An American Icon – A Powerful Story
“I was my high school’s valedictorian and in Georgia, that meant being invited to a reception at the Governor’s Mansion. My family didn’t have a car, so that morning, my parents and I took the bus from DeKalb to Buckhead. We arrived at the Governor’s Mansion and walked up the side of the driveway, next to the cars carrying valedictorians from across the state. But when we reached the guard gate, a guard stepped out, looked at us and said, “You don’t belong here. This is a private event.” He took one look at us walking up from the bus and assumed I couldn’t possibly be one of the valedictorians. My parents set him straight and we were eventually allowed in. But I don’t remember meeting the governor that day. What I remember is a man standing in front of the most powerful place in Georgia, telling me I didn’t belong.” [efn_note]Stacey Abrams, June 26, 2022 – Campaign Email[/efn_note]