By Rev. Rochelle Andrews, MBA, M.Div.
After a disappointing loss in 2024 where more than 92% of Black Women voted for the candidate that was for the common good of the country, many Black Women said they were retiring from carrying this country on their backs. There were articles criticizing Black Women for making such statements, declaring that it was irresponsible to say we need a rest. What many failed to understand was that taking a rest did not mean abandoning the work. 2025 found hundreds of thousands of Black Women losing their jobs. The new administration declared any job with Women of color no matter how qualified to be a DEI hire and dismantled thousands of programs and jobs.
How did Black Women respond? We stepped up to run for more offices where we can be the decision makers. Not an easy feat in a country where despite our educational levels we still have to fight for respect in our homes, churches and jobs. Black Women took the brunt of the racist backlash of the Trump administration much like we have since we stepped on the shores of this country. Yet we mobilized in spite of the harm understanding that our work is for the greater good of our communities. Organizations such as Win With Black Women led by Jotaka Eaddy, Higher Heights for America led by Glenda Carr and the Black Women’s Roundtable led by Melanie Campbell created space for Black Women running for office to share their story and get financial, emotional and spiritual support. The four presidents of the Black Greek letter Sororities combined to empower their thousands of members to engage in all aspects of voter education, preparation and mobilization. Despite the repeated attempts to derail them, Black Women helped empower a movement that flipped states and made history across the nation. We understood the assignment and that this outcome was generationally important. We did it because we know that this work lifts up our whole community, not just ourselves.
And so just like the ending to a superhero movie, we take off our capes and prepare for the continued work that this wave created. Once again Black Women leveraged their faith, time, talent and treasure to uplift a country that continues to find ways to harm us. But we do it because we understand what is truly at stake if we don’t. The wave hit hard on the red shores on the strength of the winds of the work of Black Women. There is a new feeling of hope in the country. One that can say we have a Black Woman governor named Keisha and a Black Congresswoman named LaKesha. Now, if we can only get these same kinds of results in the Black Church for Black Women, we would be unstoppable, but that’s another story…In the meantime we ride the wave, again.
