The Power of Women

I simply cannot let the historic magnitude of this day pass by without acknowledging it. Kamala Harris was sworn in today as United States’ first female vice president, the highest-ranking female elected official in U.S. history, as the first Black/African American vice president, and the first Asian American vice president.

I’ll just pause here for applause and mad respect!

In my blog, Onward and Forward, I wrote the below following the conclusion of the 2016 election:

“I had a vision of celebrating the first woman president with my three young daughters this morning. To say to them, “You can be anything you want in this world!” and know—finally—that it was the truth. To see the glass ceiling shattered forever… to quietly reflect over coffee that the presidency during my daughters’ childhoods did not have a white male at the helm.”

I closed that same blog with this commitment:

“So now…

I MARCH… I [will] give louder voice to those who aren’t being heard. I will be an ally to their cause. I’ll use my privilege to advance theirs. I’ll fight to keep my body my own, because I believe that is my right– and not for men, politicians, or the government to decide.

I COMMIT to a future that… is FAIR, JUST, and INCLUSIVE. I want to tell my daughters to change the world and have them believe they can do it! To have role models and to see others blaze a trail. I want them to work hard and earn equal pay. I want parents to not lose their children to senseless acts—whether black, brown, in law enforcement, or otherwise.

And, I LOVE. I think love is love is love. Period. We don’t live in binary. Nothing is that simple. We are complicated human beings. And I believe operating from a place of love and inclusion, versus fear and barriers, is always the best choice.

Oh yeah, and I WON’T QUIT. I’ll continue to live with intention and pay attention to the impact I have, good and bad. I’ll act in small deed and grand gesture FORWARD.

I will model the way for my children. This is my legacy; they are my reason.”

I am humbled. I am grateful. I am inspired. It was a LONG four years, but today feels like redemption. The powerful representation of strong women on the inauguration stage today makes it also feel like hope… like possibility.

Yet as impressive as they are, we cannot forget that they– THAT WE ALL– stand on the shoulders of giants, like those below and so, so, SO MANY MORE.

I received the book Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls a few years back. It features “100 tales of extraordinary women.” Inside the front cover and before the table of contents, there is an inscription that reads as follows…

To the rebel girls of the world:

Dream bigger

Aim higher

Fight harder

And, when in doubt, remember

You are right.

I could not love that more!

To the rebel girls and fabulous females who blazed a trail before me, whether or not the mainstream and history books know your name… for those who made possible my opportunities and success through your anguish and hardships… THANK YOU! Your effort, struggle, determination, passion, tenacity, and voice were not lost. YOU got us to today and today is a good day!

To my own daughters, my Trifecta, you are magnificent and incredible human beings. More than anything, I hope for your happiness and your health. I think you can do anything you put your heart, head, soul, energy, and effort into and I will support whatever dreams you wish to pursue. Yet never forget, “If you see a turtle up on top of a fencepost, you know [s]he had some help!” (Alex Haley). And so did you. Stay humble.

As your mother, I strive to make sure you are aware of not only your privilege, but also that the promises of our country are not yet equitable to all. We must leave this world better than we found it. And we must bring others along.

On this incredible, magical, and spectacular day, I’ll conclude with this…