No Democracy Without Black Women

Our democracy survived the November elections and January transition of power by a thread, in large part thanks to the long-term work and advocacy of Black women—leaders like Stacey Abrams (a former state legislator herself) and the Fair Fight Action team; organizers and political strategists like Adrianne Shropshire, Tamieka Atkins, Nsé Ufot, and LaTosha Brown; state legislators like Maryland Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, Kentucky Rep. Attica Scott, Tennessee Rep. Karen D. Camper, and Georgia Rep. Sandra Scott; and Black women voters across the country who consistently turnout out in high numbers. Yet there remain too few Black women in elected office, and especially in state legislatures.

Today, just 4.82% of state legislators are Black women (356 out of 7,383 legislators). See the data below for a state-by-state comparison.

It is crucial for Black women to be represented in state legislatures, which consider over 100,000 bills nationwide each year. The people who most intimately know the true impact of structural racism and sexism—Black women—know best how to dismantle those systems and move to a just and equitable democracy and society.

There remain too few Black women in elected office, and especially in state legislatures. Today, just 4.82 percent of state legislators are Black women.

State legislatures are the critical front lines of the policy battles to build the world we want to live in. Every day, decisions on issues ranging from reproductive justice, education, workers' rights, health care, food and agriculture, criminal justice, democracy and voting rights, and everything in between are made in state legislatures. In the midst of a pandemic and economic recession that are having devastating consequences on Black women, the need for Black women to have decision-making power in the solutions to these crises has never been more apparent.

Black women have made significant gains in representation in elected office in recent years, yet more progress needs to be made.

There remain 8 states without a single Black woman in their legislature, despite the Black population in each state ranging from 2-6%: Vermont, South Dakota, Hawaii, Arizona, Idaho, Nebraska, Montana, and North Dakota.

States with large Black populations are not immune from under-representation either. In fact, Mississippi, the state with the highest Black population in the country, has a staggering disparity in representation—Black women make up approximately 19.36% of the population but just 7.47% of the legislature.

In Louisiana, the state with the third highest Black population in the country, Black women make up approximately 16.82% of the population but just 5.55% of the legislature—a disparity of over 3 to1.

Lasting progressive change must begin with removing the barriers of entry for Black women.

Underrepresentation creates barriers where there should be a steady flow of ideas and policy from communities to the capitol. Conversely, when Black women do serve in office, they create much-needed change. Look to Kentucky State Rep. Attica Scott, one of just two Black women in her state's legislature, who introduced and is fighting for Breonna's Law-—both in the streets and in the capitol. Look to Georgia State Rep. Sandra Scott who introduced a resolution to declare racism a public health crisis. Look to Maryland Speaker Adrienne Jones, the first Black and first female speaker of the Maryland House, who has rolled out the state's first "Black Agenda," aimed at eliminating racial gaps in health, wealth, and housing.

Lasting progressive change must begin with removing the barriers of entry for Black women. It is also necessary for the accomplishments of Black women legislators to be recognized, for their leadership to be supported, and their policy priorities to be given the attention they deserve. Our challenge is two-fold: we must push for reform and representation.

Only with Black women in significant seats of power and at every table where decisions are being made can our nation truly recover from the racist and sexist structures that hold all our society back and build toward a more prosperous future for all, not just the wealthy few.

We spoke with Black women state legislators and Congresswomen about why representation in public office is so important.

"As one of two Black women in our legislature, I face threats from people filled with racial hatred, I face erasure from my colleagues, and I face institutional racism. Despite all of this, I serve because my community deserves a racial justice champion."

Kentucky State Rep. Attica Scott

"All politics are local, so it is imperative more Black women run for public office. Black women helped fuel change up and down the ballot during the 2020 Election; just imagine the transformational power ‘Black Girl Magic' can have in city councils and state legislatures."

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty

"I stand when I need to stand, I speak up when I need to speak, and I protest when I need to protest. But most of all, I create meaningful legislation that has a positive impact on my community. Being an outspoken Black female legislator in Georgia is not an easy job but, I love it."

Rep. Sandra Scott

"Having worked at every level of government—community, county, state, and federal—I can unequivocally say that the work of local and state governments present the greatest opportunity to have a direct impact on the lives of our constituents. And now, with the relentless assault on voting rights in state legislatures across America, more Black women are needed in state elective offices to preserve our most precious Constitutional right."

Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly

"When Black women and girls see Black women rising up and being put in these positions of power, it gives them hope. We have the power to bring change to our communities and I don't take that for granted."

Tennessee Rep. Karen D. Camper

"Black women continue to broaden the reach and impact of our state, local and federal policies that improve our communities. As Maryland's first Black and first woman to serve as Speaker, I am also the only one to introduce a statewide plan for racial & economic justice. Diverse leadership – at every level of government – is the vehicle that drives us closer towards progress."

Maryland Speaker Adrienne A. Jones

This article was originally published by The State Innovation Exchange on March 23, 2021.