A trailblazer looks back with purpose
Carol Moseley Braun has done what no other Black woman had done before her—win a seat in the U.S. Senate. In her new memoir, Trailblazer: Perseverance in Life and Politics, she shares what that experience meant and the personal cost it came with.
She tells her story not just to revisit the past but to pass down lessons. The spark for writing the book came from her young grandson. He asked her, “Grandma Carol, are you famous?” That moment inspired her to finally put her journey into words.
From local marches to national office
Moseley Braun’s political path began in Illinois. She entered public office after joining a local protest to save birds in Jackson Park. That moment led to encouragement from her community to run for state representative.
At first, she was hesitant. But a local commentator’s harsh words lit a fire. He said, “Blacks won’t vote for you… Whites won’t vote for you… and nobody will vote for you because you’re a woman.” That challenge became her motivation. She ran—and won.
Breaking through political walls
Her victories were not small. She was the first Black person elected to an executive position in Cook County in 1988. Then, in 1992, she made history again by becoming the first Black woman and first woman from Illinois elected to the U.S. Senate.
She also served as U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, the first senator to ever hold that role. Her success, however, did not shield her from everyday racism and structural bias.
Facing challenges in the Senate
Even as a senator, Carol faced moments of disrespect. On her first day, a Capitol Police officer tried to stop her from entering her office. Another officer had to step in to confirm she was indeed the new senator from Illinois.
She also shared a memory of standing in downtown Chicago trying to hail a cab. A police officer repeatedly told her to “give up that corner,” assuming she was a sex worker because she was a well-dressed Black woman. These painful moments were part of her political reality.
Pressure, expectations, and double standards
In the Senate, she quickly found the workload overwhelming. She received bags of mail with little staff support. When she asked for help, she was told, “Ted Kennedy handles his mail.”
The expectations placed on her were high and often unfair. “People expected me to come to every chicken fry in the state,” she said. “I did as much as I could, but I couldn’t do it all.” These pressures contributed to her serving just one term.
A lasting impact for future leaders
Moseley Braun knows she paved the way for others. “I hope that I deflected all the brickbats,” she said, “so that nobody will be held to the same standards I was.”
Her advice to young leaders is clear. “Don’t get distracted by all the noise around you… just keep focusing on what the people elected you to do.” She continues to teach and speak while schools are already being named after her. “I’m not dead yet,” she joked, recalling a child’s surprise during a school visit. “So while I’m here, I want my story told right.”
