You’re More Than Enough
By Blake Ansari | Class of 2021
Sen. Cory Booker (D. – N.J.) words speak volumes about mothers and women in America
My mother always greets me when I come from school, except this one day. She was sitting at her desk wiping tears and listening to Senator Cory Booker tell U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Jackson that she was “More Than Enough”.
I asked her why she was crying. She said, “Senator Corey Booker had publicly acknowledged the hard work and brilliance of Black women, and the stressful life we live as victims of jealousy that turns into rage.”
She told me about Sjef Vanderberg, a professor at the University of Connecticut, who refused to approve her Master’s thesis. My mom’s research proved some elected officials whose district included Black communities didn’t include those zip codes in their mailings. I doubt he liked my mother fighting against racism and exposing the horrible truths to the outside world. He had a racist mindset. My mother was revolting against his racist values.
She spent four years asking for help. One day she sent her thesis to the legal department of the U.S. Department of Education. A Black man called her and told her she “had done more than enough.” She received her master’s degree and later earned her Ph.D.
Black women are the Mothers of Democracy. They work the hardest for racial justice.
Happy Mother’s Day: Mary Bethune McCloud, Fannie Lou Hamer, Septima Clarke, Anna Julia Cooper, US Attorney General Lorretta Lynch, and US Supreme Court Justice Jackson.
8 Comments
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Gina says:
You are a phenomenal writer, Blake. And, your Mom is a phenomenal woman.
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Cheryl A Pemberton-Graves says:
Blake, thank you for “seeing us” as society often does not. With you i have confidence that our future is bright.
Love, Aunt Cheryl PG
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Blake says:
You’re welcome, I believe that all black women should be put in the spotlight more. Not pushed aside and overlooked as people in our society normally do.
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Sherrie Young says:
Blake thank you for acknowledging the greatness of black women. It gives us the courage and strength to continue to strive.
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You’re welcome I feel like black women are pushed aside throughout our society. To the point where it is a social construct to minimize and diminish their accomplishments and they’re worth to our lifestyle.
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Lola C. West says:
Blake
You are our future and I am so very proud of you. Your intellect, caring, thoughtfulness,
understanding and writing ability are beyond your years!
We are all blessed by your being among us.
Love,
Lola C. West-
Thank you for all of your kind words. I truly believe that all black women are the Mothers of Democracy.
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What a lovely piece, Blake. I like how you weave the personal story with current affairs. So many aspects of the Black experience are similar, regardless of vocation or discipline.
Love,
Cheryl McCourtie