Prior to her promotion, Jean-Pierre recognized the significance of Black people breaking barriers, Afro News reports.

“When you see someone doing something in a position that you normally don’t see them in, it becomes normal,” she said, according to Afro News. “And that is so important to think about. It’s like we need to break through and be the first so that it becomes normal, so that there’s a second and a third and a fourth.”

“Representation matters. Being the first matters, and hopefully there’s two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine people after me, after all of us who are in historical positions will be able to do, because that’s what really matters,” she said. “I feel like sometimes it’s not just about the first, it’s about the people who come behind you as well.”

White House press secretary

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