With her left hand on The Autobiography of Malcolm X and her right hand raised in a fist, Mariah Parker took her oath of office with a celebration of Black power.
With her mother at her side, the 26-year-old progressive Democrat was sworn in as Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, District 2 commissioner on June 5. She beat her opponent, Taylor Pass, by less than 1 percent of the vote. Parker took over Harry Sims’ position after he gave up his seat to run for mayor.
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Parker’s platform focused on ensuring economic justice, ending discrimination, and creating educational opportunities for the people of Athens. Before winning her seat, she was known in the community as an activist and rapper under the name Lingua Franca. Parker also attends the University of Georgia as a Ph.D. student in linguistics.
Her victory was part of a larger shift for Athens’ political scene, which saw a surge in progressive candidates being elected to office in recent months.
“We are moving to a new era of Athens politics,” Parker said.
H/T the Root