A multitude of firsts for the new WH press secretary
“Representation matters,” said Karine Jean-Pierre on a historic day at the White House during Monday’s press briefing, which marked her first official day on the job as press secretary.
As she noted at the podium, Jean-Pierre became the first Black American, gay woman and immigrant to serve as spokesperson for the president of the United States.
Q: April Ryan: “You’re making history now on so many levels. So many communities are so proud of you. We’re hearing it on social media everywhere. You’re the first. What does that mean for the broader community, particularly Washington – white-male dominated still even though we had the first Black president. The broader society that is the majority does not look like you. What does this say? Because it’s not window dressing. It’s more than that.”
Karine Jean-Pierre: “It’s a very good question, April. I’m going to answer it in a kind of a personal way, if that’s okay since you asked it in a personal way. So I have not read a lot of the things that have been written about me because I wanted to focus on the work at hand. And I do believe it’s not about me, it’s about this place, it’s about the work that I have to do every day that we all have to do as a team to make sure that we communicate with you and communicate with the broader public.
But there was something that moved me. And I think this speaks to what you’re asking, which is there was a story about my elementary school. I went to [Franklin Elementary School] in Hampstead, New York…they talked to the students about me and this moment and this administration too, which is very important because I don’t think I would be here [without President Biden]. Yes, I stand on so many shoulders. But it does matter who sits in the Oval Office as well. That is very, very real.
These kids wrote me a letter, snd in the letter they talked about how they can dream bigger because of me standing behind this podium. And that matters…representation matters and not just for girls, but also for boys. And so what I hope is that young people get to dream big and dream bigger than they have before by seeing me stand here and answer all of your questions and have a healthy dialogue, as I discussed. And so I think it is important. And so I appreciate the question. Thank you.”
https://news.yahoo.com/inside-karine-jean-pierre-historic-163710991.html
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