Please (Whatever You Do) Never Tell The Following 6 Lies To Yourself
I grew up in a household that was filled with all kinds of music, across all genres; it was actually one of the best things about it. So, whenever I see a music trivia question that goes along the lines of “What’s a song that has [this word] in the title?”, I always wish that there was money on the table…because, 8.5 times outta 10, I’m gonna know it.
Take the word “lie” for example. That’s the trivia question that literally came up recently, and three songs immediately came to mind: Jonathan Butler’s (the real ones know) song “Lies.” En Vogue’s song “Lies.” Ne-Yo’s “Lie to Me.” And can there be anything worse than someone who we trust lying to us? Can there be anything more disrespectful or betraying? Actually…there is. It’s when we find some sort of way to justify why it’s okay to lie to who we should love and want to protect the most — ourselves.
A Russian novelist by the name of Fyodor Dostoevsky once said, “Above all, do not lie to yourself. A man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point where he does not discern any truth either in himself or anywhere around him, and thus falls into disrespect towards himself and others. Not respecting anyone, he ceases to love, and having no love, he gives himself up to passions and coarse pleasures in order to occupy and amuse himself…” That is certainly a mouthful and also a great way to intro today’s message. Because if lying to yourself is delusional and disrespectful and a love hindrance, and something that will cause you to distract yourself with pointless and possibly destructive activities, shouldn’t it be one of the last things that any of us should ever want to do?
So why do so many people do it anyway? Good. Freakin’. Question.
Perhaps exploring six very popular “self-lies” will bring forth a bit of revelation.
1."What I See Isn’t Actually What’s Happening."
I can’t stand gaslighting. I really can’t. I grew up around gaslighters. The religion that I was brought up in is filled with gaslighting. I’ve been in relationships (friendships included) with more than a few gaslighters (probably due to the impact of my first two points). I’ve worked with some gaslighters. It’s all triggering AF. Anyway, since it is such a buzzword these days, just to make sure that we’re all on the same page before I proceed, I want to share an actual definition of what it is to gaslight someone.
Gaslight: manipulate (someone) using psychological methods into questioning their own sanity or powers of reasoning
That’s a very basic dictionary definition. Some signs of gaslighting include:
- While engaging someone, you start to doubt reality;
- While engaging someone, they are flippant or dismissive of your feelings;
- While engaging someone, they try to make you feel bad about what they did wrong;
- While engaging someone, they try to make you feel like you are doing to them what they are actually doing to you;
- While engaging someone, they try and get you to think that you are lying to deflect from what you know to be true.
Yeah, if anyone is a manipulator on an Olympic level, it’s a gaslighter. They are also masterful at lying as well. And you know what? While you can probably think of at least five people, easily, who gaslight — have you ever considered that you should add yourself to the list? Because if there’s one thing that a gaslighter is sho ‘nuf gonna do, it’s to try and tell you that what you know is happening…isn’t really the case. Yeah, bookmark that.
You see, a principle (that I pretty much made up) that I live by is if my “human trinity” (my mind, body, and spirit) aren’t all in agreement with something, that is a sign that I need to take some steps back and do some serious reflecting — oftentimes self-reflecting. Keeping that “rule” in mind, is there something going on, right now where, you see the facts and/or know the truth about it, and yet — you’re trying to tell yourself that you don’t?
Maybe it’s because you’re scared to face reality. Maybe because accepting it would require you to make some pretty hard decisions. Maybe it’s because you have a pattern of choosing comfort over progress. Whatever the case may be, a lot of people gaslight themselves. I used to do it in relationships — romantic, familial, and platonic — quite often. And yes, without question, it’s a form of lying to oneself. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
2."Nothing Is Actually a Waste of Time."
GiphyI remember when I first told my mother that “This too shall pass” wasn’t in the Bible. She was in such a state of disbelief that she totally dismissed my explanation of how I came to the conclusion and sought her husband for verification. He didn’t know, so he looked it up — and yes, just like I said…it’s not there. Where am I going with this? There are so many things that we say that we literally take as the gospel truth that pretty much came out of a worldwide game of “telephone” more than anything else.
Take “nothing is a waste of time.” Boy, if there is a saying that will get me to use the dirtiest cuss words, it’s that. Are y’all kidding me? All kinds of stuff are a waste of time. In fact, I’m so passionate about the topic that I’ve written articles like “Love Is Patient. But Is Your Relationship Just Wasting Your Time?,” “These Bad Habits Are Totally Wasting Your Time,” and “Are You Wasting Your Time With ‘Expiration Dating’?” for the platform, just to illustrate the point. And here’s why wasting time is indeed a thing: waste means “to consume, spend, or employ uselessly or without adequate return; use to no avail or profit; squander.”
Something that gets me every time I revisit that definition is that if you’re not getting an adequate return on something that you’re giving your time, effort, energy, heart, and/or resources to, again, by definition, IT IS A WASTE. And the reason why it’s important to really get that is romanticizing something by saying, “I mean, it was a stupid decision, but ultimately nothing is a waste of time,” is what will have you out here wasting even more time…and time is something that you can never get back. Indeed, if there is ANYTHING that you shouldn’t want to squander, it’s the precious hourglass that is your life.
That said, most of us are familiar with the quote by M. Scott Peck (even if you didn’t know he was the source) that says, “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you won’t do anything with it.” Another quote about time (not sure who originated it) that I really like is, “Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.” Keeping both of these quotes in mind, no matter what your thoughts are on the afterlife, all of them are rooted in faith. What I mean by that is, what we know for sure is what we have right now — and when I tell you that whenever people say, “What? You’re going on 50?! You don’t look it,” my response is, “What trips me out is not my age now…it’s the fact that in 20 years, I’ll be going on 70.” Time flies. LITERALLY.
So yeah, if you’re out here participating in certain things with people, places, things, and ideas that aren’t giving you an adequate return, and you’re all the while telling yourself that it doesn’t really matter because nothing in life is ultimately a waste of your time, you are lying to yourself. BIG TIME. And — pardon the pun — it’s time to stop.
3."I Would If I Actually Had the Time." (Sometimes Phrased As “I’m Too Busy.”)
For at least a decade at this point, something that I’ve been intentional about breaking the habit of is saying that I can’t do something because “I’m too busy.” It was ingrained in my mind for so many years that I miss the mark of not saying it more than I would like; however, use that sentence considerably less. Why? Because, while this is certainly a “to each their own” kind of resolve, to me, saying that I’m busy sounds kinda-sorta arrogant and flippant, especially when I use it while talking to someone I care about. Why? Because what that resolve boils down to is they weren’t a priority — and oftentimes, that’s not what I’m trying to convey to them at all.
Where do I even get all of this from? A quote by Henry David Thoreau plays a part. He once said, “It’s not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is, ‘What are we busy about?’” Exactly. It’s like an Instagram post I recently saw where the husband was on one side of the bed wishing that his wife would initiate sex (men initiate 60 percent of the time, so his point is valid) while his wife had her back to him, scrolling through TikToks and laughing her head off. Sure, she was busy but too busy for her husband? Especially to watch posts that will be there the next day? Nah.
Yeah, oftentimes, “I’m too busy” is something that we use as a deflection from the real truth: I don’t manage my time well. I don’t prioritize things like I should. I let my emotions decide what I should be doing instead of logic and reason. And because we keep telling ourselves this lie, we oftentimes don’t achieve the kind of “full life results” that we ultimately want.
You know, in a culture that is super consumed with all things the Knowles/Carter family, I’m sure at some point, you’ve seen or heard the saying, “You have the same amount of hours in the day as Beyoncé.” And while that declaration is a bit misleading (because she has billions of dollars along with a team who helps her out), the takeaway is everyone gets 24 hours. And in that period of time, daily, for the most part, you get to choose what you want to do with it. So, it’s not really that you’re “too busy” for something or someone; it’s that you don’t make the time to prioritize it or them. And until you truly accept that, and then make your decisions according to that, you are lying when you say that things can’t happen because you’re too busy for them to. Push back if you wanna, it’s the free-setting truth.
4."Cyclic Things That Happen to Me Have Nothing to Do with Me."
GiphyI recently watched an Instagram post that was so ridiculous that I’m not even gonna put the sistah on blast by linking it here. Basically, for about 45 seconds, she ranted about how, since our hormones as women shift so much throughout the month, we shouldn’t be held accountable for having erratic moods or not making unwise decisions (eye roll).
Listen, if you happen to be a parent reading this, please make sure that you raise your children to be emotionally intelligentand to hold themselves accountable for their actions — and the best way to do that is to make sure that you acknowledge to them when you are wrong and that you apologize to them when it’s necessary (and since you’re not perfect, it’s gonna be needed more than once in a blue moon). Indeed, a lot of grown folks suck at saying “I’m sorry” because their parents sucked at modeling it (amen?).
And when you’re not good at accountability, you’ll find yourself out here acting like life just happens to you; that you don’t play a role in what is transpiring — and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
If there is one saying that really rings true when it comes to this particular point, it’s “Everywhere you go, there you are.” What this basically means is, that if you find yourself in patterns, the common denominator in all of that is yourself. So, if you keep dating the same kind of guy and all of the relationships end up, pretty much the same way — no, that’s not a random coincidence. There are choices that you are making that are creating the same scenarios that you are in. And if you refuse to see and accept that for what it is, nothing is going to change. You will stay on the hamster wheel…using up all of your energy and getting absolutely nowhere at the end of the day.
Why? Because you would rather think that things are happening to you instead of accepting that you are doing the same kind of things that are causing you to choose the same outcome. Hell, I’d probably lose, easily, 40 percent of my clients, if they stopped lying to themselves as it relates to this particular lie alone. NO. LIE.
5."This Is Just the Way That I Am."
For the most part, in my sessions, I’m pretty calm. Oh, but if you wanna see me go next level on some restraint, have me call a client out on a toxic habit and they come back with some, “That’s just the way I am.” What in the entire hell are you talking about? Do you mean that’s how you choose to be? Because, in the wise words of author John C. Maxwell, “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” And, if you’re out here doing things that are either hurtful to others or counterproductive for yourself (or both) and you think you can’t reroute because you were simply born that way or “that’s just the way it is”…LIES, LIES, LIES.
I won’t lie to you — learning how to grow up can be hard. It requires a lot of self-work. It requires being able to face some really difficult truths about yourself. It requires releasing certain things and people and embracing some habits and requirements that are new and sometimes even a bit scary. Yet no one is out here being…whatever they are being “just because.”
Something that I like is random information (my daddy’s DNA). And so, something that I know is that we make somewhere around a whopping 35,000 different decisions on a daily basis — and a lot of them consist of how we choose to be as a person. And so, even though things like our personality, our belief system, and even our bloodline all play a vital role in our core because we have the ability to change our minds, that means that we can change ourselves…and that means that if there’s something about us that needs to shift, we can make that happen.
So no — no one is out here doing stuff that they can’t alter. They are doing it, ultimately, because they want to…and if they wanted to do something else, they could do that too. “Just the way that I am” is some nonsense. “Just the way you choose to be” is the truth.
6."If I Believe It Will Happen, It Will."
GiphyCherry-picking the Bible. If there’s one thing that I think that at least 80 percent (and that’s probably on the low end) of Christians do, it’s that. Take the topic of divorce. On one hand, they’ll say that they can do it due to adultery (adultery as actual remarriage, not infidelity — see Matthew 19). Yet when it comes to I Corinthians 7:10-11 saying that divorced people should either remain unmarried until their former spouse dies or be reconciled to them, suddenly, “thank God for grace” (which what they really mean is mercy for ignoring what that says). Chile.
Another example? Believing that you can have whatever you want because God said that you can have the desires of your heart when, actually, that is a really convenient edit. Psalm 37:4, in its entirety, states, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Translation: do what pleases God, and that will cause your will to line up with His so that what he wants for you is what you will want for yourself — and that could be something that’s totally different than what you want without his influence being put into the mix.
And that point goes really well with the biblical definition of faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 — NKJV) You know, just because you believe that something is going to happen, that doesn’t mean that it will. Oh, but you have faith? I hear you, yet do you see how faith has hope attached to it? Guess what hope is. By definition, it’s “the feeling that what is wanted can be had OR that events will turn out for the best.”
In other words, having faith in something isn’t about thinking that everything on your wish list is going to come true. Yes, it’s okay to want what you want (if it’s beneficial…another message for another time); however, TRUE faith is understanding that if you don’t get what you are believing for, things will turn out for the best regardless. Faith doesn’t submit to your desires. Faith helps you to remain optimistic that all of the dots will ultimately connect for your good.
Telling yourself the truth about things like faith and belief is what will keep you from going to the other extreme and believing another lie: don’t expect anything. Faith needs expectation in order to be activated. Being realistic about your expectations is what’s key.
_____
Since my last point was filled with Scripture, I’ll wrap all of this up with another one: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32 — NKJV) Adding to that, an author by the name of Bangambiki Habyariman once said, “It’s the duty of every man to free himself.” Freedom is about liberation. Freedom is about removing restraints. Freedom is about power, ability, opportunity, and flexibility.
Truth, NOT LIES, gives you access to these things, so please don’t lie to yourself and believe otherwise. Life isn’t just too short, it has too much in store for you to (further) betray yourself in that way.
All you’ve gotta do is just commit, every single day of your life, to tell yourself ALL of the truth.
No lie.
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It's kinda wild that, in 2025, my byline will have appeared on this platform for (what?!) seven years. And yeah, when I'm not waxing poetic on here about sex, relationships and then...more sex and relationships, I am working as a certified marriage life coach, helping to birth babies (as a doula) or penning for other places (oftentimes under pen names).
As some of you know, something that I've been "threatening" to do for a few years now is write another book. Welp, October 2024 was the month that I "gave birth" to my third one: 'Inside of Me 2.0: My Story. With a 20-Year Lens'. It's fitting considering I hit a milestone during the same year.
Beyond that, Pumas and lip gloss are still my faves along with sweatshirts and tees that have a pro-Black message on them. I've also started really getting into big ass unique handbags and I'm always gonna have a signature scent that ain't nobody's business but my own.
As far as where to find me, I continue to be MIA on the social media front and I honestly don't know if that will ever change. Still, if you need to hit me up about something *that has nothing to do with pitching on the site (I'm gonna start ignoring those emails because...boundaries)*, hit me up at missnosipho@gmail.com. I'll do what I can. ;)
There’s just something about HBCU Homecoming that just hits different. Whether it’s your first time stepping onto the yard since graduation or you’re a regular at every Homecoming tailgate, HBCU pride is undeniable. It’s a vibrant celebration that unites the legacy of excellence and tradition with the energy and resilience of Black culture.
The experience goes beyond a typical college reunion; HBCU Homecoming is a family reunion, a fashion show, a cultural festival, and a week-long turn-up that embodies what it means to be unapologetically Black and educated. For HBCU alumni, the journey back to the yard each year is rooted in a love and pride that’s hard to put into words but impossible to deny.
From statement pieces to tech must-haves, every item represents the intersection of Black pride and HBCU love, ensuring that you show up to the yard in style and with intention. So whether you’re repping your alma mater for the first time since graduation or looking for fresh pieces to express your HBCU pride, these essentials will have you standing out, because, at HBCU Homecoming, it’s not just about showing up—it’s about showing out.
Thread Goals
diarrablu Jant Pants in Alia Noir
High-waisted, wide-legged, and ready to shut down the yard, the Jant Pants by diarrablu bring a whole new meaning to campus chic. Handcrafted in Dakar, Senegal, these free-flowing jacquard pants are perfect for stepping onto the yard with style and ease—making them a must-have for any HBCU alum’s closet.
Silver & Riley Convertible Executive Leather Bag Classic Size in Olive
This all-in-one luxury bag isn’t a bestseller for nothing. The Silver & Riley essential is made of Italian calfskin leather and thoughtfully designed, as it can be worn in four different ways: a shoulder bag, crossbody, a top handle, and a backpack. Chic and elegant, the Convertible Executive Leather bag is “the bag that every woman needs in her collection.”
Renowned Women's Intuition Cotton Graphic T-Shirt
Renowned
Renowned’s Women’s Intuition Cotton Graphic T-shirt features a bold graphic print inspired by the power and essence of women’s intuition. With its striking design, this all-cotton tee is a vibrant thing, making it a statement piece that celebrates feminine energy.
Mifland Million M Mesh Crop Shirt
Talk about bold, the Million M Mesh Crop Shirt combines edgy style with comfort, featuring Mifland’s signature print on a semi-see-through mesh fabric. Show up and show out in sophisticated flair.
HBCU Love FUBU
Melanin Is Life Melanated & Educated - I Love My HBCU Hoodie
Show off your HBCU love with this piece that represents everything you gained from your alma mater: a top-tier education, a community that lifts you up, and a deep sense of esteem for yourself and your culture. Wear it loud and proud, because being melanated and educated isn’t just a flex—it’s a legacy.
HBCU Culture Spelmanite Sweatshirt in Navy
Spelmanites, rep your Spelman pride with this unisex crewneck sweatshirt, designed for ultimate comfort and a relaxed fit. Made from a cozy cotton/polyester blend, this classic sweatshirt is as durable as it is stylish—making it an ideal piece for any Spelmanite showing love for their alma mater.
HBCU Culture Howard Is The Culture T-Shirt
Rock the ultimate flex by showcasing your Howard U love with HBCU Culture’s Howard Is The Culture t-shirt. This unisex tee offers a comfortable, relaxed fit that’s perfect for celebrating your HBCU spirit without sacrificing style or comfort.
DungeonForward FAMU - Strike Bucket - Reversible
DungeonForward’s Strike Bucket Hat brings versatility and style to the FAMU Crown collection with its reversible design, giving you two looks in one. Featuring a sleek black snakeskin-embossed brim lining and a bold outline Rattler emblem, this hat is all about repping your Rattler pride in style.
DungeonForward Savannah State University - HBCU Hat - TheYard
The Savannah State University HBCU Hat by DungeonForward is more than just a hat—it’s a symbol of Tiger pride and a nod to the culture. Perfect for gamedays, tailgates, or just showing off your HBCU love, this hat lets you carry a piece of the yard wherever you go.
Tech the Halls
Anker iPhone 16 Portable Charger, Nano Power Bank
Stay charged up with the Anker Nano Power Bank, which features dual USB-C ports, a foldable connector, and a compact design, making it perfect for those HBCU tailgates and late-night parties you pull up to.
Drip Check
Wisdom Frame 14 Square Sunglasses
Elevate your look with these angular square-frame sunglasses by Wisdom, bringing an ultramodern edge to any outfit. The sleek design makes them perfect for blocking out the haters while you stunt on the yard.
Coco and Breezy Eyewear Fortune in Gray Turquoise
The Fortune Glasses in Grey Turquoise is a bold statement piece to any Homecoming weekend ‘fit that “embody our fearless and outspoken DNA.” With their color and edgy design, these frames by Coco and Breezy are perfect for anyone looking to stand out and express their unapologetic confidence.
Howard U Lapel Pin
Rep your Bison pride wherever you go with this Howard U Lapel Pin from Pretty AmbVision. Whether adding it to your jacket, shirt, or bag, this pin is the perfect way to showcase your love for your alma mater while rocking your HBCU love with honor and distinction.
Mifland Standard Rucksack Mini
The Standard Rucksack is designed to evolve like that HBCU pride—getting richer, bolder, and better with time. Durable, stylish, and built to last, this Rucksack by Mifland is a timeless piece equipped with versatile carrying options and fully adjustable back straps for ultimate comfort.
Stay Fresh, Stay Blessed
Slip Pure Silk Sleep Mask in Pink
Keeping it cute starts with beauty sleep. This luxurious silk mask is an essential for a reason. If protecting your skin and waking up refreshed is your priority, look no further than this Homecoming essential.
Liquid I.V.® Hydration Multiplier Lemon Lime - Hydration Powder Packets
Stay hydrated and energized throughout Homecoming weekend with this Liquid I.V.® Hydration Multiplier in Lemon Lime. Just add a packet to your water bottle, and bless your body with 2-3 times more hydration than water with every packet. Because staying hydrated is the key to popping up and showing out all weekend long!
Loop Experience Plus Earplugs High Fidelity Hearing Protection
Designed for your hearing protection, these sleek earplugs reduce noise without compromising sound quality—perfect for enjoying the band’s halftime show, late-night parties, and DJ sets. Whether you’re front row at the step show or hitting the yard, your ears deserve to be protected in style!
Black Girl Magic Glass Cup
Sip in style and celebrate your melanin with the Black Girl Magic Glass Cup. Perfect for morning coffee, your favorite iced drink, or showing off your HBCU pride on the yard—this cup is all about keeping it cute while radiating your endless supply of Black Girl Magic.
Glow Up & Show Out
Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30
What Homecoming weekend can be complete without an assist from this beauty find? Formulated to blend seamlessly into melanin-rich skin (no white-cast), protect your glow while you turn up with the Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30.
Sienna Naturals Issa Rae's Wash Day Ritual Set
Issa Rae’s Wash Day Ritual Set from Sienna Naturals includes the H.A.PI. Shampoo, the Plant Power Repair Mask, Dew Magic, and Lock and Seal to get your crown right. Whether you’re repping your coils or rocking a new color on the yard, these products restore and nourish your strands, keeping your hair healthy, strong, and Homecoming-ready!
54 Thrones Ivorian Cocoa + Ghanaian Coconut Beauty Butter
Stay glowing from the tailgate to the after-party with the 54 Thrones Ivorian Cocoa + Ghanaian Coconut Beauty Butter. Infused with African-sourced ingredients, this rich, multi-purpose butter is the answer to keeping your skin soft and radiant through all the festivities all Homecoming long.
Saie Glossybounce Hydrating Lip Oil
Keep your lips looking luscious and nourished with the Saie Glossybounce Hydrating Lip Oil. Perfect for adding an extra pop to your pout before hitting the yard or freshening up between events, this lip oil is a beauty essential for staying camera-ready all weekend.
Join us in celebrating HBCU excellence! Check out our Best In Class hub for inspiring stories, empowering resources, and everything you need to embrace the HBCU experience.
Featured image by Visual Vic/Getty Images
The Kamala Effect: Top Black Women In Politics To Watch Now, Into 2025
With a landmark Election Day coming up soon, everyone will be watching to see whether Vice President Kamala Harris makes history by becoming the first Black woman to become president of the United States. And as she has gathered monumental support from Black women around the world (including the more than 44,000 who raised millions in minutes shortly after she announced she’d be running), other Black women politicians also stand to make history in their respective elections, running to serve local and statewide communities.
Just as there have been barriers to Black women serving as CEOs of Fortune 500 companies (with only four having been appointed to those roles), there’s a massive glass ceiling for Black women in politics as well. Only 0.4% of all members of Congress identified as Black, and only 13.4% of all women who have served in Congress to date have identified as Black, according to research.
To date, no Black woman has served as governor of a state (though there has been a Black woman lieutenant governor, which we’ll get to later.)
Glass Ceiling In Politics For Black Women
Black women face the ever-so-usual gender bias and racism when running for office, but they also have to deal with another major deterrent to launching a viable campaign: funding. According to the Washington Post, while campaign fundraising “overall” saw a boost for women in 2020 compared with 2018, “Black women across party lines raised significantly less money than White women.”
The publication further reported that in 2020, data reflected “that the 113 active Black women candidates running on all tickets raised nearly $81 million in the first three quarters compared to the nearly $811 million pulled in by their 379 active White women counterparts across party lines, according to data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics. More than $1.5 billion was raised by over 1,000 White men from all parties in the same timeframe.”
Paying staff, covering marketing and ads, travel expenses, and more are all vital and very costly, expanding one’s reach, impact, and exposure to land the votes. This is one major reason that, when Black women finally make it to the finish line with enough support to get a serious spot on the ballot, it’s more than a big deal.
So, here are a few Black women in politics who have made history, continue to push barriers, and powerhouses to watch as we near Election Day on November 5:
Angela Alsobrooks
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
A Maryland native, Angela Alsobrooks graduated from Duke University and the University of Maryland School of Law. She worked as a law clerk in the Howard County Circuit Court and the Baltimore City Circuit Court before taking on the role of Assistant State’s Attorney in Prince George’s County, a role in which she made history as the youngest and first woman in the role. She’s now running for the state senator seat in Maryland, which, if she wins, would make her the fourth Black woman in history to serve in the Senate.
Winsome Earle-Sears
Winsome Earle-Sears is a native of Kingston, Jamaica, who served in the United States Marine Corps. Before becoming the first woman to be elected lieutenant governor of Virginia and the first Black woman elected to statewide office, she served as the vice president of the Virginia State Board of Education and a presidential appointee to the U.S. Census Bureau, co-chair of the African American Committee and the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Old Dominion University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership with a concentration in government from Regent University.
She has filed to run for governor of the state in 2025 and, if successful, would become the first and only woman (as well as Black woman) in the U.S. and its territories.
Lisa Blunt Rochester
Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives and serves as an Assistant Whip for House Leadership. She also serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Raised in Wilmington, Delaware, she graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in international relations and later earned a master’s degree in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.
She’s also running for the state senate seat in Delaware and would make history if elected. If she and Albrook are both successful, that will be a first as well, as it would be the first time two Black women are serving in the U.S. Senate at the same time.
Carol Moseley Braun
A native of Chicago (who now lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood the Obamas also call home), Carol Moseley Braun became the first woman senator from Illinois and the first Black woman to serve in the Senate when she won in 1992 (and was the only Black woman to serve in the six years she held her seat.) She later served as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand, a visiting professor at Northwestern University, launched a food company, and now serves as chairman of the United States African Development Foundation. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Chicago Law School.
Lauren Underwood
Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Born in Ohio but raised in Illinois, Lauren Underwood was sworn into Congress in 2019, becoming the first woman, the first person of color, and the youngest (as a millennial!) elected to represent the state. A registered nurse by trade, she’s the co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus and the co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. She also serves on the House Committee on Appropriations. Before that, she served as a senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins University.
Ayanna Pressley
Representing Massachusetts, Ayanna Pressley was the first Black woman to be elected to Congress from the state. Before that, she served as a member of the Boston City Council, becoming the first woman of color to serve in that capacity. In that role, she formed the Committee on Healthy Women, Families, and Communities, addressing issues including domestic violence and human trafficking. She empowered many, going viral and making headlines in 2020 when she revealed she has alopecia and unapologetically took off her wig to rock a bald head, shifting the narrative on Black women, code-switching, and appearance in political arenas and beyond.
Jennifer McClellan
Jennifer McClellan was sworn into the U.S. House last year, becoming the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress. A Virginia native, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law. She was previously elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2005 and served in that post until she was elected to the Virginia State Senate in 2017.
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