Scoot over Massachusetts, you weren’t the only New England State last night to send their first African American woman to Congress!
Jahana Hayes has become the first African American woman to represent Connecticut in Congress after defeating Republican Manny Santos, 56% to 44%, in the 5th CT Congressional District.
Hayes grew up in Waterbury, CT public housing, the daughter of a drug addict and pregnant at 17 years old. As a single mother, she put herself through college, became a teacher, and eventually won the National Teacher of the Year in 2016.
www.nbcconnecticut.com/...
“I don’t think you realize what just happened. Yesterday marked 50 years since Shirley Chisholm was elected as the first African American woman to go to Congress,” Hayes said to supporters Tuesday night. “Today, we made history by sending me to Congress.”
Here she is being interviewed on The Ellen Show after winning National Teacher of the Year in 2016. I cannot imagine that you wouldn’t be laughing with a tear in your eye at the end of this.
CT — you did great last night!!