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Sep 04, 2023

Black Women in Power: Meet the Women Rewriting History in the White House

Vice President Kamala Harris’ appointment as the first woman to hold the second

Vice President Kamala Harris’ appointment as the first woman to hold the second most senior-level position in the United States is news in itself, but what some may fail to notice is the numerous other Black women under President Joe Biden's administration who are breaking barriers and setting the pace for young Black women in the generations to come.

Below, we are highlighting some of the administration's brightest stars, who have chosen careers in public service and leadership to promote prosperity in the U.S. and beyond.

It is almost impossible to keep up with the latest news happening out of the White House without noticing Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, a Martinican-born Haitian-American who was a political strategist and advisor before being tapped as the nation's head of communications. Jean Pierre was appointed to the role in 2022 and is also the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the position.

The 45-year-old Louisiana native is the first Black woman to head the United States Office of Management and Budget, the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States. Before taking on the role, she was a staffer on the House Appropriations Committee and was the OMB's interim director before filling the role full-time last year.

Mrs. Fudge was a former Congresswoman before she it was announced that she would become the Housing and Urban Development Secretary in 2021. Born Marcia Louise Fudge, the politician is a former attorney who was a U.S. representative for Ohio's 11th congressional district from 2008 to 2021. She is most known for spearheading the entire agency during the height of COVID-19.

Although Keisha Lance Bottoms recently left her post as White House Public Engagement Advisor for the Biden-Harris administration, the former Atlanta mayor was elected to represent the city and helped bring peace to the city during Black Lives Matter and George Floyd protests in 2020. Before working for the White House and serving as mayor, she was a member of the Atlanta City Council. She announced she would not run for reelection as mayor in 2021.

"A lifelong racial equity champion, award-winning social impact strategist, highly sought-after political operative, and history-making policy architect," according to her website, Adjoa B. Asamoah is no stranger to the political spotlight after leading key legislations, including the revolutionary CROWN Act, which prohibits discrimination based on hair style and hair texture. In 2022, she was tapped to seve as the racial equity czar for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Rouse, an economist, is the 30th Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, becoming the first African American to hold the title. Before then, she was the dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

Thomas-Greenfield rounds out our list as a woman of color making strides in all things politics, policy and polity. The diplomat served as the U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs from 2013 to 2017 before becoming the U.S Ambassador to the United Nations, a role she still holds under President Joe Biden.

Continue to make us proud, ladies!

Xara Aziz is a writer and researcher covering U.S. pop culture and race relations.