Ayanna Pressley Quotes

Government should be a model of inclusion.

I enjoyed my stay in the Congress. Most people do not. And too many people who have been elected really don't understand the nature of government.

I loved reading when I grew up but did feel totally invisible because I couldn't see myself and my life reflected in the books I was reading.

It matters whether women sit at the table. No one speaks up for you when you are standing outside with your nose pressed up against the glass. You cannot window-shop for power.

Obama was the best thing for black nerds everywhere. Finally we had a role model. Before Obama, we basically had Urkel.

Politics is a good thing!

I think it is so great right now that we are in an age where there's an African American president in office. I think it is important for our generation to really witness that.

As for participation in politics itself we should consider that if the parliaments and congresses of these countries do not have any Muslim members, then this will pave the way for the opposition to come forth with their harmful views and policies, which will consequently be incorporated into the laws of their countries and bring harm to the Muslims.

No high qualities of statesmanship are expected from a Congressman.

I am hopeful that there are three or four Harvey Milks. It would be nice to have one in California and one in New York and one in Texas and Oklahoma-it would be fantastic. Maybe even one in Salt Lake City. I would like that.

Naming something, putting it on record, in a lyric, feels like affirming people. Ideally, that's what politicians should want to do: to put laws or policies in place that speak to people's experiences, to make them feel heard.

I'm proud to carry that torch and be like, 'I'm gay! I'm black! Hang your dreams on me. Hang your hopes on me. I'll carry them to the best of my ability.'

'Essence' is political. I grew up on the magazine, looking at the covers. Seeing ourselves on the cover is political.

We want diversity in the cabinet. We want diversity reflected throughout the government.

I think it's important to have diversity in comics for a thousand reasons. It's not just some airy conceptual thing: it's important to reflect the humanity of the readership.

If I'm privileged to be elected, I'd be blessed to represent a diverse district, including South Asians and Indian Americans.

We need to reach out to more Canadians to show them that they could see themselves reflected in our party.

Congress increasingly represents the diversity of America.

If you can't see it, you can't be it.

When you're trying to inspire individuals across the country, you have to have a reflection that people can see themselves in.

There is power in seeing a face that looks like yours do something, be someone. There is power in moving from the sidelines to the center.

It was important for me to join the White House because as I looked around Trump's inner circle and campaign, there were not a lot of African-Americans, particularly African-American women, uniquely positioned to serve as a member of the senior staff, to serve as an assistant to the president.

I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more voices from the LGBTQ community in Congress.

I was very proud and grateful to be the first African-American woman in the position. I thought it said a lot about our country that we had back-to-back African-American Secretaries of State, Colin Powell and then me. I also thought it said a lot about President Bush that he didn't see limits on the highest ranking diplomat in terms of color. It's a hard job, but really the best one in government.

Recognize that being one of the only black people in an organization, or just in a meeting, automatically makes you very visible. Use this to help yourself. Look at it as an opportunity, and leverage that opportunity by making a visible contribution.