BY JIBRIL TURE

For the first time in its history, the legislature of the southern state of Virginia which housed the capital of the Confederacy, will have a Black lawmaker as its speaker.

Don Scott will make history when he is sworn in in January as the first African American Speaker of the House in Virginia, a state that led the effort to secede from the Union to perpetuate slavery. Scott was unanimously elected over the weekend as speaker-designate by the House Democratic Caucus. He is expected to be officially confirmed by the full House of Delegates at the start of next year’s first session of the General Assembly.

This came as a result of Virginia’s Democrats regaining the majority in the House of Delegates during the local elections held last Tuesday.

In a statement following the watershed development, Scott wrote: “Virginia voters sent a resounding message on Tuesday that they wanted a Commonwealth that moved forward, and that is exactly what I intend to do as your next Speaker.” Referring to the sweat and blood of the slaves who were used as free labor to erect the building that housed the legislature, the soon-to-be Speaker said, “I know I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors who built that Capitol.” He added, with the humility is known for: “I know there are so many people who are a lot smarter than me who are Black who never got this chance.”

Scott rose this high on the political ladder only four years after being elected to the Virginia legislative body. He has served as the minority leader since 2022.

He’s a trial lawyer in a local firm, Breit Binizian. Born in 1969 in Houston, Texas in what is described as a rough neighborhood, Scott was one of six children raised by his single mother. After graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in agriculture, he joined the United States Navy. A deployment on the USS John Hancock where he served as the ship’s legal officer changed the life’s trajectory of the ambitious, smart young man who soon pursued a law degree at Louisiana State University from which he graduated in 1994. His deep interest in politics soon blossomed, leading to the high position that awaits him in January.

A combative politician, Scott is confident his party—which has kept its hold on the higher chamber of the state legislative body—will push a progressive agenda: increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour; fight for guns control which is vehemently opposed by Republicans, and more.

In an interview with the Associated Press, he said: “I think it’s the responsible thing to do. Weapons of war should not be on our streets en masse. We’re not going to take anybody’s guns, but we’re going to prevent a future sale of them.”

The right to abortion is arguably the hottest, most divisive issue in U.S. politics these days. Democrats advocate for women’s rights to choose, while Republicans want to impose abortion bans. Referring to Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin’s proposed 15-week abortion, Scott told the Associated Press “It’s dead.” Last Tuesday’s election results in Virginia, Scott reiterated, is proof that Virginia voters are against abortion ban. “The Democrats, we’re the party of freedom. I never thought that Republicans would become a nanny state, telling women what to do with their bodies.”

Good news usually comes in pairs. Another Black lawmaker, Del. Charniele Herring of Alexandria, will return to the position of Majority Leader that she was the first Black woman to hold in 2020.