Essence_USA__February_2018

ISSUES : VOICES OF THE NEW AMERICA
STACEY
ABRAMS
Never mind the possibility
of becoming the nation’s
first Black woman governor:
This Georgia gubernatorial
candidate aims to eliminate
poverty, protect voting rights
and implement changes with
the kind of impact Georgians
can feel BY MARQUITA K. HARRIS
PURPOSE
“My purpose is to eradicate poverty in
all the spaces and all the forms where I
can. I say this—and I mean it sincerely—
I am offended by it. It is mean, it is
unnecessary and it siphons away so
much human capital. It lies on the soul.
And it should not exist.”
I am authentically
and unapologetically
a Democrat. I am
not going to water
down my principles
or pretend to be
Republican-lite.
I want people to vote
for me because
of who I am and what
I believe.”
RÉSUMÉ
The 44-year-old author and former tax
attorney knows the ins and outs of
business. Not only has Abrams been
the executive of companies, but she’s
also launched them. “I’ve signed the
front and back of a paycheck,” she
says. “I create jobs. I’ve helped other
companies retain the jobs they’ve
created. I’ve helped move capital....
I’m an effective legislative leader.”
We have
to believe
in our power
to pick our
own leaders....
We have
the capacity
to get
it done.
HERITAGE
“I grew up in southern Mississippi. In
Gulfport.... I was born in Wisconsin
while my mom was in grad school
getting her master’s in library
science. And she and my dad
moved back to Mississippi when
I was 3. So all I remember about
Wisconsin is being cold.”
“Johnnetta Cole at
Spelman College
was the first person
to encourage me
to run for office.
She told me to
run for student
government because
she was tired of me
complaining.”
ABRAMS, THE WASHINGTON POST/GETTY IMAGES. ALL ICONS, THE NOUN PROJECT.
68 ESSENCE.COM FEBRUARY 2018