• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

Karine Jean-Pierre Makes History As Second Black Woman to Give a White House Briefing

“I believe that being behind this podium is not about one person,” Jean-Pierre said when asked about her historic turn.
Karine Jean-Pierre Makes History As Second Black Woman to Give a White House Briefing
By Kevin L. Clark · Updated May 26, 2021

After Judy Smith became the first Black woman to brief the White House press corps in 1991, Karine Jean-Pierre makes history as the second Black woman to do so. While the moment comes as much-needed good news, Jean-Pierre would have people think that it is just another day, as she sought to downplay the historic nature of Wednesday’s press briefing (May 26), saying the Biden administration has embarked on a broad effort to ensure representation.

“I appreciate the historic nature,” Jean-Pierre said when prompted by a reporter. “I really do, but I believe that being behind this podium, being in this room, being in this building is not about one person. It’s about what we do on behalf of the American people.”

For those unaware, Jean-Pierre is the principal deputy press secretary within the Biden administration and also the first openly gay spokeswoman to field questions in the briefing room. “The president believes representation matters,” Jean-Pierre said. “This is not about me, this is not about any of us.”

Love to see @KJP46 @K_JeanPierre make history🤎🤎

Judy Smith was the first Black woman to brief the White House press corps in 1991, when she worked as Dep Press Sec for President George H.W. Bush.  Karine Jean-Pierre today became the second ever.

Queens & crowns👇🏽It’s handled. pic.twitter.com/tXxJ1nHymZ

— @tiffanydcross (@TiffanyDCross) May 26, 2021

This isn’t the first time that Jean-Pierre has been with the White House press corp, as she has done off-camera briefings aboard Air Force One on numerous occasions and can be seen frequently in the briefing room whenever White House press secretary Jen Psaki stands at the podium. 

The hype about Karine Jean-Pierre’s appearance isn’t just tied to the history-making person she is, but also as a possible candidate to take over Jen Psaki’s seat when she eventually steps down. Psaki said on a recent podcast episode with David Axelrod that someone else will likely succeed her at some point next year, making the intrigue over the not-yet-open position highly anticipated.

Prior to this role, Jean-Pierre was an organizer and activist, plus former lecturer in international and public affairs at Columbia University. She also served as senior advisor and national spokeswoman for MoveOn.org and as the chief of staff for Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris during the 2020 presidential campaign with Joe Biden.

TOPICS:  Joe Biden kamala harris Karine Jean-Pierre White House and the press
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now