Quotes
“ Having such a diverse group of people coming into Congress is going to make a difference, because no matter if your experience is very similar to mine or completely different than mine, it's just as real and it's just as valid. ”
— Sharice Davids
Politics Women Indigenous LGBTQ+ She / Her · Pronounced: shuh-REESE DAY-vidz
She / Her · Pronounced: shuh-REESE DAY-vidz
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Davids on why a more representative Congress changes outcomes, not just optics.
Read More: Women in Politics
“ Real men don't hurt women. ”
— Barack Obama
Politics Male Role Models Black He / Him · Pronounced: buh-RAHK oh-BAH-mah
He / Him · Pronounced: buh-RAHK oh-BAH-mah
Source: Remarks for the It's On Us campaign · original link to be verified
Context Obama speaking directly to young men about what strength actually looks like.
Read More: Black Activism
“ It always seems impossible until it's done. ”
— Nelson Mandela
Politics Black Global South He / Him · Pronounced: NEL-sun man-DEL-ah
He / Him · Pronounced: NEL-sun man-DEL-ah
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Mandela on perseverance, after 27 years imprisoned before leading South Africa away from apartheid.
Read More: Black Activism
“ When they go low, we go high. ”
— Michelle Obama
Politics Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: mih-SHEL oh-BAH-mah
She / Her · Pronounced: mih-SHEL oh-BAH-mah
Context Her rallying line at the 2016 Democratic convention, on meeting cruelty with dignity.
Read More: Black Activism
“ You gotta give them hope. ”
— Harvey Milk
Politics LGBTQ+ He / Him · Pronounced: HAR-vee MILK
He / Him · Pronounced: HAR-vee MILK
Context Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Voices
“ Women can help turn the world right side up. We bring a more collaborative approach to government. And if we do not participate, then the decisions will be made without us. ”
— Wilma Mankiller
Politics Women Indigenous She / Her · Pronounced: WIL-muh MAN-kil-er
She / Her · Pronounced: WIL-muh MAN-kil-er
Context Mankiller on why women's participation in governance changes outcomes.
Read More: Women in Politics Their Story The first woman elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, serving from 1985 to 1995. Under her leadership the Cherokee Nation's citizenship, revenue and infrastructure programmes expanded significantly. She died in 2010.
Her autobiography 'Mankiller: A Chief and Her People' is the fullest primary source. See Their Full Story
“ We are still here. The will to survive is engrained in us, passed down through the generations by our ancestors. ”
— Deb Haaland
Politics Women Indigenous She / Her · Pronounced: HAH-lund
She / Her · Pronounced: HAH-lund
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Haaland, the first Native American cabinet secretary, on Indigenous resilience.
Read More: Women in Politics
“ I never want to shy away from acknowledging who I am, being authentic as much as I can be. It's an important thing to be able to say, 'Yes, I'm out. I'm not ashamed of any part of who I am.' ”
— Sharice Davids
Politics Women Indigenous LGBTQ+ She / Her · Pronounced: shuh-REESE DAY-vidz
She / Her · Pronounced: shuh-REESE DAY-vidz
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Davids, one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress and its first openly LGBTQ+ member from Kansas.
Read More: Women in Politics
“ Democracy is the best revenge. ”
— Benazir Bhutto
Politics Women Global South She / Her · Pronounced: beh-nuh-ZEER BOO-toh
She / Her · Pronounced: beh-nuh-ZEER BOO-toh
Context Bhutto, the first woman to lead a modern Muslim-majority nation, on democracy as the answer to repression.
Read More: Women in Politics
“ You may be the first, but make sure you're not the last. ”
— Kamala Harris
Politics Women Black Asian She / Her · Pronounced: KAH-muh-lah HAR-iss
She / Her · Pronounced: KAH-muh-lah HAR-iss
Context From her 2020 victory speech, addressed to the girls who would follow her into public life.
Read More: Black Activism
“ Voter suppression is real. From making it harder to register and stay on the rolls to moving and closing polling places to rejecting lawful ballots, we can no longer ignore these threats to democracy. ”
— Stacey Abrams
Politics Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: STAY-see AY-brumz
She / Her · Pronounced: STAY-see AY-brumz
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Abrams delivering the Democratic response to the State of the Union.
Read More: Black Activism
“ Each time a man stands up for an ideal, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope. ”
— Robert F. Kennedy
Politics Male Allies Male Role Models He / Him · Pronounced: ROB-ert eff KEN-eh-dee
He / Him · Pronounced: ROB-ert eff KEN-eh-dee
Context Delivered in apartheid South Africa. Included as an ally standing with oppressed communities, not a member of one.
“ Representation matters, not only representation mattering for Indigenous people, but also for people who are just everyday Americans. ”
— Deb Haaland
Politics Women Indigenous She / Her · Pronounced: HAH-lund
She / Her · Pronounced: HAH-lund
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Haaland on why visible representation matters beyond symbolism.
Read More: Women in Politics
“ Success isn't about how much money you make, it's about the difference you make in people's lives. ”
— Michelle Obama
Politics Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: mih-SHEL oh-BAH-mah
She / Her · Pronounced: mih-SHEL oh-BAH-mah
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Obama on measuring success by the impact you have on others.
Read More: Black Activism
“ The secret of our success is that we never, ever give up. ”
— Wilma Mankiller
Politics Indigenous Women She / Her · Pronounced: WIL-muh MAN-kil-er
She / Her · Pronounced: WIL-muh MAN-kil-er
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Mankiller was the first woman elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Read More: Women in Politics Their Story The first woman elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, serving from 1985 to 1995. Under her leadership the Cherokee Nation's citizenship, revenue and infrastructure programmes expanded significantly. She died in 2010.
Her autobiography 'Mankiller: A Chief and Her People' is the fullest primary source. See Their Full Story
“ The most important attribute of leadership is to trust yourself and believe in your own thinking. ”
— Wilma Mankiller
Politics Women Indigenous She / Her · Pronounced: WIL-muh MAN-kil-er
She / Her · Pronounced: WIL-muh MAN-kil-er
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Mankiller on self-trust as the foundation of leadership.
Read More: Women in Politics Their Story The first woman elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, serving from 1985 to 1995. Under her leadership the Cherokee Nation's citizenship, revenue and infrastructure programmes expanded significantly. She died in 2010.
Her autobiography 'Mankiller: A Chief and Her People' is the fullest primary source. See Their Full Story
“ I am going to keep saying that I am a feminist until it is met with a shrug. ”
— Justin Trudeau
Politics Male Allies Male Role Models He / Him · Pronounced: JUS-tin TROO-doh
He / Him · Pronounced: JUS-tin TROO-doh
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Included as an ally standing with the women's community, not a member of it.
“ If me being gay was a choice, it was a choice that was made far, far above my pay grade. ”
— Pete Buttigieg
Politics LGBTQ+ He / Him · Pronounced: PEET BOOT-uh-jij
He / Him · Pronounced: PEET BOOT-uh-jij
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Buttigieg, the first openly gay candidate to mount a serious US presidential campaign, on his sexuality.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Voices
“ Voting rights for me are the point of entry to democracy. ”
— Stacey Abrams
Politics Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: STAY-see AY-brumz
She / Her · Pronounced: STAY-see AY-brumz
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Abrams on why she has focused her advocacy on voting access.
Read More: Black Activism
“ If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair. ”
— Shirley Chisholm
Politics Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: SHUR-lee CHIZ-um
She / Her · Pronounced: SHUR-lee CHIZ-um
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to the US Congress.
Read More: Black Activism
“ I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong. ”
— Jacinda Ardern
Politics Women She / Her · Pronounced: juh-SIN-duh AR-dern
She / Her · Pronounced: juh-SIN-duh AR-dern
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Ardern, former New Zealand Prime Minister, on leading with empathy without losing strength.
Read More: Women in Politics
