30 Years of Fighting for Reproductive Rights: Cecile Richards | Hear Me Out

Summary

The video transcript features an interview with Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood and co-founder of Super Majority, discussing her activism, political upbringing, and the organization's impact on women's healthcare. It highlights the challenges faced by women in accessing healthcare, the divisive nature of abortion rights in the U.S., and the importance of women's political involvement. Richards emphasizes the need for continued advocacy to ensure women's rights and the role of Super Majority in empowering women in politics.

Takeaways

• 📞 The speaker called her mother before a job interview at a significant healthcare organization, expressing doubt, but her mother encouraged her to seize the opportunity.
• 🌟 The organization in question is a widely supported healthcare provider for women, despite being a focus of the Republican party and facing defunding threats.
• 👩‍💼 The speaker, Cecile Richards, comes from a politically active family in Texas, with parents involved in various social movements, which influenced her own path as an activist.
• 🎓 After graduating from Brown University, Cecile became a labor organizer and later joined Planned Parenthood in 2006, where she served as president for over a decade.
• 🏥 Planned Parenthood, founded by Margaret Sanger in 1916, continues to provide healthcare and family planning services, despite controversies and opposition.
• 🚫 The script highlights the ongoing political battles over reproductive rights in the U.S., with Cecile noting that defunding Planned Parenthood is unpopular due to its essential services.
• 🌐 The U.S. stands out as politically divisive on the issue of abortion, with other developed countries having largely moved on from the debate and integrated abortion into basic healthcare.
• 💥 The script discusses the risks faced by healthcare providers at abortion clinics, including bombings and arson attacks, emphasizing the serious nature of the issue.
• 🤔 Cecile reflects on the challenges of maintaining access to healthcare, including abortion, in the face of restrictive laws and a judiciary that may not support these rights.
• 🔄 The speaker contemplates the future of reproductive rights, expressing concern over the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade and the impact it would have on women's safety and rights.
• 🌈 Cecile and Amanda discuss the importance of empowering women and addressing systemic inequities, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic's disproportionate effects on women.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial feeling about the job interview for the healthcare organization?

The speaker felt uncertain and doubtful about whether they could succeed in the job interview for what they considered the most important healthcare organization for women in the country.

How did the speaker's mother respond to their doubt about the job interview?

The speaker's mother was not sympathetic and instead encouraged them to 'get it together,' emphasizing the importance of the healthcare organization and the number of people who had signed up.

What is the speaker's view on the contentious nature of the healthcare organization they are discussing?

Contrary to the interviewer's assumption, the speaker believes that the organization is not contentious but is actually one of the most broadly supported organizations in the country due to the healthcare services it provides.

What is the speaker's perspective on the political stance of defunding Planned Parenthood?

The speaker thinks that defunding Planned Parenthood is very unpopular because many women view it as a place for affordable birth control and healthcare services rather than a political organization.

How does the speaker describe the diversity of women running for office in the U.S.?

The speaker expresses joy and excitement over the diversity of women running for office, noting that women of different backgrounds, appearances, and styles are now participating in politics.

What was the speaker's upbringing like in terms of political activism?

The speaker grew up in a politically active family in Texas, with parents involved in civil rights, farmworkers' rights, and the women's movement, which influenced their lifestyle and values.

What was the speaker's mother's role in politics before she became a household name?

The speaker's mother, Ann Richards, was a political figure who served as the governor of Texas, making her the last Democrat to hold that office.

How did the speaker's family dynamics influence their own political involvement?

The speaker's family was deeply involved in politics, with each member contributing in some way, whether through political work, teaching, or activism, which the speaker sees as a shared family value.

What was the speaker's reaction to the negative names and accusations they received during their time at Planned Parenthood?

The speaker did not seem phased by the accusations and focused more on the importance of the healthcare services provided by Planned Parenthood rather than the personal attacks.

What does the speaker believe would be the consequence if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned?

The speaker believes that if Roe v. Wade were overturned, women would die due to the return to illegal and unsafe abortions, which was the situation before the law was passed.

What is the mission of Super Majority, the advocacy group co-founded by the speaker?

Super Majority aims to mobilize women to get involved in politics and push politicians to further gender equity, focusing on the structural inequities in the U.S.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Doubts and Support Before a Pivotal Interview

The speaker reflects on a moment of self-doubt before a job interview at a significant healthcare organization for women. Despite the pressure and the competitive nature of the position, with 100 applicants signing up the previous day, the speaker's mother provides tough love and encouragement, emphasizing the importance of the opportunity. The conversation touches on the organization's broad support and challenges the misconception that it is contentious, highlighting its role in providing essential services like birth control and healthcare to women, beyond its political affiliations.

05:02

🌟 Embracing Diversity in Women's Activism and Leadership

Cecile Richards, an activist and former president of Planned Parenthood, discusses her journey from growing up in a politically active family in Texas to becoming a prominent voice for women's rights. She shares her experiences with her mother's influence and her family's dedication to activism, including involvement in the civil rights movement and other significant social issues. Richards also expresses her joy in seeing women from diverse backgrounds running for office and taking pleasure in their success, indicating a shift in the political landscape towards greater inclusivity and representation.

10:02

🚑 The Vital Role of Planned Parenthood Amidst Controversy

This paragraph delves into Cecile Richards' tenure at Planned Parenthood, an organization that has been both celebrated for its healthcare services and targeted by political opponents. Despite the contentious nature of abortion services, which make up only four percent of the organization's services, Planned Parenthood remains a crucial provider of healthcare, including STI testing, cancer screenings, and hormone therapy. Richards addresses the misconceptions about the organization, emphasizing its broad support and the importance of its mission to provide healthcare to those in need, especially in light of attacks and political efforts to defund it.

15:03

🛡️ The Political Battle for Reproductive Rights in the US

The speaker examines the political divisiveness surrounding abortion in the United States, contrasting it with the approaches in other developed countries where abortion is more integrated into government-funded healthcare. The paragraph highlights the Republican party's use of abortion as a political wedge issue and the impact of this on access to healthcare, particularly for women. Richards discusses the personal nature of the issue and the importance of trusting women to make their own decisions, as well as the challenges faced by the pro-choice movement in the face of a conservative-leaning Supreme Court and restrictive state laws.

20:04

🌐 The Global and National Perspective on Abortion Rights

The paragraph explores the global context of abortion rights, noting that while many countries have moved on from the debate, it remains a central and divisive issue in the US. Richards attributes this to the Republican party's strategy and the politicization of what should be a personal decision. The discussion also covers the potential consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade, including the risk to women's health and lives, and the importance of continued advocacy for reproductive rights as a fundamental aspect of social justice.

🏛️ The Future of Women in Politics and Social Change

In this paragraph, the focus shifts to the future of women in politics, with Richards discussing her own experiences and the broader movement towards gender equity. She highlights the importance of women's political power and the potential for change that comes with more women in office. Richards also touches on the challenges faced by women during the pandemic, the need for systemic change, and the role of organizations like Super Majority in mobilizing women and advocating for policies that support gender equity and social justice.

Keywords

💡Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood is a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health services, including birth control, cancer screenings, and abortion services. In the video, it is portrayed as a contentious organization due to its role in providing abortion services, yet it is also described as one of the most broadly supported organizations in the country. The script discusses the organization's importance for women's health and the political debates surrounding its funding.

💡Healthcare

Healthcare refers to the organized provision of medical services to individuals or communities through various health professionals and allied health fields. In the video, healthcare is a central theme, particularly in the context of women's health services provided by Planned Parenthood. The script emphasizes the importance of accessible and affordable healthcare for women, including birth control and checkups.

💡Abortion

Abortion is the medical or surgical termination of a pregnancy. It is a deeply contentious topic in the video, with Planned Parenthood being a focal point of the debate due to its provision of safe and legal abortions. The script highlights the organization's role in providing this service and the political efforts to defund it, reflecting the broader societal and political divisions on the issue.

💡Activism

Activism refers to the policy of taking direct vigorous action to bring about political or social change. The video features Cecile Richards, who comes from a family of activists and has been involved in various social and political causes throughout her life. The script illustrates how activism is a driving force in her life and the lives of her family members, from civil rights to women's rights.

💡Republican Party

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, often associated with conservative policies. In the video, the script discusses the party's stance on Planned Parenthood and abortion rights, indicating that opposition to the organization has become a form of dogma within the party, which has implications for the political landscape and policy debates.

💡Controversy

Controversy refers to a state of prolonged public dispute or debate. The term is relevant in the video as it describes the ongoing debate and conflict surrounding Planned Parenthood and its services, particularly abortion. The script mentions the contentious nature of the organization and the political efforts to defund it, reflecting the deep divisions in society.

💡Roe v. Wade

Roe v. Wade is a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court that established a woman's legal right to have an abortion. The video discusses the potential threat to this right, with the script mentioning that there are 18 abortion-related cases in the pipeline to the Supreme Court that could challenge this precedent, highlighting the ongoing legal battles over reproductive rights.

💡Gender Equity

Gender equity refers to the fair treatment of people of all genders, specifically with the idea of promoting women's equality with men. In the video, Cecile Richards co-founds Super Majority, an advocacy group that aims to push politicians to further gender equity. The script emphasizes the importance of gender equity in politics and society, particularly in the context of women's rights and representation.

💡Voter Suppression

Voter suppression refers to any action that prevents or discourages people from exercising their right to vote. The video mentions Cecile Richards' work in ending voter suppression, indicating her involvement in efforts to ensure fair and accessible voting processes, which is crucial for a functioning democracy.

💡Pro-Choice Movement

The pro-choice movement advocates for the right of individuals to make decisions about their own reproductive health, including the choice to have an abortion. In the video, the script discusses the challenges faced by the movement, including restrictive abortion laws and the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade, which would have significant implications for reproductive rights in the United States.

💡Women's Rights

Women's rights are the rights considered as culture-specific and are often denied to girls and women in various ways across the world. The video script discusses the broader context of women's rights, including reproductive rights and the political representation of women. It highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equity and the importance of activism in advancing these rights.

Highlights

Cecile Richards discusses her mother's influence and the importance of the job interview at Planned Parenthood, emphasizing the organization's crucial role in women's healthcare.

The transcript highlights the broad support for Planned Parenthood despite political contention, focusing on healthcare provision rather than politics.

Richards reflects on her upbringing in a politically active family in Texas, which shaped her path as an activist.

The interview delves into the founding of Planned Parenthood by Margaret Sanger and the organization's ongoing mission amidst controversy.

Cecile's personal experience of joining Planned Parenthood and the challenges faced due to its contentious nature in American politics.

The discussion on the actual services provided by Planned Parenthood, emphasizing that abortion is only a small part of the healthcare they offer.

Richards addresses the violent attacks on abortion clinics and the impact on frontline healthcare providers.

The comparison of abortion rights and healthcare in the U.S. versus other developed countries, highlighting the unique political divisiveness in the U.S.

Cecile's perspective on the Republican party's use of abortion as a political wedge issue and its evolution over time.

The potential consequences of defunding Planned Parenthood, including the loss of access to critical healthcare for millions.

Richards expresses her optimism for the support of women's healthcare rights in the U.S., despite political challenges.

The impact of restrictive abortion laws and the current legal challenges to Roe v. Wade, with potential threats to reproductive rights.

Cecile's insights on the need for continuous advocacy in the face of complacency around reproductive rights.

The potential repercussions if Roe v. Wade is overturned, including the risk to women's health and safety.

Richards discusses her future in activism and the importance of empowering the next generation of leaders.

The founding of Super Majority by Cecile Richards and its mission to mobilize women in politics and advocate for gender equity.

Amanda Brown Lierman's vision for Super Majority following Cecile Richards' departure, focusing on the impact of the pandemic on women.

The importance of centering the experiences of marginalized women in policy-making for a just recovery from the pandemic.

Cecile's commitment to social and economic justice for women, and her plans for future ventures in activism.

Transcripts

foreign

[Music]

calling my mother when I was going for

the job interview and I just said I just

don't know I don't know if I can do this

and she was just like get it together

she doesn't sound like someone yeah

really not sympathetic she said this is

the most important Healthcare

organization in the country for women of

course you better try for this

100 people signed up from yesterday

that's fantastic very good well that's

the ultimate sign of whether good

intentions actually then you know

produce produce results

[Music]

I mean given that it is such a

contentious topic and it's such a

contentious organization it's not a

contentious organization in fact it's

actually one of the most broadly

supported organizations in the country

but is the focus of it's a focus of the

Republican party but honestly I actually

think defunding Planned Parenthood is

very unpopular because for a lot of

women they don't think it's a political

organization they think it's where they

go to to get affordable birth control

[Music]

I love now that women of all stripes are

running for office in the U.S

women who look different who come from

different places who dress differently

and that women are taking joy in that

success

it's exciting

[Applause]

[Music]

Cecile Richards is an activist

Powerhouse from ending voter suppression

to fighting for a woman's right to have

an abortion Cecile is on the front lines

demanding Justice

but long before she became a progressive

icon she grew up in a hotbed of American

conservatism

Texas

thank you so much for sitting down with

us but I did want to rewind a little bit

you grew up in Texas in a great

politically active family right I mean

yes what was that like were you out

protesting and marching when other kids

were at the movies well it's funny now

uh and of course Texas is a lot in the

news now but I I grew up in Dallas Texas

and my parents were liberals they were

involved in the civil rights movement

and the farmworks exactly every movement

that came through town and then the

women's movement or my mother just

completely lost her mind that was so

exciting and yeah I mean other families

were bowling and we were doing a sorting

Precinct lists you know for whatever

campaign my parents were working on so

it was really much more just like a way

of life it was what our family did so

with dinners just a discussion of what

America was and what America should be

actually dinners were mainly my father

ranting and raving about whatever

Injustice that he was uh he had a short

fuse

um still does my dad was a late lawyer

my mother was a what do we call the

housewife but she was involved in every

campaign

Cecile watched her mum and Richards take

activism out of the kitchen and straight

to the Capitol I know if the turnout is

good and if the turnout is big in Texas

I'm gonna win this election Richards

worked her way up in government winning

the Texas gubernatorial seat in 1990.

she's the last Democrat to hold the

office

there was always just a sense that you

were put on this Earth to make a

difference was there ever a point where

you rebelled against that or you were

questioned kind of the politics that you

were born into I mean I guess we all had

our moments of rebellion but mine was

never about politics I mean I I did and

really still do so look up to my parents

um for having charted that path

essentially they raised me to be an

activist and I always have been

protesting the Vietnam War and after

graduating from Brown University she

became a labor organizer where she met

her husband you have three children yes

is it a given that you are all very

politically involved it's a family

affair absolutely in fact I I'll never

forget when President Obama was elected

my twins weren't old enough to vote but

everyone had been door knocking and you

know phone Banking and I guess you could

kind of Mark our family's history by

presidential elections that's quite

significant because I feel like most

families I mean you know it's there but

it's very much in the in the background

of things it's like it's like a bread

and butter one daughter works in

politics my son's a public school

teacher but extremely politically

involved and my daughter Hannah who

lives in Africa now is an activist and

maybe that is somewhat unique but it's

something we we all share we're not here

today to deny the far right their

participation in politics cecile's

career zigzagged across the country and

causes she founded the Grassroots

organization Texas Freedom Network as

well as America votes an initiative to

increase voter turnout for Democrats

she also served as Nancy Pelosi's Deputy

Chief of Staff

but in 2006 Planned Parenthood came

knocking turning Cecile into a household

name

you joined Planned Parenthood in 2006

and served as the president there for

over a decade so many people look to the

organization as a Lifeline women who

don't have insurance women who are

students

women who just need a trusted source of

Health Care

I remember calling my mother when I was

going for the job interview and I just

said I just don't know I don't know if I

can do this and she was just like get it

together it doesn't sound like someone

get it together

really not sympathetic she said this is

the most important Healthcare

organization in the country for women of

course you gotta try for this

roots of Planned Parenthood can be found

in Brooklyn in 1916 Margaret Sanger

opened the first birth control clinic

bringing contraception to the masses

she believed that women should be able

to decide when and whether they have

children so they can gain equity and she

wanted to stop dangerous back alley

abortions

today Sanger is recognized as a hero for

Reproductive Rights as well as a deeply

flawed woman who supported eugenics

but planned parenthood's mission of

providing Healthcare and Family Planning

for all women lives on in spite of its

opponents

agree with my parents

given that it is such a contentious

topic and it's such a contentious

organization was there any hesitation in

you joining

all right well first I would just say

it's not a contentious organization in

fact it's actually one of the most

broadly supported organizations in the

country

not because of Any Brilliance on my part

or anyone else's but because we provide

Health Care to folks and and that's the

focus of you know the focus of the

Republican party but honestly the reason

I challenge you on this is because I

actually think defunding Planned

Parenthood is very unpopular because for

a lot of women they don't think it's a

political organization they think it's

where they go to to get affordable birth

control or their annual checkup we

absolutely provide safe and legal

abortion it's incredibly important

and we do a lot of other health care as

well

from STI testing and cancer screening to

hormone therapy and Pap smears Planned

Parenthood says they provide 9.8 million

Health Services each year operating at a

more than 600 centers across the country

according to the organization abortions

make up four percent of those services

but the pro-life movement sees Planned

Parenthood as a dangerous baby killing

machine

senior officials of Planned Parenthood

laughing over sips of wine bargaining

over the sale of body parts of unborn

children

is it possible to take the politics out

of abortion rights I hope so I mean it's

not a political issue it is a personal

issue and trusting women or pregnant

people to make their own decisions more

than you trust the government

that is I think just a fundamental

American value

three women

[Applause]

the years Cecile was tasked with making

all Health Services more accessible

because that access to care included

abortion she became the target of

continued attacks

during your time at Planned Parenthood

you were called all sorts of names evil

vast murderer baby butcher what have you

I mean still I am you don't seem like

someone who's particularly phased by

those kind of accusations was there ever

a point where you felt like you know

your family or your safety was at risk

I really never worried about myself I

did worry about our doctors and our

health care providers because really

when you look at what happened and the

kinds of attacks it was on the front

line folks and that's a serious issue

and that wait on me a lot

this is what it looks like inside the

Planned Parenthood clinic in Brainerd

investigators have determined that some

sort of fuel was used to ignite a fire

here early Wednesday morning

the decades since Roe v Wade passed

there have been over 40 bombings and

nearly 200 Arsenal attacks targeting

abortion clinics across the U.S

but in most developed countries abortion

is now part of basic government-funded

health care

I mean I'm from the UK where you're

probably going what are you guys what is

your problem I mean kind of of course

it's crazy I mean in the UK abortion is

just not front and center exactly that

debate is kind of it feels like it

sailed a long time ago even Ireland

ahead of us yeah I know most places I

mean not most you know there's still no

I'm not going on in Poland a lot going

on in Latin America correct in parts of

the rest of the world but a lot of the

rest of the world has moved on and I'm

wondering why is it that

abortion debate is so fun and center and

is so politically divisive in the US

fundamentally because the Republican

party has decided that it is an

important political wedge issue that can

help them attract

a part of the electorate that can help

them win elections I remember when there

were republicans in Congress and in the

United States Senate who supported

abortion rights who supported Planned

Parenthood but now it has become the

dogma of the party that

if you support that

um you can't be elected I mean Donald

Trump himself you know was a Planned

Parenthood supporter Mitt Romney you

know who ran against President Obama was

a Planned Parenthood supporter

this Dogma has provoked efforts to stop

Planned Parenthood from receiving

federal funds which if successful would

deprive millions of women and men of

access to critical care and when they

vote to repeal and replace Obamacare we

will finally defund Planned Parenthood

you don't seem like someone who dwells

on any negative elements of anything

really you seem extremely worth it I

don't want to seem like a martyr and I

just want to make it really clear like

that for every person that has come up

and said something nasty there have been

99 women who've come up to me and said

thank you for Planned Parenthood I do

think we tend to underestimate how much

the fundamental ability of women to

access their health care and make their

own decisions how much support that has

in the United States

thank you

every life is precious

regardless of race or class including

the lives of The Unborn children

the battle over Reproductive Rights is

heating up it's the ongoing saga of

Republicans attacking Women's Health

it's personal in this case it's very

personal about decisions that women have

to make about the size and timing of

their families

over 400 restrictive abortion laws have

passed across states in the last 10

years and 18 abortion related cases are

now in the pipeline to the Supreme Court

any one of them could threaten Roe v

Wade the right for a pregnant woman to

have an abortion

can you understand why you know so many

people who do believe in access to free

and safe abortions are so disheartened

at the moment and and so worried and

depressed and feel like there is so much

Gloom ahead of us of course it's hard to

have a federal Judiciary that's now been

completely stacked against us

that is discouraging Roe is still the

law of the land they say but I think in

seven states now in the U.S there's only

one abortion provider left so if you

live in Rural America or if you live in

a conservative State access can be

incredibly limited ultimately we have to

pass laws at the state level and at the

Congressional level

I think for a long long time the

abortion rights movement relied on the

the Supreme Court and that simply isn't

possible anymore

[Music]

human rights people in certain states

have been pretty successful at chipping

away at various abortion rights

depending on where in the country you

are and obviously now the Supreme Court

is very tipped towards the conservative

Edge do you feel like there was anything

that the pro-choice movement could have

done differently or do you feel like

there was any

complacency around Roe v Wade being

assumed that it was Secure and safe I

think there was sort of a lack of

complacency I just think it's like work

that is never finished that's going to

have to can continue

um continue forever I mean to me the

real problem is that something that is a

constitutional right at least on paper

depends on your ZIP code depends on your

income

it depends on what state you live in and

that to me it means it's not really a

right it's certainly not a right that's

equally held by women and people in this

country

and what are the repercussions what

happens if row is overturned I think

what happens is

um women will die I mean that's why Roe

was passed in the first place I think

people forget that it wasn't that

abortion didn't exist before Roe versus

way it was just illegal and unsafe

I just hate to think that we're a

country that would allow that to happen

again and I I think we are better than

that in this country but sure that that

really hurts and we're all going to be

paying for it for a long long time

and not just the abortion rights

movement I mean voting rights civil

rights lgbtq rights we're all going to

be in this together I mean obviously

you've been so involved in politics so

for so much of your life and I'm sure

there'll be so many people who would

love to see you run for office yourself

and wonder and equally a lot of people

who would hate to see that but I'm

wondering whether you see that in your

future at all

you know I am I've learned now never to

say never I've been an organizer and

activist I've had such a I mean honestly

blessed life and career of being always

in the Forefront of social change and

I'm happy doing that and I love seeing

other women elected to office and I take

great joy in that so you know who knows

whether maybe so who knows where their

future rolls but I remember when when

Mom ran for governor and she was like a

unicorn it was like this woman

Progressive woman in Texas becoming

Governor there was a certain way you had

to be you had to have a certain

hairstyle and you had to dress a certain

way and all the things I love now that

women of all stripes are running for

office women who look different who come

from different places who dress

differently and that women are taking

joy in that success women are now not

only opening that door but then kicking

it open for everyone else

foreign

it's exciting

more and more women are breaking down

barriers to elected office each year and

Cecile has been one of the people

working behind the scenes to make that

happen in 2019 she co-founded super

majority an advocacy group aimed at

mobilizing women to get involved in

politics while pushing politicians to

further gender equity which is huge and

which has been led by women of color and

black women as we know so in 2019 you

founded super majority which is a oh how

do you describe it we kind of created it

as a political home for women to help

provide training and then of course

activism and advocacy from the day we

launched super majority we've just been

overwhelmed with women from all walks of

life this last election our main focus

was on turning out women to vote and

it's been explosive

explain to people who you know might

feel like we've come so far with gender

equality in this country and across the

world you know we don't need to talk

about men's issues and women's issues we

need to talk about people's issues well

I mean the U.S we are so far behind uh

meant most industrialized countries on

almost everything that has to do with

gender Equity yeah and I'm surprised in

so many things like maternity leave it's

like the second worst country in the

world after Papua New Guinea it's seen

as almost an individual failure the

workforce was never built for women to

participate uh and certainly not after

they had kids and of course this

pandemic has just exposed that in ways

that that are unimaginable we spent 50

billion dollars on bailing out the

airline industry we've spent almost

nothing on

either bailing out or supporting the

child care industry in the US I think

we've had more than two million women

leave the workforce and in large part it

is not only that the economy is

collapsing but because they don't have

any way to take care of their families

and take care of their kids so what if

we actually you know flip the script and

actually talked about the issues that

prevent women from being part of the

workforce we have a long way to go and I

feel like this growing political power

of women is going to give us an

opportunity to do that

in 2020 a historic number of women and

women of color were elected to congress

representing 40 of house Democrats and

14 of House Republicans but that doesn't

necessarily mean more Unity it does seem

like the country at least from the

outside perspective is becoming more and

more divided I mean I'm wondering if

you're worried that we're less able to

kind of have those conversations and

whether we're less likely to listen to

the other sides of those arguments so I

think we always have to be talking to

people not in partisan political terms

or labels but actually about folks lived

experience and I do think it means we

have to continue to be in conversation

with people

at literally at the Grassroots level

um and do you worry that those

conversations are happening in their own

kind of silos and their own Echo

Chambers I think it's an enormous

problem

it's one of the reasons that I believe

that women talking to other women and

becoming trusted sources of information

for each other is so critical because if

women across race an issue and

experience began voting together we

could change politics in this country

for the next Century for Cecile the work

isn't about running the show it's about

empowering the next generation of

leaders

in December 2020 Cecile announced that

she'd be stepping down from her position

in super majority to make way for her

successor Amanda Brown lierman I got on

a zoom call to talk about this shift hi

guys Amanda nice to meet you very nice

to meet you too

um so still it seems like a lot has

changed since I last saw you this

transition has been in the works for a

long long time it's exciting actually so

what what's happened talk us through it

I guess this has sort of been my um

part of my sort of organizing Philosophy

for my entire life which is to try to

build things and leave them to

um the next leader and so I'm excited to

be able to do that at Super majority so

this has always been in the work

Samantha you always um you always knew

that you were going to take on this role

I feel like I've been preparing for this

role for most of my life actually and so

um in many ways uh it's a great honor to

to be able to jump in to do this work

that I'm excited to help write the next

chapter of the super majority story and

just in terms of what that practically

means I mean we're still in the depths

of this horrific pandemic that we've

seen sweeping across the country or

across the world

um a pandemic that we know has

disproportionately impacted women I mean

what are the next steps what are your

priorities in terms of handling that and

helping women get through it

um I I stay up at night thinking about

even the single bombs who you know have

lost their jobs and are struggling just

to feed their kids kids dinner that's a

reality for so many too many American

women right now and so the work that we

have to do is make sure that we're

continuing to elevate the issues of

particularly marginalized women in our

country

so so anything to add to that we started

super majority understanding that there

were structural inequity in the U.S and

now the opportunity I believe is to

demand of our government that they

actually Center those experiences

because there is no recovery if women

don't recover and so so I know that you

said you're going to be staying on but

does it mean that you're going to be

taking on other Ventures as well oh yeah

I am a perpetual motion person and I

don't know exactly what form it will

take but my entire life has been

committed to

um social justice and economic Justice

particularly for women and so I'm not

stopping this is about the long-term

systemic change we need in the U.S and

that's going to take all of us

thank you

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