of Black women is embedded in Motherism, creating structures for justice and equity, even if it means reimagining and reordering the world as we know it.
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