In these undoubtedly challenging times, it’s important to remember the words of James Baldwin – that you think your pain is unprecedented in the history of the world until you read. Looking back on the last 250 years of this nation’s story, it’s clear that pain has been a common thread. But there’s also a hopeful theme that emerges. Looking back, the state of Black America has always been forward looking. Our posture has always pressed ahead towards better. Our eyes have always been focused on tomorrow. And it prepares us for those periods when history tends to repeat itself. 

This current season is tough, but it’s not new. The beginning of the 20th century saw a presidential administration that reversed many of the gains made by Black Americans over the previous decades, attempted to erase and rewrite the history that made it necessary, and fired scores of Black civil servants because they were considered unqualified. But, like seasons change, so do presidential administrations. And those on the side of justice outlasted their efforts.

Our fight for the future means we’re often ahead of our time. We can see battles developing far down the line. That’s why Coretta Scott King said, “Freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in each generation.”

She experienced her own hard seasons, and her commitment to freedom and fighting for it inspires me every day.

My north star in the United States Senate is fighting for all Americans to have access to the American Dream – to not just get by but to live beyond their wildest dreams and truly build and create wealth. I’ve fought for that in my first year and a half in the Senate. 

On my campaign for Senate, I promised I would work with anyone at any time for the benefit of my constituents. So, as Democrats are in the minority this Congress, I’ve found myself working across the aisle to get things done. I partnered with Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina to create tax breaks for barbershops and hair stylists – supporting the small businesses that make up so much of Maryland. I also partnered with Senator Dave McCormick from Pennsylvania to introduce the bipartisan Access to Small Business Investor Capital Act, which would support small- and middle-market businesses by making it easier for business development companies to attract capital. On the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, I worked to advance the ROAD to Housing Act out of committee. This marked the first time in more than a decade that the Banking Committee approved a bipartisan housing package – a true testament to the dire need to make homeownership a reality for more Americans. 

I am not afraid of working across the aisle for my constituents. I am determined to keep my eye on the ball and fight for Marylanders. 

But that doesn’t mean my first year and a half in the Senate has been all smooth sailing. Last winter, ahead of his confirmation hearing, I met with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in my transition office – a windowless, basement space. I was determined to find common ground. I felt that I had to for the thousands of Marylanders working at NIH and the FDA. But then we began talking. I asked him if he would fire any scientists at HHS – specifically at NIH and the FDA. I knew this was a red line for me. He said he would replace bad scientists with good scientists. And that is when I knew I could not trust him to lead our nation’s health. I also knew that if he was confirmed, I would have to fight back against the chaos and corruption that I was sure to follow. 

I have been fighting tirelessly for the health and safety of Maryland families, and to preserve the integrity of our premier health institutions, which he has been hellbent on destroying. 

I was the first Senator to call on RFK Jr. to resign or be fired – and 28 of my colleagues have joined me on a resolution of disapproval stating the Senate and the American people have no confidence in RFK Jr. to lead our nation’s health. 

Because of RFK Jr.’s tenure, public trust in our nation’s health care and public health systems has significantly eroded. This decline in confidence has had far-reaching consequences, including a disproportionate impact on Black Americans, who already face longstanding disparities in access to care, health outcomes, and trust in the health care system.

But as I reflect on the challenges and the successes of my first year in Congress, I continue to have faith and determination to keep fighting. I look towards the future, certain that – as Dr. King advised – the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. And when I hear the words of my great-grandmother who would always say, “If you see something you don’t like – don’t sit on the sidelines. Go farther and do better,” I’m also convinced that we are the gravity that bends that arc toward justice.

So, for all of you, struggling to know how you can keep fighting: know that we need you. We need your voice, your fight, your strength. We need to fight and win our freedom, as we have so many times in the past.