In Her Own Words--Karen Bass Speech as She Assumes the Speakership of the California Assembly

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Members of the California State Assembly today elected by acclamation their 67th Speaker, Assemblymember Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles.) Speaker Bass’ as-prepared remarks are below:

“To the former Speakers who joined me today as my escorts - -you honor us with your presence the way your service honored this house and this state. Thank you for taking the time to be here today. Since I have been in the legislature I have sought each of you for your guidance, critique and solidarity. And I thank you for that – and assume you’ll be available for many more phone calls.

Members….honored guests…dear friends and family….since my election on February 28th to be the 67th Speaker of the Assembly, I have had the opportunity and experience to be part of an incredible transition – part of a complex and comprehensive process of receiving the torch from the 66th Speaker of the Assembly, Fabian Núñez.

I know the job ahead of me as Speaker will be both easier and harder because of the example set by Speaker Núñez.

Easier because of the outstanding processes he has put in place for this house. Harder because of the high threshold he has set for results.

Mr. Speaker, thank you so much for your leadership, your friendship, and, especially, for the enormous generosity of spirit you have shown me during this seamless transition.

Members, as Mr. Speaker mentioned, I do feel the weight of history on my shoulders today – as the first African American woman in U.S. history elected to head a state legislative body.

Consistent with the African side of African-American tradition, I begin today by acknowledging and honoring those people who have shaped my life but are no longer here to share my life.

My mother who taught all of us that the most important words in our vocabulary must be dignity, integrity and honor.

My last image of her was watching her walking down the hospital corridor – she held her head high – yet I knew she knew her life was about to end.

My father who never wanted me to run for office – because he was afraid I'd be hurt.

But yet he was the one who introduced me to politics, watching the civil rights movement on the nightly news and trying to help me understand the concept of legal segregation in the South where he was from--he instilled in me the passion to fight for justice and equality.

They are not here, but their presence is constantly felt and is represented today by my three brothers – Kenneth, Keith and Kevin Bass.

Will my brothers please stand.

My beloved daughter and son-in-law – who I miss every single day.

I look out on the floor – I sat where Assemblymember Eng sits and the memory is seared in my mind – of my daughter Emilia, who sat next to me during my first swearing in and giggled at the formality.