Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Examining the Effect of Power Systems on Black Women's Journey to Political Power in the US

The role that intersectionality has played in the lives and political careers of black women is significant. Black female politicians take on different identities which shape the way they are viewed, treated and how they view themselves. In this piece, it will be argued that in the pursuit of political power in America, Black women face greater hurdles than their non-fem and or non-Black counterparts face. In the face of power structures that place certain aspects of their identities in inferior positions, Black women are tasked with overcoming many symptomatic ideals, attitudes, and structures that are foreign to politicians with different identities. Power structures such as the patriarchy, misogyny, racism and heteronormativity intersectionality oppress Black women. Discussion of the ways that these power structures affect these politicians through the timeline of the power acquisitions will be used to validate this argument. Beginning from when a Black woman first gets the idea to run for office through her time in office, the intersectionality of her identity and the power structures that work against her reveal how power plays a significant role in her journey.