Open Letter by Black Women Leaders in Response to the Narrative Surrounding Black Women Nominees for Vice President
Black women are many things. We are business executives, political strategists and elected officials, philanthropists, and activists. We are health and wellness practitioners. We are entertainers and faith leaders. We are wives, mothers, daughters, educators, and students. We set and shift culture. We build power and we are powerful.
We are the highest propensity voters in this nation. We are a coalition of Black women leaders, who, in this inflection point of the Black liberation movement, where people around the world are galvanized to action, know that the time for Black women in the United States is now.
Over the past few months in the media, we have witnessed many Black women put forth as potential Vice Presidential candidates including former Gubernatorial Candidate Stacey Abrams, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Senator Kamala Harris, Congresswoman Val Demings, and former US Ambassador Susan Rice, be publicly critiqued. We have also watched many of these highly-credentialed women be disrespected in the media over the last few weeks.
Regardless of your political affiliation, whether it’s the media, members of the vice presidential vetting committee, a former Governor, a top political donor, or a small town mayor: We are not your Aunt Jemimas. The use of the racist myth of a happy, Black servant portrayed as a happy domestic worker loyal to her White employer is not lost on us. While some of the relentless attacks on Black women and our leadership abilities have been more suggestive than others, make no mistake–we are qualified and ambitious without remorse.
We are servant leaders — motivated by a desire to uplift and advance our communities and nation. And we will not tolerate racist or sexist tropes consistently utilized in an effort to undermine our power. No matter who you are supporting for Vice President, you should be equally outraged by the blatant disrespect of Black women.
Black women have been and remain vital across sectors. We are indebted to women like Ella Baker, Septima Clarke, Shirley Chisholm, Angela Davis, Fannie Lou Hamer, Barbara Jordan, Ruby Doris Robinson, and Ida B. Wells, just to name a few. These women have fought to move us forward and are collectively responsible for much of this country’s progress. Black women have been leading, and we must honor, protect, support, and uplift them.
In solidarity,
Concerned Black Women Leaders
Debra Abernathy
Kathy Adams
Katrina Adams
Ifeoluwa Adaralegbe
Alice Agnew
Marceline Alexander
Rev. Dr. Natalie P. Alford Ed D.
Chinita Allen
Valentia Alleyne
Aimee Allison
Karen Alston
Rev. Dr. Antoinette Alvarado
Lauretta Amanor
Tanasha Anders
Rev. Dr. Karen Anderson
Carolyn Anderson
Cynthia Anderson
Elizabeth Andrews
Angela Angel, O.M.
Archibald,Shavon
Arline-Bradley,
Cheeneah Armstrong
Shyra Arrington
Adjoa B. Asamoah
Tondalaire Ashford
Latoya Asia
Antonia Astin
Isophine Atkinson
Chanda Austin
Keenan Austin Reed
Sade Awe
Hope Ayers
Barbara Bagneris
Vera Alice Bagneris
TL Bails
Raymone Bain
Valerie Hollingsworth Baker
Sheila Banks
Beatrice Baptiste
Marla Barbee
Pamela Barnes
Angela Barrett-Brown
Janine Sherman Barroris
Cora Masters Barry
Juanita Barton
Jackita Bass
Ezell Battle
Julia Battle
Sheryl Battles
Julie A. Bayley
Jacqueline L. Bazan
Latres Bell
Tracy Bell
Michelle Bell
Nadja Bellan-White
Sharon Bennett
Sydney Benson
Cheryl Benton
Salandra Benton
Love Benton
Nicole Bernard
Williette Berry
Tara Beverly
Therese Binfon
Rev. Traci Blackmon
Deborah Blanks
Kelly Bolden
Talia Boone
Imani Bordeaux
Andrea Boyd
Kortni Boyd
Karen Boykin-Towns
Karen Brailsford
Nedra Braithwaite
Sylvia Braswell
Donna Brazile
Rhonda Briggins
Valerie Briggs
Jessica Bright
Roslyn Brock
Melonese Brookins
Desiree Brooks
Shannon Brooks
Clayola Brown
Dy Brown
LaTosha Brown
Cassandra Brown
Waqueta Brown
Theresa Brown
Veronica Brown
Robin Brown
Erin Broyard-Stennis
Julia W Brunson
Joy Burkes
Rhonda Burnough
Robin Burton
Cassandra Butcher
Helen Butler
Shane Butler
Brandy Butler
Cynthia Butler-McIntyre
Jaronica Byner
Leslie Callahan
Melanie Campbell
Ginger Campbell
Rhonda Cantelow
Yolanda Caraway
Brenda Cardwell
Glynda Carr
Rev. Dr. Iva Carruthers
Ruth Carter
Stacia Carter
Erika Carver
Lynette Castille-Hall
Candi Castleberry
Chellee Cephas
Sandra Chaney
Tomyka Chaney
Kelsey Charley
Jamila Chase
Audrey Chase
Emmalesha Christman
Lavonda Clarington
Kyree Clarke
Mia Clay
Felicia Clayton
Billie Coachman
Natalie Cofield
Tamara Cofield
DJaris Cofield-Holman
Reecie Colbert
Dr. Johnetta Betsch Cole
Kandice Cole
Tiffany Johnson Cole
Shantelle Coleman
Michelle Coleman
Maurita Coley
Barbara Collins
Edda Collins Coleman
Kelli Coleman
Constance Colter-Brabham
Stephné Coney
Sescily Coney, Esq.
April Conley
Jeanette Conrad-Elllis
Akunna Cook
Pamela Cook
Alfreda Coward
Shaneika Crawford
Kia Crawford
Tracy Crayton
Stacey Crooks
Crystal Crump
Christina Cue
Maya R. Cummings
Kay Dalton
Cheri Daniels
Vonetta Daniels
Vickel Darby
The Reverend Leah D.Daughtry
Rev. Dr. Dawnique Daughtry
Dr. Karen Daughtry
Mona Davenport
Marilyn Davis
Alfreda V. Davis
Alma G. Davis
Angela Davis
Marquita Davis
Crystal Davis
Tawana Davis
Olivia Davis
Patricia Myatt Davis
Dee Dawkins-Haigler
Ernette Dawson
Pamela Dawson
Tamika Day
Morgan DeBaun
E Patricia Debrick
Candace Delaine
Suzanne DePasse
Shermaine Derrick
Tara DeVeaux
Tameika Devine
Y. Falami Devoe
G Funmilayo Devoe
Kangelon Dexter
Dazon Dixon Diallo
Synithia Dowdell-Cole
Michelle Dubois
Dr. Hazel N. Dukes
Wanda Dunham
Michelle Dutton
Jotaka L. Eaddy
Lenora Abraham Eaddy
Kathi Earles
Patricia Earley
Megalyn Echikunwoke
Sonya Ede-Williams
Ramona H Edelin
Denice Edwards
Danette Edwards
Betty Edwards
Colette Edwards
Brenda Edwards-Miller
Michelle Huff Elliot
Reaneé Ellis
Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins
Starr Essence
Erika Estrada
Lori Evans
Ann Everett
Cherylance Farnum
Toni Fay
Michelle Byrd Felder
Karen Finney
Nadia Fischer
Rolanda Fleming
Alicia Flemming-Bragg
Barbara Flowers
Lisa Flowers
Lourdes Dolores Follins
Karla Forbes
Elizabeth Ford
Dr. Tawuana Ford
Dwetha Forrest
Heather Foster
Endrea Frazier
Melonie Frazier
Charlotte Freeman
Laconduas Freeman
Patricia Frye
Nicole Fryer
Francine Gadson
Michelle Gadson-Williams
Temperence Gaines
Jasmine Gaither
Wynda Garcia
Deirdre Garrett-Scott
Yvonne Gates
Shannon Gatlin
Ronda Gedward
Melissa George
Clea George
Atim George
A’shanti Gholar
Siddiqa Gibson
Jonetta Gilbert Jackson
Monique Gilliam
Toria Gladney-Neal
Rhonda Godfrey
Robin Godwin
Amy R. Goldson
Amber Goldwire-Wade
Petula Gomillion
Ingrid Gordon
Jacqueline Graham
Trudy Grant
Mary G Grant
Sharron Grant-Burton
Donna Graves
Ruth Gray
Nicole Grayson
Simone Green
Kimberly Green
Linda Mercado Greene
LaTisha Gregory
Keith Griffin
Gloria Griffith
Jacquelyn Griffith
Tammy Grimes
Mamee Groves
Carmalitha Gumbs
Vickey Hale
Staci Hallmon
Nadia Hankerson
Alexis Hankerson
Joyce Harley
Lauren Harper
Princess Harper
Carlotta Harrell
Rutha Harris
Vernita Harris
Roslyn Harris
Ursula Harris
Aisha Harrison
Vickie Abdullah Hasan
Kynderly Haskins
Charlitta Hatch
Nocola Hemphill
Kristi Henderson
Christina Henderson
Tarrow Henderson
Rhana Henry
America Henson
Rosemary Hickman
Carolyn Highsmith
Veronica Hill
Selena Hill
Debbie Hillman
Aisha Hinds
Devina Hogan
Chandra Holdren
Holli Holiday
Tawnya Holliman
LaShonda “L.J.” Holloway
Juenesse Holman
Juenesse Holman
Candace Holmes
Yolanda Holmes
Pamela Holmes
Shirley Holmes
Rosalind Home
Beverly Hood
Gwendolyn Hopkins
Betty Horton-Hodge
Vida Hotchkiss
Monique Houser
Tamara Houston
Mary Howard
Carls Huggins
Rachael Humphrey
Nina Hunter
Latoya Hunter
Ifeoma Ike, Esq.
Janaye Ingram
Amy Elisa Jackson
Adrienne Jackson
Daphne Jackson
Constance Jackson
Monique Jackson
Merylin Jackson
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Keisha Sutton James
Tiffany James
Sharon Jamison
Rania Jamison
Debbie Jarvis
Michelle Jawando
Andria Jeffries
Alice Jenkins
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JaMia Jenkins
Marissa Jennings
Jillian Johnson
Taylor Johnson
Corlett Johnson
Tammy Johnson
Toni Johnson
Karla Johnson
Victoria Johnson
Velyna Johnson
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Sandra Phillips Johnson
Charise Johnson
Essence Johnson
Star Jones
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Toni Jones
Jennifer Jones
Tishaura Jones
Veronica G Jones
Michele Jones
Kimberly Jones-Anthony
Avis Jones-DeWeever Ph.D.
Cheryl Jordan
Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson
Suzanne Kay
Naima J. Keith
Cynthia Keller
Cass Keller
Jenea Kennedy
Sonya Kenner
Seymone Killins
Karen Kimbrough
Charmion Kinder
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Lisa King
Daveitta Knight
Niija Kuykendall
Machelle Kyles
Fatimot Ladipo
Keisga Lance
Elsie Langham
Arnetta Langham
Lorraine Lathen
Tina Knowles Lawson
Patrice Leach
Dr. Nicole Turner Lee
Phoebe Lee
Pamela Lee
Rev. Adora Iris Lee
Veleria Levy
Peggy Lewis
Nakisha Lewis
L. Toni Lewis, MD
Jeanine Liburd
Rosalind Lindsay
Lashandra Little
Nawassa Logan
Barbara Long
Tiffany Lovelady
Chanceé Lundy
Sara Lyons
Gabriele Mack
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Minyon Moore
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Tangy Morgan
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Willette Neal
Shaterica Neal
Denise E. Nedab
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Shellie Olds-Johnson
Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver
Martha Oliver
Uriridiakoghene Onovakpuri
Lakeshia Parks
Collyne Partee
Naomi Pate
Dr Shelia Payton
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LaTausha Perkins-Allen
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Denise Peterson
Fran Phillips-Calhoun
Robin Pickett
Georgette Pierre
Sheila Plummer
Joyce Polite-Davis
Tara Porcher
Angelyn C. Porter
Tracie Pough
Michelle Pourciau
Lydia Powell
Sandra Powell
Raychel Proudie
Dr. Pamela Pugh
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Holly Raindrop
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Pamela Redd
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Sharese Reyes
Jessica Rhau
Jessica Rhodes
Libi Rice
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Ethel Richardson
Ebonie Riley
Jennifer Riley
Molatri Roberts
Roger Roberts
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Lydia Robinson
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Pam Robinson
Tamara Rodriguez
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Ruth Rollins
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Angela Rye
Deena Sams
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Comelia R. Sanford
Mosi Saxton
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Charita Selden
Patricia Selden-Black
Chelonnda Seroyer
Kalen Shaw
Dana Vickers Shelley
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Aoki Lee Simmons
Denise Simmons
Ming Lee Simmons
Yvette Simpson
Eris Sims
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L’Tryce Slade
Denise Young Smith
Marcia Smith
Deborah Smith
Shavone Smith
Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i
Nicola Smith-Kea
Marian Solomon-Gaines
Lashandra Span
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Lillie St. Clair
Aimy Steele
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Rev. Dr. Gina Stewart
Iris Stover
Shannon Sullivan
Adrienne Sutton
Estelle Swaray
Lyric Swinton
Debra Taliaferro-Holmes
Margaret Tatum
Kerene Tayloe
Lawonna Taylor
Makani Themba
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Tiffany Thompson
Qianna Tidmore
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Cheryl Calicott Trawick
Kim Trent
Shuana Tucker
Donna Turk
Rev. Eboni Marshall Turman Ph.D.
Juanita Turman, Ph.D.
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Meredith Turner
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Latoshia Whaley
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Jaffee White
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