April Baskin, India Walton, Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Betty Jean Grant, Kimberly Beatty, and Sharon Belton-Cottman have been invited to participate in a panel discussion on the topic “Black Women & Political Power” at the Merriweather Library, 1324  Jefferson from 7-9 p.m. on  Ujima – Collective Work & Responsibility Tuesday, December 28 .

In the Challenger’s final issue of the year (12/16), they published a powerful commentary penned by Kelly Dittmar and Glynda C. Carr entitled “BLACK WOMEN AND POLITICAL POWER”. Although their commentary is not about Buffalo specifically, it absolutely relates to the few Black women we do have in elected positions in this city or the lack thereof.

Currently there are no Black women on the Common Council. Two of the Black female elected officials we do have are at the top of their game: Majority Leader State Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes and Erie County Chairwoman Legislator April Baskin. In addition we have three Black women who are elected school board members – Sharon Belton Cottman, Paulette Wood and Dr. Kathy Evans Brown.

Over the last election season we missed an historic opportunity to elect the regions’ first Black and first female Sheriff, Kimberly Beaty and first Black female Mayor, India Walton two outstanding young visionaries.

Read more: https://postbuffalo.com/a-great-way-to-listen-to-black-women-is-to-elect-them/