WASHINGTON — Representative Barbara Lee has always been distinct in her approach, embodying the spirit of a trailblazer with a remarkable history of breaking barriers.
In her high school years, she made history as the first Black student to join a cheerleading squad in Southern California.
Her more than 20-year congressional career has seen her as the sole Black woman elected to represent the House from California north of Los Angeles.
However, it was her singular vote in 2001, opposing the authorization for military action against those responsible for the September 11 attacks, that truly set her apart.
“If you really believe that this is the right thing for the country, for your district, for the world, you have to stand firm, no matter the consequences,” she remarked during a recent breakfast gathering in the Capitol.
“You won’t always act this way, but there are pivotal moments where you must.”
As Lee prepares to conclude her remarkable journey representing the Oakland area, the 78-year-old congresswoman — once perceived as an outlier with unpopular views and facing threats over her anti-war stance — has witnessed a shift in public perception.
As she casts her final vote on the House floor in December, she received applause, with her legacy resonating as a guiding example for a new generation.
Nevertheless, her journey highlights the hurdles faced by Black women in American politics, underscored by her defeat in a Senate primary earlier this year to Democrat Adam Schiff and the broader trends that saw voters reject Kamala Harris in the presidential race against Donald Trump.
“There are very few leaders and public servants who have shown the same level of courage and persistence as Congresswoman Lee,” expressed outgoing Senator Laphonza Butler, who intermittently held Feinstein’s seat after the long-serving Democratic senator’s passing.
Lee and Butler collaborated to pass a pivotal final bill of the legislative session — bestowing the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Lee’s mentor and friend, Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress.
This bill was unanimously approved by both chambers and signed into law by President Joe Biden in December, coinciding with what would have been Chisholm’s 100th birthday.
Lee’s background as a single mother and social worker initially distanced her from politics.
Her early days as a community worker with the Black Panther Party connected her to Chisholm, who she admired for her strong advocacy.
Lee became involved in Chisholm’s 1972 presidential campaign before eventually taking over the seat from her retiring boss, Rep. Ron Dellums.
Notably, Lee emphasizes her position as the 20th Black woman ever elected to the House, reflecting on the historical underrepresentation of Black women in legislative roles.
“I’m only the 20th! Can you believe that? It’s alarming,” she remarked. “The voices and experiences of Black women have often been absent in policymaking.”
Throughout her career, Lee has often found herself as one of the few Black women in high-level discussions, including her efforts in advocating for President George W. Bush’s initiative, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) — a vital program still recognized today.
She also emerged as a staunch critic of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion.
Lee views this as a discriminatory measure against low-income women reliant on federal healthcare, a perspective gaining traction over time.
“I’ve frequently been at tables by myself, which required me to build alliances for effective change,” she reflected.
Lee articulates that her identity as a Black woman provides insights often overlooked by others, an understanding rooted in a shared history.
Her intuition was particularly acute on January 6, 2021, when she sensed rising tensions as far-right groups converged on Washington.
“I decided to wear sneakers to work that day,” she recounted.
When the Capitol was invaded by supporters of Trump and lawmakers scrambled to protect themselves, she remembered the House chaplain beginning to pray and felt compelled to join.
“I thought: ‘Oh, Lord. This is serious. We need to pray too,'” she recalled, her footwear proving handy in the chaos.
Ultimately, it was her vote against the war authorization that cemented Lee’s legacy.
Despite the intense backlash she faced — including threats — she stayed true to her beliefs, noting that her stance was a prescient warning about the long-term military involvement America would undertake.
Over time, those harsh reactions transformed into an increasing coalition of support, including alliances with unexpected partners considering her visionary perspective.
“She’s always envisioned greatness, displayed boldness, and possesses a strategic mind,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a member of the progressive “Squad.”
Lee is now regarded as “O.G.” among younger lawmakers.
While she acknowledges the progress made with more Black women now serving in the House, she insists much remains to be done to rectify historical disparities in representation.
Lee actively supports organizations like Representation Matters, advocating for more women of color in political roles and endorsing candidates like Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester, who made history as two new Black women in the Senate.
“My mission is to ensure that future Black women do not encounter the same obstacles I faced,” she emphasized.
Lee is now contemplating her next steps after Congress, using her final moments in office to prioritize her initiatives and fuel the ambitions of the next generation of leaders, such as repealing the Hyde Amendment and overturning military authorization.
“My mother always said that ‘can’t’ doesn’t exist in the dictionary,” she concluded, recalling the inspiration she drew from Shirley Chisholm to disrupt the status quo and fight for justice.
