"There have been lots of other women who had the talent and ability before me. I think this can be seen as an affirmation that we're moving ahead. And I hope it means that I'm just the first in a long line.” A quote by the first African-American female astronaut and one of my first role models, Mae Jemison. Here’s a little secret about me; at an early age, my goal in life was to be an astronaut! After hearing about Mae Jemison, I told my mother to sign me up for space camp because I was to follow in her footsteps. I actually visited the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama to get more information about space camp. I was committed! The only reason I’m not an astronaut today is because I watched the movie Armageddon and I never spoke of space again. However, because I read about Mae Jemison and I studied her accomplishments, her achievements in life signaled to me that nothing was impossible and my opportunities in life were limitless. I didn’t quite make it to space, but I have been able to travel so many places on this earth that have been so gratifying. I never felt limited in what I wanted to do in life.
August 11, 2020 was a reminder to the world that women of color will continue to shatter glass ceiling and rise to prominent leadership positions. Exactly a week following the win for Cori Bush in the upset for the U.S. Congressional seat in Missouri’s 1st District, we are showing that we will no longer watch from the sidelines. We will no longer settle for the positions prescribed to us. Even though we are typically invited to the party of the democratic process to cast our vote, we now have our seat at the table and now our voice will shape the future of United States politics and history. Kamala Harris wasn’t just selected to be Joe Biden’s running mate, she was chosen to amplify, to the second-highest power, voices of communities that are historically marginalized and oppressed.
With this decision, all the compounding efforts, experiences, and contributions of our ancestors to this country are validated and valued. Fannie Lou Hammer, Shirley Chisholm, and heaven’s most recent angel, John Lewis are dancing and rejoicing. Politics aside, my hope is that Kamala Harris will be that role model to a younger generation the way Mae Jemison was to me. Senator Kamala Harris is accepting the challenge in this battle for the soul of the nation and it is reaffirming to know that we could travel to the moon, the stars, and beyond.
