They’re going to love her for her ambition.
Karine Jean-Pierre has continued to make history as the first Black women and out lesbian to serve as chief of staff to a vice-presidential candidate. She will be working alongside another trailblazer, Kamala, the first Black and South Asian-American woman, to be chosen as a vice-presidential running mate.
Jean-Pierre made headlines last year when she jumped between Harris and a white, male animal activist who jumped on the stage of a MoveOn panel discussing the gender pay gap.
While she was working as chief public affairs officer at MoveOn, she spoke to MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on the fear she had and the instincts to protect Harris in the moment. “I thought, ‘She’s a sitting senator who’s running for president, a woman of color, anything can happen,'” Jean-Pierre said. “And I just thought, ‘It’s going to go bad, and I cannot let this happen.'”
“I just thought it’s going to go bad, and I cannot let this happen, and as you saw I just went into action. It was instinct.” —@K_JeanPierre on blocking Sen. Harris from male protester who jumped on stage during forum pic.twitter.com/9iazYNoSTB
advertisement— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) June 4, 2019
The Martinique born child of Haitian immigrants began working in politics in 2004 when she was brought on to the John Edwards campaign, then went on to work for former President Barack Obama during his two terms in the White House Office of Political Affairs.
She said her time working for Obama was important to her as a Black lesbian woman. “What’s been wonderful is that I was not the only; I was one of many. President Obama didn’t hire LGBT staffers, he hired experienced individuals who happen to be LGBT,” she told The Advocate. “Serving and working for President Obama, where you can be openly gay, has been an amazing honor. It felt incredible to be a part of an administration that prioritizes LGBT issues.”
The Queens-native took to twitter to express her excitement to be working on the Biden/Harris ticket, reclaiming the label of “ambitious” her critics have attempted to lobby at her during her career.
Karine “ambitious” Jean-Pierre is incredibly proud to be working to elect the Biden/Harris ticket. Let’s go!! https://t.co/Y3rNNz6qJG
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@K_JeanPierre) August 11, 2020
Jean-Pierre is a political analyst, author, and human rights activist who’s ready to take on the Trump administration and win to create a better future for our community and country.
“Get involved in your community. Volunteer. Get involved in your church, temple, [or] mosque. This is an ugly and dangerous time in our nation’s history. But to me, that is even more of a reason to get in the arena,” BET wrote. “With so much at stake, now more than ever, I think we all need to engage in the political process. It is the only way we’re going to be able to turn our country around.”
Your ambition is inspiring! Keep it up, Karine!
Photo Credit: Getty Images