Social media is thanking black women for saving Alabama from Roy Moore
On Wednesday night, Doug Jones defeated Roy Moore to become the next senator from Alabama. Because Jones, a civil rights attorney, is a Democrat, his win has been taken as a major upset in the red state. The result is also surprising considering that Jones trailed behind his competitor in the polls, despite the allegations lodged against Moore throughout the campaign of sexual harassment and assault of teenage girls, homophobia, anti-Semitism, and racism.
When Jones was announced the winner by more 20,000 votes at around 10:30 p.m., Twitter immediately erupted — many commentators noting that Jones’s victory could largely be credited to black women. After all, 98 percent of black women — and 93 percent of black men — voted for Jones over Moore. In comparison, 63 percent of white women and 72 percent of white men voted for Moore, not Jones.
Many prominent black thinkers, writers, and activists underscored the importance of black women’s role in the race, and its larger political and cultural implications:
— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) December 13, 2017
If your take tomorrow doesn’t include the fact that black voters showed up for Democrats *while* being systemically obstructed from access to the polls then you need to rewrite it.
— Clint Smith (@ClintSmithIII) December 13, 2017
“93% of black women that voted in the state of Alabama voted for Doug Jones… That’s the power of the sister vote.” – Birmingham City Councilor Sheila Tyson pic.twitter.com/lTgP7saCxx
— Kira Lerner (@kira_lerner) December 13, 2017
Many pointed out the importance of black women in driving elections and politics in general:
Black women carry this nation on their backs.
— Lydia Polgreen (@lpolgreen) December 13, 2017
We’ve BEEN saying when you center Black women in your work (whatever lane it is), then liberation is just around the corner. Y’all better listen.
— Raquel Willis (@RaquelWillis_) December 13, 2017
Black women heading to the Polls in Alabama to Make sure White women don’t give us ANOTHER sexual predator #DougJones pic.twitter.com/6AzLS6HFaO
— Blake (@Official_Lov) December 13, 2017
Nah but folks sure do need us.
Whew. https://t.co/PP4KqMYe9H
— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) December 13, 2017
Black voters propelled Doug Jones to the Senate. Democrats' path to winning requires embracing the fight against racial injustice, not "quitting identity politics."
— Sejal Singh (@Sej_Singh) December 13, 2017
Black women leaving the polls. You're welcome Doug Jones. #AlabamaSenateElection pic.twitter.com/h8YjTukiuY
— Quwn ✨ (@Q_Corleone) December 13, 2017
Trust Black women. Trust excellent organizing. Trust a real investment of resources. #DougJones
— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) December 13, 2017
Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez added:
Let me be clear: We won in Alabama and Virginia because #BlackWomen led us to victory. Black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party, and we can’t take that for granted. Period.
— Tom Perez (@TomPerez) December 13, 2017
Many white women added their voices in appreciation:
What if we just let black women run everything
— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) December 13, 2017
Omg if Doug Jones has actually won. God bless black women. God bless black women for saving us. I'm crying.
— Jessi Klein (@jessirklein) December 13, 2017
Hi everyone, just checking in to https://t.co/MKTSdl0pPe to say a big THANK YOU to black women and men that voted for Doug Jones in Alabama and a big YIKES!!! to white women and men that voted for a pedophile. Ok bye!!!
— Maddie (@areyoutheremadz) December 13, 2017
Black women saved our sorry butts. White women, get your Sh** together. #DougJones #Alabama.
— Courtney Tryon (@Musicalways82) December 13, 2017
Ugh, white people, this is embarrassing.
Black people (specifically black women) have been saving our asses in elections for about 30 years.
We can, and must, do better.#DougJones#WednesdayWisdom#ThankYouAlabama
h/t @goldengateblond pic.twitter.com/CTmSZDL6cV
— Holly O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) December 13, 2017
Others called out white women for their self-congratulatory appreciation of black women:
White Women Thank Themselves for Thanking Black Women Today: https://t.co/Tgt8wI1pWw pic.twitter.com/yjrjmBGrq3
— Reductress (@Reductress) December 13, 2017
For non-Black folks praising Black women in tonight's election – do more. Support Black women. Stand up for Black women. Hire Black women. Vote for Black women.
— ReBecca Theodore-Vachon (@FilmFatale_NYC) December 13, 2017
#BlackWomen helped elect a Democrat to the US Senate in AL for the first time in more than 20 years. But we need to do more than congratulate them. Let’s address issues that disproportionately affect Black women—like pay disparity, housing & under-representation in elected office
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) December 13, 2017
Don’t just thank Black women. Support them and elect them.
— Sara Benincasa (@SaraJBenincasa) December 13, 2017
Gonna say one thing about the *newfound* appreciation of Black women which is not actually appreciation but something wholly disturbing IMO…
— #LeaveMeAlone (@prisonculture) December 13, 2017
I feel a certain way about orgs tweeting about how Black women are the key to electoral victories and saving all of us, using Beyoncé and other Black women gifs, knowing damn well they don’t have any Black women in leadership or on staff or even serve them in their programming.
— Renee Bracey Sherman (@RBraceySherman) December 13, 2017
So thrilled that everyone is here for black women! Except,um—
*gestures wildly at pay gap, hijacked feminism, housing/education inequality, the Kardashians being lauded for their butts and lips, the planet Earth*
— Danielle Henderson (@knottyyarn) December 13, 2017
It's bothering me to see so many white feminists who never tweet about, say, Black women dying from childbirth at 4x the rate of white women, or Black women and mass incarceration rates, sharing cutesy god is a Black woman stuff today.
— Lu (@Lucie_Witt) December 13, 2017
Can you imagine what would be possible if the DNC and political funders actually turned over resources and support to Black organizers, Black politicos, and Black woman leaders?
We can vote.
We can also lead, change, and transform nations.
Invest in black people.
— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) December 13, 2017
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