EMILYs List Statement on Black History Month

February 2, 2017       

EMILY’s List Statement on Black History Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In celebration of Black History Month, Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILYs List, released the following statement:

“In these unsettling times when our civil rights are under threat, it is more important than ever to remember our history and to celebrate the achievements of leaders in the African American community who helped bend the moral arc toward justice,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILYs List. “From Shirley Chisolm to the Democratic African American congresswomen currently serving, Black women leaders have been champions for progress.”

“EMILYs List is especially proud this year to have supported leaders who are already standing up and fighting hard for all women and families: Kamala Harris, who became the second African American woman senator in our country’s history; Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, who became the first African American and first woman to represent Delaware in Congress; and Representative Val Demings, who became the first woman and first African American to represent Orlando, Florida in Congress.”

“Yet more work remains to be done. African American women continue facing barriers when running for office. That needs to change, which is why the EMILYs List community – now more than five million members strong – will continue to help recruit, train, and elect more Black women to state and local offices and to grow their numbers in Congress. Together we will build a government where everyone has a voice at the table.”

EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $500 million to support pro-choice Democratic women candidates – making them one of the most successful political organizations ever. Our grassroots community of over five million members helps Democratic women wage competitive campaigns – and win. We recruit and train candidates, support strong campaigns, research the issues that impact women and families, and turn out women voters. Since our founding in 1985, we have trained nearly 10,000 women to run and helped elect 116 women to the House, 23 to the Senate, 12 governors, and over 800 to state and local office. Forty percent of the candidates EMILY’s List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color – including every single Latina, African American, and Asian American Democratic congresswoman currently serving.