When someone proudly declares that representation doesn’t matter to actual social advancement and systemic change, I think it obscures things like Raphael Warnock’s beagle (his for the duration of the campaign, at least).

Ameria’s very existence is predicated on the dissemination of some pretty intense lies about indigenous and African people. Without despicable representation,  genocide and enslavement would not have been easily justified by the public. Centuries later and America is still struggling to purge the harmful narratives surrounding BIPOC Americans.

As both proof and manipulation of this principle of dehumanizing representation, Senator Raphael Warnock may well have shifted the legislative power in Washington simply by showing voters that he was nice and normal, just like them. 

So whether you read this article or not I hope you come away realizing just how powerful the images of a happy black man and woman can be.