The Barriers Black Women Face While Running for Public Office

“While I am so proud to have achieved elected office, it’s without a doubt the most mentally and emotionally taxing job I’ve ever had,” writes Portland, ME city councilmember Victoria Pelletier. (Left: @councilorvictoria; Right: courtesy RepresentWomen)

I’ll never forget what another Black woman serving in elected office told me in the aftermath of a traumatic, racist experience I encountered almost one year ago. During a crying phone call, she said to me that when you’re a Black woman, you can never “just serve” in public office. There . . .