Some activists have said that by choosing a black woman, Biden would make a statement about moving the country toward greater equity for marginalized groups. Harris, who ran unsuccessfully for the presidential nomination, is the only other black woman beside Moseley Braun ever elected to the Senate. Since Shirley Chisholm (D-N.Y.) became the first black woman elected to Congress in 1968, 47 black women have served in Congress. Yet, she adds, “anytime black women are present people feel uncomfortable, intimidated” in ways that they don’t feel toward white women. A black female running mate was more important to black women younger than 40 than those 40 and older.

Source: Washington Post July 19, 2020 21:38 UTC