Think pieces

In recent years, we have watched Black women step into positions of visible leadership in unprecedented numbers, in courtrooms, classrooms, city halls, and boardrooms. These moments matter not simply because they break barriers, but because they redefine what authority looks like and who is trusted to wield it. What we talk about less is what follows.

Trump’s proposed changes to professional degree classifications are being framed as routine updates—a neutral recalibration of what counts as a “professional” program. But once you look past the bureaucratic wording, the impact becomes clear: the degrees and pathways most used by Black women are the ones being redefined...

Because if Karine Jean-Pierre, one of the most visible Black women in American politics, says she felt “betrayed” and chose to walk away… where does that leave the rest of us? So many questions. No easy answers.