Monday, February 7, 2022
Ayanna Pressley, born 1974 in Cincinnati, is the current House representative for Massachusetts’ 7th congressional district. She spent her early life in Chicago and was raised by her mother Sandra Pressley, a single mother and an activist for tenants’ rights who was a major inspiration for the younger Pressley’s future role in politics and activism. She enrolled at Boston University in 1992, but withdrew in 1994 to support her mother after she lost her job.Pressley was elected to the Boston City Council in 2009, marking the first-ever time a woman of color was elected to this organization. As a member of the city council, she made many noteworthy strides; these included making changes in Boston Public Schools policy in order to help students affected by teen pregnancy stay in school until graduation and to combat the school-to-prison pipeline for Black and Latinx girls, and creating legislation protecting the healthcare rights of transgender employees of the city of Boston.
Pressley gained her position in Congress in 2018 by defeating Mike Capuano, who had held the seat since 1999, in the Democratic primary election. In doing so, she became the first Black woman, as well as the first woman of color in general, to ever be elected to represent Massachusetts in Congress. As a representative, Pressley has raised her voice for various causes: she has called for the defunding of ICE to protect immigrant families and communities, and has committed to decriminalizing sex work to protect sex workers, many of whom are transgender women of color. She has called on President Biden to cancel student loan debt through executive order, and coauthored along with several other Black Congress members an act to prohibit discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle, a tactic that has long been used to oppress Black people and particularly Black women; Pressley herself has been demonized as “militant” when wearing her hair in twists.
Pressley has lost all of her hair due to alopecia areata, and she detailed in a January 2020 interview how difficult the experience was for her. She stated that she felt like she had “met [her]self fully for the first time” when she first wore her hair in Senegalese twists, and that to lose all of her hair felt like both a loss of self and a “cultural betrayal” to the young Black girls who looked up to her and took pride in her hair. However, she has shown immense strength by publicly revealing her condiition, saying she “[wants] to be freed from the secret and the shame that that secret carries with it,” and said in the interview that she is on her journey to self-acceptance.
- Do you know someone who can’t stop asking questions? In Russian we call them a “pochemuchka”because “pochem
u” means “why”. Come learn more uniquely Slavic words at Russian Club, every Tuesday from 3:35-4:55 in Room 151.
- Attached is a flyer for a local writing program several of our students have attended in the past, including Amina Mednicoff-Misra and Maddie Clarkewright, who following their attendance in the program, formed a writing club at ARHS. I thought the flyer and website link could be good for the morning announcements. Sara, English teachers may want to share with students in their classes this term flyer and/or link: https://www.
wovenwordyoungwriters.com/
- The class of 2022 is selling merch! Crewnecks, phone wallets, and tote bags are available for order on our website! New designs are available! Order here by February 28th: bit.ly/2022merchandise
- Seniors - If you have not paid for your Cap & Gown please do so ASAP! You can either bring your measurements (height + weight) to the main office with your payment of $19.00. We accept cash (exact amount only) or check/money order (made out to ARHS). Or you can order your Cap&Gown online via this link https://www.buildagrad.com/amherstregionalhs
