Black Women will play leading role in 2020 Election

Long a driving force in social and political movements, Black women will play a more visible role in the presidential election, says University of Florida political science professor, Dr. Sharon Austin.

“Black women have always been active and influential in civil rights groups and movements, but they were largely excluded from leadership roles. Now they’re not just organizing, they’re leading as well,” she said.

Austin points to the female founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, the diverse candidates who prevailed in the 2018 midterm election, and the upsurge in female African-American mayors — one of whom, Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, could rise to higher prominence in the upcoming election.

With Democratic nominee Joe Biden committed to a female running mate, an African-American vice presidential candidate such as Bottoms could solidify his appeal to Black women. Austin also sees Rep. Val Demings and Sen. Kamala Harris as promising VP options.

Read the rest of this University of Florida News story here: https://news.ufl.edu/2020/07/black-women-and-the-2020-election/