After serving several years on the Louisville Metro Council, Attica Scott says several people approached her about serving at the state level. In fact, she says, she’s not sure she would have taken her chance in state politics if not for the support from those community members. Her 2016 win was historic. Scott is not only the first African-American woman to be elected to the Kentucky General Assembly in almost 20 years, but she beat a longtime incumbent in the process.
During her first year in Frankfort, she’s gained a loyal following on social media as an outspoken advocate for progressive causes. In the statehouse, she’s focused on criminal justice, filing legislation to remove the question about felony charges on public college applications and to create an independent investigation for police shootings.
Scott says she’s often labeled as the “angry black woman” simply for speaking her mind. Scott hopes to chip away at those sorts of prejudices while also serving her district. “My daughter is finally able to see someone like her in a legislative position in our state capital,” she says.
Read about the Women in Government program and the rest of the honorees.
Natalie Delgadillo is an editor and writer living in Washington, D.C. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Bloomberg's CityLab, and The Atlantic. She was previously the managing editor of DCist.
