Meet Massachusetts’ First Black Congresswoman

AYANNA PRESSLEY has become Massachusetts’ first black woman elected to the US House of Representatives.

At her victory speech, Pressley said to her supporters that women of colour have had to create ‘seismic shifts’ in order to break through barriers that have kept them from office.

“Can a congresswoman wear her hair in braids? Rock a black leather jacket?” she asked the crowd.

Pressley is a 44-year-old Boston city councillor, currently serves as an at-large member of the Boston City Council.

A record number of women were elected to the House of Representatives on Tuesday. As of early Wednesday morning, at least 89 women had won seats, breaking the current session’s record of 84 women.

Additional reporting from The Guardian