Black women and girls would get more power and protections in new NC bills

BY DAWN BAUMGARTNER VAUGHAN AND LUCILLE SHERMAN

Black women and girls get a seat at the table at the Fannie Lou Hamer Institute of Advocacy and Social Action in Raleigh. If a proposed bill makes it through the North Carolina General Assembly, they could also have a seat at a much larger table and potential to influence statewide policy.

Twin sisters Jayda and Sierra Coleman are rising seniors at the Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy and student leaders at the Fannie Lou Hamer Institute, which is named after the late civil rights leader.

The sisters spoke Wednesday during a press conference about legislation being promoted by Sen. Erica Smith of Henrico and Sen. Natalie Murdock of Durham.

“All pieces of legislation that we’re highlighting this morning are intertwined and connected,” Smith said during the press conference. “They especially respond to how in North Carolina and throughout our country, black women have been historically disenfranchised, disempowered and disregarded.”

Senate Bill 775, which would establish the Black Women and Girls Task Force, is one of them.

The task force would “give us the opportunity for black women and girls to be understood,” Jayda Coleman said.