By now you've probably seen the viral photos of 26-year-old hip-hop artist Mariah Parker taking her oath to office as Athens, Georgia's newest county commissioner, making history as one of the youngest in such a position. Parker held up the black power fist, stood alongside her mama and rocked a fly 'fro while being sworn in over The Autobiography of Malcolm X. It's one thing to run for political office in your mid-20s, but to take the oath over Malcolm is an entirely different slay. Black Girl Magic, perhaps?

On Monday, June 11, Parker told Blavity why she chose to take her oath over Malcolm X's autobiography, her inspiration for running for office at such a young age, expected challenges and the solutions she's confident she'll find.

Why run for county commissioner now? Living in the blackest and most impoverished district in Athens as a doctoral student at the University of Georgia, Parker said she witnessed the economic dynamic of the city. Like with many cities across the U.S., poverty and gentrification are amuck in Athens.

Parker, who also raps under the moniker Lingua Franca, added that many issues facing Athens' black community, such as low wage jobs, criminalization and discriminatory laws, stem from systemic racism. Concerns the previous commissioner, who had served over two decades, seemed to ignore.

"He had become very complacent, comfortable in his power and unresponsive to the community’s pleas for better infrastructure, comprehensive anti-discrimination protections under the law and other needs," Parker told Blavity.

Not only was he unresponsive, but the rest of his conservative commission also seemed to be. Parker recalls her first commission meeting where Athens citizens expressed concerns regarding police brutality they've personally experienced.

"Their stories were heartbreaking, and their urgency was so palpable and desperate, but most of my fellow commissioners completely ignored them, texting during their remarks and the like, and it wrecked me," she said.

As the former commissioner's handpicked successor was preparing to run for office unopposed, this young black queen knew it was time to step in and take matters into her own hands.

"I saw this as my civic duty to tackle if no one else was going to," she said.

There are also five other elected progressives who will be joining Parker next year. It seems like Athens might be ready for radical change.

How radical? Like, Malcolm X radical? Absolutely.

The civil rights icon profoundly influenced Parker's campaign, as she chose to swear over his masterpiece of an autobiography publicly. Parker said the fact that Malcolm X "overcame the psychological trauma of racial violence and transformed into a vocal agitator for black people" is something she finds relatable and inspiring.

"He was no saint, and neither am I, and his autobiography reminds me that saintliness is not a prerequisite for serving your community and speaking out against injustice," Parker said.

He also influenced Parker's thoughts on social injustices and policies mainly affecting her people:

"I want to always stand with the young Malcolm X’s of the world who are struggling with drug addictions, with family strife, with food insecurity and nihilism, and so in swearing my oath on the autobiography, I swore my oath to them."

It's certainly difficult for people with past law enforcement interaction, who may be struggling to keep food on the table and facing other social injustices to find and keep good jobs at fair wages. The hip-hop artist says jobs are her top priority. Good paying jobs.

"Muscling local businesses into hiring black folks at fair wages and bringing new ones to Athens that will do the same are huge priorities of mine," Parker added.

While Parker does not have all the answers, she is committed to searching for some solutions to these solvable problems in her community — solutions that benefit everyone. She's not intimidated by those who take offense to her unapologetic blackness and love of self, either.

"As long as I continue to make the same bold, urgent steps in a transformative direction politically, a lot of white people are gonna stay mad at me," she said. "So rather than feel put off by some of the negative feedback, I intend to use it as a gauge of my success."

Mariah Parker

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