Minnesota county’s first black commissioner takes oath with ‘The New Jim Crow’ book
There’s a new sheriff in Minnesota — and she did not come to play.
To mark her historic term as one of the first black commissioners of Hennepin County, Angela Conley took her oath of office with the book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.
As opposed to using a customary bible, Conley chose to place her hand on the New York Times best-seller by Michelle Alexander about the discrimination of African American males with the premise that “mass incarceration is, metaphorically, the New Jim Crow.” Conley was also sworn in by retired District Judge Pamela Alexander, who took her oath in the same room as the county’s first black judge 35 years ago.
“This seat belongs to the people who look like me and have traditionally been shut out of this room,” Conley told the Star Tribune.
For the first time in 166 years, Hennepin County elected not one, but two women commissioners of color — Conley and Irene Fernando, who both assumed office on Jan. 7. Winning by 14 percent, Conley was one of several women of color to make history in the 2018 midterm elections in Minnesota alongside one of the first Muslim women in Congress, Ilhan Omar.
“We must never forget that the institutions that created and sustained white supremacy and structural racism never intended to include Black people in the decision-making process,” said Conley in a statement to The Hill. “This is why, as the first Black county commissioner in the 166th year history of the Hennepin County Board, I chose this book.”
What an incredible night! @voteconley WINS District 4 County Commissioner in Minneapolis! Along with this incredible win, @IlhanMN also won her campaign for US House; making them both deserved and HISTORIC wins for people of color, women, and immigrants everywhere! pic.twitter.com/ZfG9hfqxLv
— The Storyteller Media (@storyteller_org) November 7, 2018
After receiving assistance from the county 20 years ago, Conley was inspired to pursue a career in public service despite never having run for office.
In her hard-fought race against longtime incumbent 4th District Commissioner Peter Mclaughlin, Conley spoke with thousands of constituents who “took risks to support me.”
“We were up against an establishment,” wrote Conley on the night of her win. “And for every person who said this could never happen, so many more told me ‘go.'”
You took risks to support me. We were up against an establishment. And for every person who said this could never happen, so many more told me, “Go.”
Thank you. This is your win, too.
— Angela Conley for County Commissioner (@voteconley) November 7, 2018
Driven by the people she met during her campaign who “trusted me with their vote” at her swearing-in ceremony, Conley dedicated her term to those with and without shelter, employed and unemployed, young and old, renters and homeowners. Said Conley: “No matter who you are, this seat belongs to you.”
Read more from MAKERS:
Jennifer Siebel Newsom will be the California governor’s ‘first partner’—not the ‘first lady’
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slams sexist comments calling her ‘vacuous’
