This year is the 400th anniversary of Virginia’s legislative body. The first woman of color wasn’t elected until 1983 -- and that was Yvonne Miller. She made history serving in both the House and Senate.
Del. Marcia Price (D-Newport News) said it was time for more women of color to step into leadership roles.
“Our representative democracy should truly be representative,” said Price.
In 2019, the General Assembly still lacks diversity. Only 10 percent of seats are held by women of color.
But their voices were amplified in February when reporters dug up a racist photo from Gov. Ralph Northam’s yearbook page; days later, Attorney General Mark Herring admitted he wore blackface in the ‘80s, and two women accused Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of sexual assault.
