Throughout Women’s History Month 2020, Prism shone a light on the many ways women of color are leading the way in progressive politics, from voting rights to economic justice and more.
Across the country, women of color are leading the movement against voter suppression
The 2020 election is less than nine months away. With so much at stake, and with Black and brown communities holding so much voting power, efforts to place roadblocks in front of the ballot box seem to be never-ending. One of the major roadblocks came in 2013 when the Supreme Court struck down key provisions of…
Voting comes with ‘immense power’: Q&A with Texas voting rights activist Maya Patel
When Maya Patel discusses her work registering young voters, she doesn’t talk much about herself. Instead, she focuses on the facts and issues. Her passion comes through loud and clear as she dives into not just what the obstacles are in Texas to get young voters registered, but also the solutions that she knows work.…
Latinx women push to hold lawmakers accountable on right-wing voter suppression schemes
Latinx people confront voting rights challenges nationwide, including language barriers, voter roll purges, and underhanded right-wing tactics designed to make voting the process inconvenient. The New Florida Majority, an organization primarily led by women of color, has been aggressively organizing and campaigning for progressive policies for years. The organization does phone banking, registers voters, and fights…
Black women’s fight for the franchise is reshaping democracy
This year, Black voters are expected to account for a quarter of every primary ballot cast. Since 1992, no democratic presidential candidate has won the party’s nomination without a majority of the Black vote. Black women in particular have been called the “backbone” of the Democratic Party. But even with that status, their loyalty often…
The long fight for police accountability and economic justice: A Q&A with Gicola Lane
Black women like Gicola Lane have been at the forefront of Southern organizing since the first movements took shape. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, and currently an electoral justice fellow with the Movement for Black Lives, Lane was first inspired to action when local police killed Jocques Clemmons after a traffic stop in her community. After an…
From the 19th century through today, Black women in the South are always leading
Since the earliest days in the history of the United…
Asian American women are on the front lines protecting voting rights for overlooked ‘model minority’
When people think of voter suppression, Asian Americans aren’t typically…
Foster care, a city council seat, and a run for Congress: Aisha Wahab’s journey
In 2011, life took a challenging turn for Aisha Wahab…
Native American women are defending voting rights and building power in the process
Though the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act granted American citizenship to…
‘I’m dreaming as big as I can’: A Q&A with human rights activist Rukia Lumumba
Rukia Lumumba has no plans to slow down. The Mississippi…
