Courageous Conversations: Advocating for Yourself

Photo by: Carolyn Kaster/AP

Stacey Abrams is one of the most standout names and influential personalities in recent US politics. 

Abrams’ resume speaks for itself, yet she continues to have to advocate for herself vocally. She is a graduate of Spelman College and Yale Law School, an attorney and entrepreneur, and a former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives. Abrams is also the woman who has served the Democratic party their most recent White House and US Senate majority victories. 

In 2018, Abrams founded Fair Fight Action, a grassroots organization with the mandate to fight voter suppression in Georgia state, encourage voter participation in elections, and educate voters on their voting rights. The impact of Abrams and Fair Fight Action is in their results. In the 2020 US Presidential election, the traditionally Republican state of Georgia turned blue when it elected a Democrat for President for the first time in more than twenty years. 

Fast forward to January 2021, and Abrams has done it again with her grassroots movement handing over wins for both Georgia Senate run-offs for the Democratic party, ultimately giving the party the US Senate majority. Abrams and her team’s work are crucial because voter suppression is a significant problem in communities of colour. 

Abrams is yet another example of Black excellence and a woman who had to carve an unpaved path. Why? Because despite her credentials and proven track record, Abrams continues to have to prove herself. 

As a self-proclaimed podcast junkie and Stacey Abrams admirer, I was excited to listen to former Obama presidency strategist David Axelrod’s interview with Abrams on The Axe Files podcast. I have always believed that the best way to become exceptional is by learning from extraordinary people, and this was a chance to hear Abrams tell her story. 

My excitement turned into upset when Axelrod asked Abrams why she is so vocal and direct about wanting to be Joe Biden’s running mate as the Vice-President nominee (before Vice-President Kamala Harris was announced as the running mate). While surprising to hear such a question from a man who served under the first Black President and Vice-President of the United States, it is sadly expected. Each time Abrams asked to be considered for a position, despite her accolades and ability to deliver results, it was an act of courage.  

In 2021, it is sadly still necessary for a Black woman and other people of colour to advocate for themselves to be seen, considered, and to be given their rightful chance at an opportunity. When people of colour speak up and ask for what they want, it is met with surprise (at best) or aversion.  

Verbalizing what you want is an act of courage for people of colour. For people who are continually battling racial stereotypes, such as the “aggressive black woman” or the “timid and quiet Asian,” asking for what you want can feel like another uphill battle. While we can’t expect David Axelrod or others like him to understand a Black woman’s experiences, we should expect them not to question these acts of courage. Abrams once said, “Like most who are underestimated, I have learned to over-perform and find soft but keyways to take credit. Because ultimately, leadership and power require the confidence to effectively wield both.” May this be a reminder that the next time an overperforming individual courageously asks for what they want, it is not because they want to, but because they have to.