The Black AIDS Institute congratulates Hillary Clinton on her historic achievement
By Phill Wilson
Recently, Hillary Clinton made history by becoming the first woman in the history of the United States to be the presidential standard bearer for a major political party. Regardless of one’s political affiliation or views, this is an occasion of great celebration for the American people and evidence of our progress towards that more perfect union our Founding Fathers imagined.
These are extraordinarily inspirational times for all of us who are living to witness the changes that are happening in our country; to be able to experience the first Black president of the United States and now the first woman presidential nominee. But not only that: Quite frankly, over the last 20 years we have seen a series of firsts, including the first female Secretary of State in Madeline Albright, the first Black Secretary of State in Colin Powell, the first Black female Secretary of State in Condoleeza Rice, and now Eric Fanning, who, earlier this year, became the first openly gay Secretary of the Army.
We have moved from a time of separate and inherently unequal-a time when LGBT people were banned from the military and women did not have the right even to vote–to an era when just maybe most Americans really do believe we should all be judged by the content of our character, regardless of our race, gender or sexual orientation.
But, let’s be clear, the opposition to this progress is strong and powerful. They are not going to go away without a fight. There are those who are resisting this forward momentum with every fiber of their being. It is our responsibility, as people of good will, to say that we are not going back, that we are boldly, proudly and aggressively marching towards that city on the hill. “We are stronger together!”
Phill Wilson is the president and CEO of The Black AIDS Institute, the only national HIV/AIDS think tank in the United States focused exclusively on Black people. Follow him on Twitter @iamphillwilson. Wilson is also available for interviews and press inquiries. Contact 213-353-3610, ext. 105, or PhillWilson@BlackAIDS.org.
