Dear friend,

"We can do hard things together."

My dear mother signs all of her emails with this quote. It's her mantra.

In drafting this week's email, I was reflecting (again) on how POWERFUL Black women are when we work together.  From blocking bills that would harm our communities to electing candidates that represent our interests to (re)writing our own history, we are so much stronger when we work together. 

Linking arms also helps assuage our feelings of fear. We have the support we need when we fail or falter.

This week, I hope you remember (and exercise!) your power.  I also hope you celebrate the Black women in your life who have your back. 

We've got this. 

In love and solidarity,

Jocelyn

BlackHer Shero of the Week

Our BlackHer Shero of the Week is Cassandra Welchlin, executive director of the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable. In 2014, Welchlin co-founded the Mississippi Women’s Economic Security Initiative to build a women’s agenda for Mississippi centered on race, gender, and economic justice. 

I spoke to her about her work to build economic and political power for Black women and girls in Mississippi.

Check her out!

BlackHer Fact

Mississippi is the ONLY state in the nation that doesn't have an equal pay law on the books.  And in the Magnolia State, Black women make 56 cents for every $1 a white man makes across educational levels and occupations.

Read Women Driving Change: A Pathway to a Better Mississippi by the Mississippi Black Women's Roundtable and the National Women's Law Center to learn more. 

10th Annual Black Women's Roundtable

If you haven't registered for the 10th Annual Black Women's Roundtable yet, here's another reason to do it NOW.

Vice President Kamala Harris is their opening speaker!  

Register now to learn from and connect with Black women across the country to build our power.  Welchlin's team from Mississippi will also be there!

Karen Carter Peterson is One Step Closer to Congress

Huge congratulations to Karen Carter Peterson, who won 23% of the votes in the Louisiana primary on March 20th and is headed to a runoff on April 24th. She is one step closer to becoming the first Black Congresswoman for the state.

Peterson held her own even though her opponent raised twice as much money for his campaign. 

Let's help close her fundraising gap!  

Watch the video below to hear Stacey on Karen and email me to join a special fundraiser for Karen Carter Peterson for Congress (LA-02) in April. 

Anti-Monopoly Activism

Jeremie Greer and BlackHer Shero Solana Rice, co-executive directors of Liberation in a Generation, launched an important report this week to help us understand monopoly power and advocate against it. 

I was surprised to learn how few companies control our food, health care, technology, and more!

"Monopolies are a lot like the shark in Jaws. While enormous, ruthless, dangerous, and scary, the movie’s monster is just a shark, and the police chief uses tools and community to defeat it. Comparatively, while also enormous, ruthless, dangerous, and even scary, monopolies are just corporations, and we, together, can confront them. Their massive power controls the wages we earn, the prices we pay, and the actions of the politicians who are supposed to represent us in DC, the statehouse, and city hall. In a representative democracy, we the people are at the top of the food chain, and it is within our power to make these monopolies fear us—and end their existence in the first
place."

Read Anti-Monpoloy Activism: Reclaiming Power through Racial Justice to learn more. 

Is the Home Depot Suppressing Our Right to Vote?

Speaking of monopolies and outsized corporate power, is Home Depot suppressing our right to vote?

A: Not if the New Georgia Project Action Fund, led by BlackHer Shero Nse Ufot, has anything to say about it.

Sign this petition to tell corporations to STOP providing financial support to Georgia legislators who are pushing voter suppression bills.

Join me for a chat.

Enterprising Women of Color, a new program of Wacif (Washington Area Community Investment Fund), has invited me to share more about my entrepreneurial journey on March 25th from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET.

Register now.

Need Inspiration?

Read this poem by Alice Walker.

They were women then
My mama’s generation
Husky of voice—stout of
Step
With fists as well as
Hands
How they battered down
Doors
And ironed
Starched white
Shirts
How they led
Armies
Headragged generals
Across mined
Fields
Booby-trapped
Ditches
To discover books
Desks
A place for us
How they knew what
we
Must know
Without knowing a page
Of it
Themselves.

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BlackHer was created by and for Black women. We are amplifying our leadership and educating and inspiring each other to act for progressive change.