Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) has been serving in the House of Representatives since January 2019. But just because Pressley was talented and experienced did not mean her path to politics was smooth. She had dropped out of Boston University to support her mother. Her father struggled with addiction and spent time her childhood in prison; he ultimately became a professor. Her mother worked multiple jobs to cover tuition at Pressley’s elite Chicago private school.
In Congress, Pressley has been a leader in reproductive rights, criminal justice reform, and opposition to Project 2025. She stands for abolishing capital punishment and solitary confinement, and shrinking the US prison population. She has also pushed for student debt relief during the Biden administration and is an outspoken advocate for the Green New Deal and Medicare for All. She sits on the Financial Services and the Oversight and Reform Committees.
Pressley has broken through quintessential barriers for women of color in a state mostly known for dynastic politics. An activist politician, who believes “those closest to the pain, should be closest to the power”, her own path reflects the lessons learned as a Black woman and a committed representative in Congress. She regularly nurtures her connection to her constituents by holding town halls, visiting schools and local organizations.
The film is being produced by an interracial team, whose producers are Abby Ginzberg, Sabrina Schmidt Gordon and Angela Tucker.
Directed by: Abby Ginzberg
RT: 28 min