Our next speaker really needs no introduction and stays on the frontline. Congresswoman ayana pressley. She is an activist, a legislator, survivor and the first woman of color to be elected to congress from the commonwealth of massachusetts. Throughout her career as a public servant, she has fought to ensure those closest to the pain are closest to the power. Prior to her being elected to congress she served on the Boston City Council for eight years and was the first woman of color elected to the council in its 100 year history. Congresswoman ayana pressley. [applause and cheers] good morning, beloveds. Today i am thinking of the ancestors, not just the ones reported in our history books, but the ones omitted from those pages. The justice seekers, the freedom riders, the organizers, community builders, anyone who passed a brown bag lunch, read a freedom song, set up a prayer. Sacrifice and selfdetermination shaped history and brought us to this moment. The truth of the matter is we ar
Prior to being elected to congress, she served on the bostons city council for eight years and was the first woman of color elected to the council in its 100 year history. Please welcome congresswoman ayanna pressley. E] rep. Ressley today, i am thinking of the ancestors, not just the ones recorded in our history books, but those omitted from the pages. The freedom riders, the organizers, the community builders. Every loved one passed a brownbag lunch. Lunch, read a freedom song, set up a prayer. Sacrifice and selfdetermination shaped history and brought us to this moment. The truth of the matter is we are because of them. We are black with a capital b. We are the manifestation of the movement. We are and cultural proud blacks. If my granddaddy the reverend e. James echols were here, he would whisper in my ear and say baby, make it play. I intend to do just that, make it play area we are in unprecedented and uncertain times. We are challenged by the state of the nation and the crisis w
Prior to her being elected to congress she served on the Boston City Council for eight years and was the first woman of color elected to the council in its 100 year history. Congresswoman ayana pressley. [applause and cheers] good morning, beloveds. Today i am thinking of the ancestors, not just the ones reported in our history books, but the ones omitted from those pages. The justice seekers, the freedom riders, the organizers, community builders, anyone who passed a brown bag lunch, read a freedom song, set up a prayer. Sacrifice and selfdetermination shaped history and brought us to this moment. The truth of the matter is we are because of them. We are black with a capital b. We are the manifestation of the movement. Cultural proudnd blacks. If my granddaddy the reverend e. James echols were here, he would whisper in my ear and say baby, make it play. I intend to do just that, make it play area we are in unprecedented and uncertain times. We are challenged by the state of the nation
Lowhanging fruit and that face the movement became a victim of its own success because nationally people thought thats got everything they want. Racism still exists in american society. Shelby county notwithstanding and you know if you got the Civil Rights Act and people dont want to see the nuances of racism even in the 1980s when people were talking about south africa. People were like you should be focused on problems domestically so i think we can do many things and also people are naturally inclined to have certain causes that they care about. People are naturally going to focus more attention on some things than others and what you care about the most might not be what i care about the most but what i care about the most may not be what you care about the most and i think we should encourage people to take up their passion and cause not turn their noses up when somebody is doing Something Else because basically we can cover everything through a specialization. So many times a foc
And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. The tragic death of Trayvon Martin sparked a march. It didnt happen on its own. Not for the love and courage of his parare his parents, trayvons story wouldnt be the catalyst it is today. Called rest in power. Tracy, im honored to have you on the program. Honor. Sabrina, good to see you. Glad to see you. Wish it were different circumstances. It makes me want to ask do you ever get tired of doing this . Do you just . It drains you. It drains you. We know there is a long road ahead of us and our fight isnt ended in one day. We have a lifelong fight, uphill battle. We vow to continue this fight until the day we take our last breath. Our work isnt done. How much more difficult, sabrina, is it . No one closes on the death of a loved one like a house or deal. You dont close on it but i suspect it may be difficult to come to terms with it when you cant avoid talking about it day in and day out. We cant i cant stop thin