Posted on 02/15/2024
Dear Neighbors,
I was honored to lead a special presentation in Council to officially declare Feb. 14 as Dr. Shirley Nash Weber Day. The recognition, aligning with our observance of African American History Month, pays tribute to Dr. Weber’s contributions in Los Angeles and across the Golden State.
Dr. Weber solidified her place in history as California’s first Black Secretary of State. However, her journey of resilience and grit traces back to her roots in Hope, Arkansas during the Jim Crow era.
Alongside her parents Mildred and David Nash and siblings, her family sought refuge from the rural South in the early 1950s after her father's courageous stand against a lynch mob. They resettled in District 9, where she was raised in the Pueblo del Rio housing projects.
Amidst challenges, Dr. Weber refused to let the words “can't” or “won't” take root in her vocabulary, always nurturing HOPE and maintaining belief in her ability to achieve greatness.
An early trailblazer, she attained bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as her Ph.D. at UCLA by the age of 26, and went on to become one of the youngest professors at San Diego State University in the 1970s.
Her trajectory eventually led her to the California State Capitol, where as a lawmaker, she played a pivotal role in expanding voting rights to individuals on parole, emerged as a fierce advocate for police accountability, and championed education, equity, and racial justice.
As we enter into a crucial election year, Dr. Weber’s role as Secretary of State is paramount to ensuring the protection of our democracy, and I know we will be in great hands.
Click on the image below to watch the special presentation.
In solidarity,
