HAT TIP to Adrianne George

FROM: Eddie Griffin & The Afrospear

Here is a story from the battlefield of courage from our own Princess Warrior Adrianne George.

“The Democrats Abroad EMEA caucus in Brussels this past weekend was exhausting and exhilarating. As an Obama delegate candidate and elector (I could vote for the delegates) it was an experience I will never forget.” So begins the amazing journey of Adrianne George, a black businesswoman living in Europe.

American expatriates came to Brussels from the far reaches of the globe, from the southern tip of Africa to the northern tip of the Netherlands.

Adrianne writes:

Saturday we voted for 4 Obama delegates to go to the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August. We ended the day without having decided on delegates with the task of having a final 3rd ballot on Sunday morning.

Now, to make a long story short: here is why it is better to give than receive.

On Sunday we are stunned to learn that a mistake in the vote calculations caused the result to be under reported by 50% (for example I received 26.2% instead of the 13.1% that was announced So after an initial pool of 30 or so female candidates and after 2 rounds of voting I was #4 of 6 female candidates, along with a sister from Chicago named Monica French Stewart who lives in South Africa as #3.

A vote was taken to go back to round 2 and revote… When the 6 remaining women candidates were bought to the front and asked if they wanted to stay on the ballot, I withdrew from the race and endorsed Monica. It was more important to me that a sister go rather then risk splitting the vote. That sister didn't have to be me, and I'm proud that Monica will go and represent the interests of African American democrats in Africa.

I was stunned and what happened next. I got a standing ovation from everyone in the room! That's a personal first. So many people came up to me and hugged me, and shook my hand and thanked me for showing leadership, and being gracious and selfless. I was told that I was the first winner up there. I was even encouraged to run for executive office of Dems Abroad. When the vote was calculated Monica received over 72% of the vote (50% is needed to win).

CONGRATULATIONS TO Monica French Stewart, the sister from Chicago living in South Africa.


HAT TIP TO ADRIANNE GEORGE FOR LEADERSHIP AND COURAGE

Visit Adrianne George at Black Women in Europe, a member of the Afrospear