I am a sci fi nerd. I grew up consuming so much science fiction. But the first for me was Star Trek. My dad made me watch. He loved the show because it was a boldly hopeful view of what humanity’s future could be, who we could be for each other and to each other. I know Nichelle Nichols was a part of his faith and hope in the future. As MLK told her, for people like my father and myself, she fueled a sense of the possibilities; a sense of exciting future frontiers. Thank you Nichelle. Your light still shines amidst the stars.
Happy Presidents Day!
🤎 ‘BLACK STORIES We Should All Know’ US SENATE SERIES PART 1 🗣️There have only been 12 BLACK SENATORS out of the 2000 senators ❓ What does a senator do🤷🏿♀️ 👉🏿 CONGRESS = House of Representatives SENATE 👉🏿The Senate GIVES ADVICE to The President and they are the court for impeachment ‼️ The House The Senate INTRODUCE LEGISLATION and PASS LAWS 1️⃣ HIRAM REVELS was the FIRST BLACK SENATOR in the United States 2️⃣ BLANCHE BRUCE – first Black Senator to serve a full term in the Senate. 3️⃣ EDWARD BROOKE- first Black senator elected by POPULAR VOTE (the citizens decided they wanted him as senator) #BlackStories #BlackHistory #Congress #USSenators #HiramRevel #BlancheBruce #EdwardBrooke
Live Love Out Loud
No right is ever fully secure, every generation must do the work to secure them, defend them and advance them for the next generation. 154 years ago the 15th amendment of the constitution was ratified. It stated: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” And now, in the last 10 years, at least 29 states have passed nearly 100 restrictive voting rights laws. We have work to do to ensure that every voting aged American has EQUAL access to vote.
🤎 ‘BLACK STORIES We Should All Know’ US SENATE SERIES PART ✌🏿of 🖐🏿 🗣️There have only been 12 BLACK SENATORS out of 2000 senators ❓ What does a senator do🤷🏿♀️ 👉🏿 CONGRESS = House of Representatives SENATE 👉🏿The Senate GIVES ADVICE to The President and they are the court for impeachment ‼️ The House The Senate INTRODUCE LEGISLATION and PASS LAWS 4️⃣ CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN was the FIRST BLACK WOMAN SENATOR in the United States – she was also the FIRST WOMAN to become senator in Cook County Illinois 5️⃣ BARACK OBAMA was only the 3rd Black senator to be elected by POPULAR VOTE (the citizens decided they wanted him as senator) since the end of reconstruction – 🗣️🗣️🗣️This was well over ONE HUNDRED YEARS 6️⃣ ROLAND BURRIS took over Barack Obama’s seat after he became PRESIDENT Obama 7️⃣ WILLIAM ‘Mo’ COWAN (appointed in 2013) this was the first time TWO BLACK SENATORS served at the same time 8️⃣ TIM SCOTT has been the only member of Congress to serve in BOTH CHAMBERS (House & the Senate) #BlackStories #BlackHistory #Congress #USSenators #CarolMoseleyBraun #BarackObama #RolandBurris #WilliamCowan #TimScott
🤎 ‘BLACK STORIES We Should All Know’ US SENATE SERIES PART 🖐🏿 ‼️WHY REPRESENTATION MATTERS ‼️ There have only been 1️⃣2️⃣ BLACK SENATORS out of 2000 senators ❓ What does a senator do🤷🏿♀️ 👉🏿 CONGRESS = House of Representatives SENATE 👉🏿The Senate GIVES ADVICE to The President and they are the court for impeachment ‼️ The House The Senate INTRODUCE LEGISLATION and PASS LAWS 🗣️WE NEED DIVERSITY 👉🏿otherwise we risk IMPORTANT LEGISLATION not happening 🙏🏿THANKFULLY we had Senator Edward Brooke leading the charge in passing the CIVIL RIGHTS ACT of 1968 🙏🏿It took over 100 years and 200 attempts before the Emmett Till Antilynching Act of 2022 was passed with Senator Booker, Senator Scott, and Senator Warnock. 👉🏿We need BLACK SENATORS when it comes to issues facing the Black community ‼️FOR EXAMPLE‼️ – Maternal Health Awareness – Juneteenth as a Federal Holiday – Sickle Cell Disease Legislation – Black Farmers Act – etc etc 🗣️”If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair!” – Shirley Chisholm ✊🏿❤️ #BlackStories #BlackHistory365 #BlackFirsts #Congress #USSenators #RepresentationMatters
Historically Black Colleges and Universities are pivotal. They provide vital opportunities to so many Black Americans. HBCU’s are the top producers of Black teachers, doctors, engineers, and more. The legacy within the HBCU pipeline is personal for me. My family is a part of that legacy, I am a part of that legacy. That’s why I proudly display memorabilia from these schools in my Senate office, not only as a reminder to myself of where I came from, but as a lesson for others on the impact these schools have made in our society and will continue to make. More Americans should recognize, champion and celebrate our HBCUs. There probably isn’t an American who hasn’t been touched, influenced, benefited or uplifted by an HBCU grad.
We face some big and growing problems, and we must meet them with big and bold ideas. Together we can make the American dream real for so many more people, especially children. Honored to be featured along some truly inspiring people who are taking action to reduce the racial wealth gap in @time’s The Closers.
🤎 ‘BLACK STORIES We Should All Know’ US SENATE SERIES PART 3 of 5 🗣️There have only been 12 BLACK SENATORS out of 2000 senators ❓ What does a senator do🤷🏿♀️ 👉🏿 CONGRESS = House of Representatives SENATE 👉🏿The Senate GIVES ADVICE to The President and they are the court for impeachment ‼️ The House The Senate INTRODUCE LEGISLATION and PASS LAWS 9️⃣ In 2013, Newark Mayor CORY BOOKER won a special election and became the 4th POPULARLY ELECTED SENATOR. 🥦🥕🍅 He is also the FIRST VEGAN senator ❤️ 🔟 KAMALA HARRIS: – California’s FIRST WOMAN ATTORNEY GENERAL – California’s FIRST INDIAN ATTORNEY GENERAL – California’s FIRST BLACK ATTORNEY GENERAL – California’s FIRST BLACK WOMAN SENATOR – FIRST WOMAN VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES – FIRST BLACK VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES – FIRST INDIAN WOMAN VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES #BlackStories #BlackHistory365 #BlackFirsts #Congress #USSenators #CoryBooker #KamalaHarris
🤎 ‘BLACK STORIES We Should All Know’ US SENATE SERIES PART 4 of 🖐🏿 🗣️There have only been 12 BLACK SENATORS out of 2000 senators ❓ What does a senator do🤷🏿♀️ 👉🏿 CONGRESS = House of Representatives SENATE 👉🏿The Senate GIVES ADVICE to The President and they are the court for impeachment ‼️ The House The Senate INTRODUCE LEGISLATION and PASS LAWS 1️⃣1️⃣ RAPHAEL WARNOCK became GEORGIA’S FIRST BLACK SENATOR in 2020 👉🏿He was also the YOUNGEST SENIOR PASTOR at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s church). 1️⃣2️⃣ In 2023 LAPHONZA BUTLER was appointed SENATOR OF CALIFORNIA after the passing of senator Feinstein 👉🏿she is the first openly gay senator to represent California the first Black gay woman to openly serve in Congress #BlackStories #BlackHistory365 #BlackFirsts #Congress #USSenators #RaphaelWarnock #LaphonzaButler
This inspired me to run today!
There are so many incredible small businesses across New Jersey. I love the @cornerstonegeneralstore in Montclair and everything they do to uplift our community.
I too sing America.
On this Super Bowl Sunday, here is to the great Doug Williams.
“And I like Strauss and Mozart and all that, but the priceless gift that African Americans gave the world when they were still in slavery was a gift so great that it is now almost the only reason many foreigners still like us at least a little bit. That specific remedy for the worldwide epidemic of depression is a gift called the blues. All pop music today-jazz, swing, be-bop, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Stones, rock and roll, hip hop and on and on- is derived from the blues.” -Kurt Vonnegut “Even the Dreamers, lost in their great reverie, feel it, for it’s Billie they reach for in sadness, and Isley they hum in love, and Dre they yell in revelry, and Aretha the last sound they hear before dying.” -Ta-Nehisi Coates
We are one of the only countries on earth that does not guarantee paid family leave. While today I celebrate the landmark legislation WE MUST ALSO EXPAND THOSE WHO ARE COVERED BY THE LEGISLATION. Let us join most of our peer nations and end what is the agony of too many parents every day in America.
A Valentine’s Day message you might not expect
Big Jersey Love to Jersey’s own Super Bowl Champion Isiah Pacheco!
Carter G. Woodson’s writings really impacted me in my college days. His extraordinary life and its living legacy should be celebrated and I am pleased that many are working to preserve this vital US history.
On what would have been his 100th birthday, I was honored to join with congressional leaders to posthumously present Larry Doby with a Congressional Medal of Honor.
Bill Bradley has been my Senator, a mentor, and through incredible good fortune, my friend. I am honored to now hold the seat that he once held. You can now stream his one man show #RollingAlong on Max, where he tells his uniquely American story, and hear his incredible gift for showing how the lines that divide us are no where as strong as the ties that bind us.
Bill Bradley has been my Senator, a mentor, and through incredible good fortune, my friend. I am honored to now hold the seat that he once held. You can now stream his one man show #RollingAlong on Max, where he tells his uniquely American story, and hear his incredible gift for showing how the lines that divide us are no where as strong as the ties that bind us.
My heart is broken by the loss of Joe Madison, the Black Eagle. He was a living legend who lifted millions with his voice and his vision. He lifted me as a mentor and friend, and someone who held me accountable as we should hold all of our elected officials. I will miss him dearly. My thoughts are with his wife, Sharon, and his family.
