This piece is being published in coordination with Sister District, an organization working to build progressive power in state legislatures. Critical and life-altering policies, including abortion access, trans rights, voting rights, fair wages and conditions for working people and families are increasingly coming from often overlooked state legislatures rather than Washington, DC. Our Historic Firsts Series uplifts inspiring, historic firsts among recently elected state lawmakers, with a focus on women, people of color, young folks, LGBTQIA+ folks, and folks from nontraditional backgrounds.
On a January day more than 10 years ago, I first stood beneath the rotunda of the Mississippi state Capitol as an elected representative of the people of my hometown. At 22, I was the youngest African-American to be elected to any state legislature and the youngest legislator ever in Mississippi’s history.
From the outset, my mission in the legislature was clear: to be a driving force behind progressive legislation for my community, particularly for young people of color. In grade school, I noticed not all my friends had the advantages I had. I did what I could, like giving away school uniforms and a bicycle, but over time I came to see that the way to ensure more kids had what they needed to thrive would be through more systemic change.
By high school, I began seriously contemplating a life of public service. By then, I had seen a friend land in prison at just 16, and our community had experienced a senseless act of violence that resulted in the death of an innocent man. I could see that our community needed broader solutions. This led me to organize a Violence March Campaign with friends and classmates, which grew to include the victim’s wife and children, city leaders, and concerned citizens. These experiences also drew me to start the Purple Knights, an organization dedicated to helping keep teens on the path to success and away from drugs and crime. When it came time for me to go to college on a soccer scholarship, the Purple Knights had become a sustainable organization that was able to maintain a paid staff.
After two years at Pearl River Community College, I took time off to return home and coach soccer while I decided where I would finish college. However, destiny had a different path for me when the state representative of my district decided to run for mayor and leave his seat open.
It was an opportunity I hadn’t expected, and I jumped at the chance to run.
Frequently, I had been told that young people should wait their turn, and that a 22 year old didn’t have the knowledge and experience necessary to serve the people. But I ran anyway — and I won. Armed with unwavering determination, I came to the legislature knowing that I had a fantastic support group back home. But I was also a realist. I knew I faced long odds to accomplish my legislative goals at the Capitol.
The truth was, I was in the “wrong” party. The Republican Party had a firm grip on state government, which remains true today, and its leaders made it clear that they did not need, nor want, the advice or votes of the Democrats. And while I knew how the government was supposed to work, I soon found that was not the way it did work. I had much to learn.
So that first year, I sat quietly — listening, watching, learning. I knew I was not only representing my constituents, but young people everywhere. I knew that any misstep would be another reason to keep telling young people to wait their turn.
I also knew that Mississippi had a long list of problems, and that as lawmakers, we had a tremendous opportunity to address these at the systemic level. Among other generational challenges we face in our state, far too many people live in poverty. Countless Mississippians live without proper health care. Too many kids lack access to adequate educational opportunities and pathways, and many parents worry they may not be able to provide food and shelter for their families.
Some solutions seemed like no-brainers. The legislature could expand Medicaid and accept over $1 billion from the federal government under the Affordable Care Act, which would give more than 100,000 uninsured residents access to medical coverage. It seemed obvious that we should allocate more state funds to the poorest school districts, to assist communities that can’t afford to pay for adequate education for their kids. Raising the minimum wage would lift workers out of poverty and give everyone the chance to thrive. And eliminating the sales tax on groceries would make that minimum wage go further.
Unfortunately, the Republican Party seemed to inhabit a different Mississippi, one where prioritizing tax cuts and creating what it sees as a business-friendly climate were the priorities. Helping the people, it seemed, was a tough sell. To advance my agenda, I would need friends on the other side of the aisle.
In 2017, my colleagues and I announced the launch of a joint bipartisan Future Caucus with the Millennial Action Project to tackle partisan gridlock and establish a pathway to sustainable negotiations between parties. In our state, bipartisanship isn’t an option anymore — it is a requirement if we are to effectively confront the real crises facing us.
Working with Republicans and Democrats, we have continued to focus on issues where we have had common ground. Through our united efforts, the House passed legislation that would make it easier to vote absentee, a crucial issue for college students who face many obstacles to getting a vote cast in their home districts. We passed legislation to try to stop Mississippi’s “brain drain”, the exodus of recent college graduates from the state. And we were instrumental in changing the state flag to remove a nod to the confederacy and create a new, more inclusive symbol.
I came to the statehouse as the youngest lawmaker ever elected, and I’ve learned so much. Beyond how to get bills passed and work collaboratively, I’ve learned that my voice as a young Black person is necessary, important, and enriching to the whole process. My lived experiences are valuable, and even though I was told to wait my turn, I’ve had a hand in changing the course of history for young people across my state because I chose not to. You shouldn’t wait either.
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