Here’s the Real State of Our Union, as WOC See It

In this ZORA first, a roundtable of key women of color express shaky optimism, as well as willingness to harness the power that lies within

Rep. Lauren Underwood (Photo courtesy of Congressional Staff); Vilissa Thompson; Rep. Karen Bass (Photo courtesy of Congressional Staff); Rosario Quiroz Villarreal (Photo: Bridget Badore); Rinku Sen

To protect our emotional health and keep our blood pressure stable, many of us will not tune in to watch as President Trump delivers his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday. Instead, we are using this opportunity to assess what the State of the Union is and feels like for women of color. We have convened a unique caucus of women of color working as writers, policymakers, activists, and elected officials and asked these exceptional leaders to reflect on the fragile yet formidable State of Our Union.

• Melissa Harris-Perry: ZORA editor-at-large.
• Lauren Underwood: Congresswoman representing Illinois 14th Congressional District.
• Rinku Sen: Co-president of the Women’s March board of directors.
• Rosario Quiroz Villarreal: Policy entrepreneur at The Next100.
• Anjali Enjeti: ZORA Contributor, Georgia-based writer and activist.
• Rajul Punjabi: NYC-based health journalist and educator.
• Vilissa Thompson: Disability rights consultant, social worker, founder and…