Democracy in Color

Democracy in Color is a media organization dedicated to race, politics and the multicultural progressive New American Majority.

We are dedicated to empowering the New American Majority—multiracial, multicultural, and progressive—through media, public conversations, research and analysis on race and politics.

Our mission is to build power by empowering the New American Majority through shining a light on and lifting up progressive people of color and whites, and calling for transparency and accountability from our leaders. Our mission is also to win back our country from those who seek to silence our voices.

Democracy in Color was founded in 2016 by Steve Phillips, author of New York Times bestselling book, Brown Is the New White. Aimee Allison is President of Democracy in Color. In early 2017, Democracy in Color released its “Return of the Majority” plan, the only data-backed plan on how Democrats and progressives can take back the country.

Launch of Democracy in Color

Launch of Democracy in Color Loew's Hotel Philadelphia July 25 2016, at Democratic National Convention.

Steve Phillips July 28, 2016

Words can't convey the power of these women taking the stage and showing by word and symbol what the future looks like. — with Stacey Abrams, Nina Turner, Lucy Flores, Alida Garcia, Rida Hamida, Jane Kim and Aimee Allison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Our Work

Campaigns: Campaigns that focus the public’s and decision makers’ efforts on ways to make the Democratic Party and the progressive movement reflective of and accountable to the hopes and aspirations of the New American Majority—especially people of color—and to elevate leadership and practices that expand and deepen the voice and vote of people of color. Democracy in Color also works with groups on the ground in key states to support campaigns such as Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams’ race for governor that will help win the country back in 2018 and 2020.

Podcast: The Democracy in Color podcast, hosted by Aimee Allison, features today’s best and brightest political political leaders, strategists and thinkers of the New American Majority. We’ve featured Senator Cory Booker; Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal; San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim, Stockton, California Mayor Michael Tubbs; BART Director Lateefah Simon; writer Eric Liu; #Goodmuslimbadmuslim co-host Tanzila Ahmed; New Yorker writer Jelani Cobb, and writers Rebecca Solnit and Jeff Chang, among many others. Ellen McGirt, editor of Fortune magazine’s raceAhead, calls it: "The smartest podcast on race I've found in ages. Listen and grow."

Newsletter: Regular wrap up of news on race and politics through our “Democracy in Color Report” edited by Sharline Chiang.^[1]

Team

As of January 2, 2018;^[2]

Steve Phillips is the founder of Democracy in Color/
Aimee Allison is President of Democracy in Color, an organization that focuses on race, politics and the New American Majority that worked to elect President Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Kamala Harris, and other leaders who carry a social justice agenda. She is host of the “Democracy in Color” podcast.
Sharline Chiang is Co-Editor and Director of Media Relations for Democracy in Color. She is also the editor of the Democracy in Color Report.
Lulie Osher serves as Democracy in Color's Staff Attorney and Chief of Staff.
Olivia Parker is the Digital Director for Democracy in Color.

Open Letter to Democratic Presidential Candidates

Open Letter to Democratic Presidential Candidates: A Call for Committing to Choosing a Woman of Color as Candidate for Vice President.

Dear Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders,

This year has been a difficult one for women and people of color across America. The 2020 Democratic presidential primary began with the most diverse field in history in terms of gender, age, race, ethnicity and sexuality, and the race has now come down to two white men over the age of 77.

Here is a fact: the Democratic Party needs the leadership, vision, and expertise of women and people of color now more than ever. While you cannot change who you are, you can show us who you value by committing to choose a woman of color as your running mate for Vice President.

The majority of Democratic voters are women, and nearly half of all Democratic voters are people of color. At the intersection of those communities—which make up 77% of all Democratic voters in the last two presidential elections—women of color have a unique and critical role to play in galvanizing the entire progressive coalition. In the midst of these tumultuous last three years, women of color leaders have shined the brightest path forward to keep Democrats inspired and fighting for change.

There are numerous talented women of color to choose from who would attract more voters to vote Democratic in the general election and inspire voters to show up at the polls. This choice is a first indication of how you will govern, and we want to know it will be in partnership with the constituencies that comprise the vast majority of Democratic voters..

We strongly urge you to show the leadership this moment demands by publicly committing today to picking a woman of color to serve as your Vice President.

Thank you.

Signed,

18 Frontline Freedom Fighters

Democracy in Color says "Support these groups".

These groups have proven track records of conducting effective and accountable voter registration and mobilization work in the 17 Frontline States. Contact us if you would like us to consider adding a group.

17 Frontline States

Democracy in Color says "Focus on these states".

States Democrats won or lost in the 2016 Presidential election by less than a single-digit percentage margin:

In addition to the opportunity to take statewide power in the Frontline States, there are an additional 13 congressional districts outside of those Frontline States where the margin of difference is very narrow. Winning these districts in 2018— along with 15 Frontline Congressional Districts in the 17 Frontline States— would result in recapturing control of the House of Representatives and halting the efforts to dismantle the progress America has made towards justice and equality.^[5]

Movement Voter Project

According to the Movement Voter Project website;

NEW! How We Won Alabama - #TrustBlackWomen & Fund Local Organizing!

How did we pick up a US Senate seat in an off-cycle special election in Alabama? Black Women and their teams on the ground knew what it took to win, and we are honored to have played a small role in supporting them! We worked our networks and identified two local black women leading the way – DeJuana Thompson and LaTosha Brown. With our friends in Solidaire, Women Donors Network, Color of Democracy, and others, we collectively moved more than $500,000 – in less than a month! (We were directly involved in moving about $200,000 of that – with a ton of small-dollar donations!) Most of the funds went through three major local grassroots operations (WOKE VOTE, RIGHTEOUS VOTE, and #BlackVotersMatter) which in turn supported 30+ local groups, 600+ organizers in 17 Alabama counties, as well as a statewide phone bank, peer-to-peer texting, rural black radio, and social media campaigns. We can win anywhere and everywhere when we support local organizing and don’t take communities for granted. But we need early and ongoing investments. You can click here to donate to continued efforts in Alabama. Let’s transform the South (and the whole country)!^[6]

Partners

The Collective PAC July 3, 2018.

Join the #CollectivePAC in New Orleans THIS FRIDAY for a special town hall meeting on the power of black women to transform America! We'll be joined by special guest #DonnaBrazile and our partners MoveOn, Higher Heights for America, Color of Change, Democracy in Color & BlackPAC.^[7]

References

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↑ How We Won Alabama - #TrustBlackWomen & Fund Local Organizing!
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[6] How We Won Alabama - #TrustBlackWomen & Fund Local Organizing!

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