At the heart of some of the most powerful movements in this country are fed up Black mothers. They wake up each day and decide to do their part in making this world safer for their children and families. And yet, they’re often met with the most scrutiny from the broader community. There is so much talk about what Black mothers should wear and how they should act, and yet they’re carrying entire communities on their back. It’s a part of their legacy. It’s what they do because they love us.
In that spirit, Black Joy speaks with Angela Ferrell-Zabala, a devoted mother and community organizer. She is also the first-ever Executive Director of Moms Demand Action and the first Black woman to lead the organization. Walking in the footsteps of so many women before her, including her mother and grandmother who she credits for inspiring her activist work, Ferrell-Zabala discusses what led her to becoming a part of the movement to end gun violence and why young people will lead the way.
What are you most looking forward to accomplishing as the first ever executive director and the first black woman to lead this organization?
We came about because our founder, Shannon Watts, saw the Sandy Hook mass shooting in a school and she was compelled to action because she was a mother and it was frightening. It was angering [and] all the feelings she felt really sparked this movement. . .I want to continue to lean into the incredible foundation that was built. Continue to push for policies that are gonna save lives every day from state to local to federal legislation.
I want to continue to work with and meet incredible volunteers across the country and inspire more to join us and not just stand up and advocate for good policy, but also continue to help these folks that move into this movement to decide that they’re gonna also run for office and start writing the good policy, because what’s going to really change the way that we’re moving in this country is [having] gun sense…
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