18 Black Women Who are Kicking Butt in the Face of a Trump Presidency

One thing the 2016 election taught us is that black women are bout dat life. They voted against Trump at an incredibly high margin (more than 90%, vs just 47% of white women), and made history on election night by winning key political offices. Although Trump was elected to the presidency, the ascent of these women makes it clear that the fight for justice in America is far from over. Here are 18 incredible black women you need to know.

Philadelphia teacher Jasmyn Wright who, on the day after Trump’s election, led her class of primarily black students in a chant of “I’m gonna push through”, citing examples of historical black figures who have thrived in times of intense racial violence and discrimination. The video has now gone viral.

The record high 9 black woman judges elected in Jefferson County, Alabama — a state that went for Trump by more than 62%.

Javan Patton, Debra Bennett Winston, Shera Craig Grant, Nakita “Niki” Perryman Blocton, Tamara Harris Johnson, Elisabeth French, Agnes Chappell, Brendette Brown Green and Annetta Verin will be sworn in next January. Read more on these history-making women here.

Ilhan Omar, the first Muslim refugee elected to office.

34-year-old Somali-American Ilhan Omar was elected to the Minnesota State House of Representatives and has this to say about her historic run.

“One of the biggest challenges was overcoming the narrative that if you are a minority person running for office, you can only win a seat in a district that is demographically in your favor,” Omar told NBCBLK in an interview. “We were making the case that the electorate is actually interested in policy. It’s interested in a vision.”

We agree 100%

California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who became the second black woman in history to serve in the United States Senate. The first was Illinois’ Carol Moseley Braun. Harris is an AKA who attended Howard University.

Lisa Blunt Rochester, the first ever woman and African American to be elected to Congress from Delaware.

Prior to her November 8 election win, Rochester was the first black woman to serve as Delaware’s Secretary of Labor, and the state’s first black Deputy Secretary of Health and Social Services.

Catherine Pugh, who was just elected mayor of Baltimore.

Black Lives Matter founders Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors who released a statement after Trump’s election making clear that their activism will not be deterred.

“Donald Trump has promised more death, disenfranchisement and deportations. We believe him. The violence he will inflict in office, and the permission he gives for others to commit violence, is just beginning to emerge.

In the face of this, our commitment remains the same: protect ourselves and our communities.

But we ask ourselves — how do we reconcile our vision for future generations’ prosperity with the knowledge that more than half of white voting Americans believe a white supremacist can and should decide what’s best for this country?

We organize.

Here’s what we know: Civic engagement is one way to engage democracy, and our lives don’t revolve around election cycles. We are obliged to earn the trust of future generations — to defend economic, social and political power for all people. We are confident that we have the commitment, the people power and the vision to organize our country into a safe place for black people — one that leads with inclusivity and a commitment to justice, not intimidation and fear…

Because it is our duty to win, we will continue to fight. And today, like every day before it, we demand reparations, economic justice, a commitment to black futures and an end to the war on black people, in the United States and around the world.

The work will be harder, but the work is the same.”

Zena Stephens, who was elected sheriff in a Texas county that voted for Trump.

Stephens is one of just two black woman sheriffs in the entire country (the other is Vanessa Crawford of Petersburg, Virginia.)

As we process our emotions about a coming Trump presidency, these women are reminders of the magic, strength, grit and resilience black women possess, and our ability to transform the culture in which we live.