Georgia Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms stands on the shoulders of Stacey Abrams, Charlotta Bass and countless other Black women who dreamed

Key Points:

• Keisha Lance Bottoms has been elected as Georgia’s first Black woman governor, marking the first time a Black woman has been elected governor of any U.S. state, symbolizing significant progress amid the state’s painful history of racial violence and oppression.
• Bottoms’ victory is rooted in a legacy of Black political advancement and the work of women like Stacey Abrams, whose voter engagement and rights advocacy laid the groundwork for this historic win despite her own unsuccessful gubernatorial bids.
• The election also evokes the legacy of earlier pioneers like Charlotta Bass, the first Black woman nominated for U.S. vice president in 1952, highlighting a long history of Black women imagining and striving for political power against overwhelming odds.
• While Bottoms’ election represents a milestone for representation, the true test will be her ability to deliver justice and equity for all Georgians, particularly marginalized communities who have historically been excluded from political power.
• This historic moment offers hope and inspiration for future generations of Black girls, illustrating the transformative power of representation and the ongoing struggle for a more just democracy.