On Monday, LaToya Cantrell will be sworn in as mayor of the city of New Orleans. As the city commemorates its 300th anniversary, Cantrell becomes the first woman mayor in its history. And she will also join two other mayors in the state, forming a trio of black women who lead Louisiana’s three largest cities.
This on its own is significant in a state as deeply conservative and red as Louisiana. But it also mirrors a pattern that is currently present in four other cities across the country. As The Washington Post writes:
Deep South Louisiana also will have two black women leading cities that rank in the top 100 by population, joining four other such cities nationwide: Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte and the District of Columbia. [...]
Some experts and voters point to Louisiana’s deep challenges, which disproportionately affect minority communities, as being a driving force for change. Income, unemployment and life expectancy here lag behind most of the country, issues that have motivated the three mayors. Each said the idea of serving the public — especially the ability to improve the lives of those in their communities — has been a driving factor in their public lives.
This is where the Democratic Party and America can learn some important and valuable lessons. Black women are not just the base of the party that can be trusted to deliver votes that contribute to Democratic wins. We are also experienced and motivated members of the community who can be trusted to understand the needs of a variety of constituents and successfully lead. For decades, the Party has relied on us as voters but has failed to support black women candidates and recruit them to run for office.
But times and the political climate are changing, and this is long overdue. The examples in Louisiana as well other cities around the country show that black women can win elections. And there seems to be a willingness among people to vote for them, since they represent something different than the status quo.
As explained by The Washington Post:
Some voters in the three cities said they have grown tired of the usual candidates and want to give someone else — notably women — a shot at accomplishing what others have not.
“It’s probably happening because citizens have seen what a man can do in office, and it’s not been all good,” said Darren Broussard, 31, of Baton Rouge. “Why not put a woman in there and see if she can try some other things out?”
The other two black women that Cantrell joins in Louisiana Democratic leadership are Shreveport mayor Ollie Tyler and Baton Rouge mayor Sharon Weston Broome. Both grew up knowing that they inherited a complicated legacy, as black girls descended from families in the South. They have all resided in Louisiana for decades—though Cantrell and Weston Broome were not born there. All three women cite specific experiences in their respective communities that helped solidify their decisions to run for office. Each knows what its like to live through hardships, violence, racism, and sexism, and has turned a passion for preserving and protecting their communities into careers working on behalf of marginalized people. Cantrell is quoted in The Washington Post as saying the following:
“Being someone who comes from a very humble background and beginning, those are things you carry with you and that are a part of who you are,” Cantrell said. “You may see things a little differently because you are connected to them in a different way.”
The Democratic Party needs these important victories now more than ever. We have winnable races ahead in 2018 and 2020 if we focus our energy not just on voter turnout, but on the right candidates. Black women across the country are running for office and they are well-positioned to win and lead us toward a better future in a country that has seemingly gone mad. All it requires is investment, support, and trust.