Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett: Trailblazing the road for women in politics

There has been a shift in female leadership across the world over the past several decades.  Leadership roles once defined in terms of masculinity have recently been altered to include women. Not only are women taking over roles and positions that were once reserved for men, but they are excelling in these appointments. After entering the workforce half a century ago, women have consistently excelled in every area imaginable including executive leadership, entrepreneurship and small business development, corporate management and politics.

Politics has been building up toward this Kamala Harris moment for years. In 2016 when Hilary Clinton appeared to have the US presidency sewed up before being ousted by the unlikely presence of Donald Trump a former billionaire turned reality TV star with anti-politician aura but an extremely respected business acumen. Clinton won the popular vote but in the end wasn’t able to convince the citizens of the United States that a woman was ready to be commander in chief. Today, due to unforeseen complications with President Joe Biden’s health, VP Kamala Harris is set to possibly take the torch that some thought belonged to Clinton and to make history. Harris’ path is worn with the footprints of countless female politicians known for working harder and smarter than their male counterparts for less praise, less acknowledgement and few accolades. Among the shoulders that have lifted Harris are U.S. Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett along with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Maxine Horner and the legendary Shirley Chisolm. Congresswoman Plaskett first served on the House Committee on Ways and Means, the oldest and one of the most exclusive committees in Congress. A trailblazer for her beloved VI, Plaskett was the first Member from a U.S. territory and only the fourth African American woman to serve on this committee.  

“Being from the Virgin Islands, people immediately ask who you belong to. Who you are is who your ancestors are.”

 Plaskett credits her rich ancestral history from St. Croix as the foundation for her journey to congress. “Being from the Virgin Islands, people immediately ask who you belong to. Who you are is who your ancestors are. Both my parents are from St. Croix, you can trace our family back over 300 years. I don’t take where I’m at today for granted. My position is the harvest, or the flower that grew from my ancestors brought to these islands against their will and who made the most of it,” she says.  Plaskett’s parents instilled a deep sense of community in her along with a deep respect for their family’s legacy. “The Virgin Islands and Haiti are the only two places where people won their freedom through violent overthrow. That says a lot about the people I represent. It speaks to our pride and our spirit and it’s who I am as I’m representing our people,” Plaskett shares proudly.

Although Plaskett’s family is from St. Croix, she was raised in Brooklyn. She affectionately refers to Brooklyn as the big island, but believes the city lent to her diversity and ability to succeed in any environment. From the time she was a young girl, Plaskett’s grandmother instilled a deep respect for education in her that would stay with her for a lifetime.  My grandmother made sure that I knew the importance of education. There was an island saying she would quote that loosely translates to, “The white man can take your body and your land but no one can take your brain.” To this day, Plaskett prioritizes education in her platform and most importantly in her everyday life. She keeps books around her and makes a point to keep learning and honing her craft. “I keep people around me who value education. I have people around me that are creative and have fresh ideas and thoughts,” she says. 

As the sole representative for her native home, Plaskett realizes she has much responsibility on her shoulders. Other members of congress are able to play by a different rule book due to sheer numbers, “For other members from Congress the rules are not so dire., California has 60 representatives and NY has 40. From the Virgin Islands, it’s just me,” she explains. Being a team of one, Plaskett doesn’t have the luxury of having an “off day” or for her voice not to be heard. “You have to be sure that when you speak, you are unforgettable and you make an impression. That’s how we islanders are by nature, we take charge wherever we are.”

The proof of Plaskett’s impact was proven when Nancy Pelosi hand picked her to be on the committee to impeach former president Donald Trump. “I was honored of course that she personally chose me. This is something that doesn’t usually happen, so you don’t expect it. The first person I called was my husband of course,” she smiles. While working on the case to impeach the former president, Plaskett was responsible for working on research and presenting before congress. She recalls spending so much time working that she didn’t realize how much that moment would contribute to her career as well as the country’s history. “My girlfriends called me on a group call and asked me what I was wearing,” she laughs. Initially Plaskett blew them off thinking it was more important to pour herself fully into her presentation. “My friends laughed because they know me and they insisted on coming over and helping me prepare. Looking back it’s amazing how many people were talking about what I was wearing during my presentation. That just goes to prove the power of sisterhood. We’re so much better when we look out for each other.”  

 Plaskett has already left her mark in history as one of nine impeachment managers to prosecute former President Trump. She was also honored to be appointed to her current seat  by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the first African American to lead a party in either chamber in the United States Congress. With the current presidential election underway, Plaskett continues to make equal voting rights a mainstay in her personal platform. She co-founded the Congressional Caucus on Black Innovations and is a co-chair of the Infrastructure Taskforce and the at-Large Leadership member. For anyone critical of women in leadership, Plaskett and her female colleagues are living proof that women’s voices  are needed in politics and that women are effective, conscientious and impactful leaders. 

With her many accolades and feisty personality Plaskett says she has much more to do with her time and influence. She is proud of all that she has accomplished, but her foundation continues to be the small island of St. Croix with the legacy she is proud to be connected to and to continue passing down to her children and one day grandchildren. The wife and mother of five is undeniably a part of the movement foreshadowed by the me-too movement that suggested “the future is female”. As Plaskett prepares to serve her sixth term, she is reminded of her “why” by the community she serves in St. Croix. The simple beliefs in education, hard work and family are a foundation that have never let Plaskett down as she has risen through the ranks of the US Senate and worked hand in hand with some of the most influential politicians in the country. For a young black woman whose proud roots are traced back to the island of St. Croix who was nurtured by the ingenuity of Brooklyn, NY, the United States Congress has proven to be a passionate journey that led Plaskett to a God-given purpose. 

SPECIAL THANKS

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett & Staff

Tionee Scotland, Communication Director for Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett

King Christian Hotel / the entire staff, St. Croix USVI

Hotel on the Cay / the entire staff, St. Croix USVI

Dr. Theodore M. Phillips, Project Coordinator

Photography, Jackie Hicks