Black women in state legislatures: The view from Oklahoma

Abstract

Over the past 20 years the number of black women elected to public office has increased dramatically. However, beyond the act of holding office comes the ability to directly affect change in public policy. In order to bring about policy change, elected officials have to become an integral part of the policy-making process. This article examines the level of incorporation black women have achieved within the Oklahoma State Legislature. Through interviews conducted with members of the legislature, we attempt to see how well black women have adjusted to the legislative process. The results show that black women appear to have become effective members of the Oklahoma Legislature.