Written By Monica Lewis
On Thursday, March 21, Howard University and The Hill will host Black Women in Politics, a special event designed to raise awareness of the pivotal role Black women play in American politics. The event will be held at WHUT, the University’s public television station, located at 2222 4th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
Check-in and seating begins at 9:15 a.m. The program begins promptly at 10 a.m. and will be livestreamed on Howard University’s YouTube channel. The full program is scheduled to air on WHUT in early April.
The event will open with a series of one-on-one interviews with leading figures in national and local politics, including U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty; Whitley Yates, director of Diversity & Engagement for the Indiana Republican Party; and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate and voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams, Esq. Abrams currently serves as Howard University’s inaugural Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics.
It will also feature a panel discussion moderated by Cheyanne M. Daniels, race and politics reporter for The Hill and host of The Switch Up podcast. Panelists include Gabrielle Wyatt, founder of The Highland Project; Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of BlackPAC; conservative political commentator Kimberly Klacik; and Bowie (MD) City Councilmember Roxy Ndebumadu (R-District 4).
“For years, Black women have played important roles in driving voter engagement and advocating for issues that impact underrepresented groups, so an event like this is a natural way to raise awareness around Black women in politics,” said Elsie Scott, Ph.D., the founding director of the University’s Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center.
“Now more than ever, it’s clear that both political parties see the value of courting and securing Black women voters,” said Scott, who previously served as president and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. “So, it’s not a surprise that Black women continue to make strides, gaining opportunities in elected and appointed roles in politics. It’s our hope that this event will shed insight and inspire a new generation of women to get engaged locally and nationally.”
As a print and digital media company focusing on politics, policy and international relations, The Hill is committed to helping the public stay abreast of issues and trends in politics. This event is an ideal way to help people understand the critical role women, especially Black women, play in government, said Daniels.
“In recent years, Black women have made historic strides in politics and there continues to be a movement allowing for their voices to be recognized as they continue to strive for change,” Daniels said. “As we begin to enter the throes of the 2024 general election, we expect this conversation to shed light on what it means to be a Black woman in politics.”
