Black women have long been known as one of the most loyal voting blocs. Their nationwide voter mobilization efforts led to the historic turnout that secured Joe Biden’s victory and that of the first Black, female vice president in the nation’s history.

In fact, about 90% of Black women voted for President-elect Joe Biden over Donald Trump. For the past five presidential cycles, they have shown up to the polls at higher rates than any other group, despite the fact that they only make up about seven percent of the nation’s population.

For the past four months, the Defender Network has participated in a national initiative, the Solutions Journalism Network’s Advancing Democracy project to address this issue. The Defender is one of 10 newsrooms across the United States that has been tasked with deep reporting projects which consider how to make this nation’s democracy better. 

Contrary to what most people believe, democracy is not infallible. It is only as strong as the people who uphold it. The Defender had the honor of hosting a Black Women’s Pact Roundtable discussion on Advancing Democracy and why it’s important.

Black women’s kitchen table talk on Advancing Democracy

Also, check out these videos of Black women and the Defender staff as they talk about Advancing Democracy.

Carla Brailey
ReShonda Tate
Aswad Walker

I’m a Houstonian (by way of Smackover, Arkansas). My most important job is being a wife to my amazing husband, mother to my three children, and daughter to my loving mother. I am the National Bestselling...