Maxine Waters
Full Name and Common Aliases
Maxine Waters is a prominent American politician and civil rights activist. Her full name is Maxine Moore Waters.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on August 15, 1938, in St. Louis, Missouri. As of this writing, she remains alive.
Nationality and Profession(s)
American; Politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives) and Civil Rights Activist
Early Life and Background
Maxine Waters was born to Vernell "Vernie" Moore and Louvenia Maynard in St. Louis, Missouri. Her family moved to Los Angeles when she was seven years old. She grew up in a housing project where she witnessed the struggles of poverty and racism firsthand. These experiences would later shape her commitment to social justice.
Waters attended Morningside High School, where she became involved in local politics at an early age. After graduating from high school, she enrolled at Los Angeles City College before transferring to California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). At CSULA, Waters earned a Bachelor's degree in speech communication and later pursued a Master's degree in social work.
Major Accomplishments
Maxine Waters' long and storied career is marked by numerous accomplishments. Some of her notable achievements include:
As the first woman to represent California's 35th Congressional District (1991-2013), Waters continued to serve after redistricting, representing California's 43rd district from 2013 onwards.
In 2007, she was appointed Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, making history as the first African American to hold this position. Her tenure saw significant financial reforms, including the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
Waters is also a vocal advocate for civil rights, women's rights, and affordable healthcare. She has been recognized for her unwavering commitment to social justice and has received numerous awards and honors for her work.
Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works and actions of Maxine Waters include:
Co-sponsorship of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans.
Advocacy for African American reparations, a long-standing demand for compensation for centuries of racialized oppression.
* Support for the Black Lives Matter movement, which seeks to end systemic racism and police brutality.
Impact and Legacy
Maxine Waters' impact on American politics cannot be overstated. As one of the most progressive voices in Congress, she has championed causes that often go unrepresented. Her commitment to social justice has inspired a generation of activists and politicians.
Waters is widely recognized as a trailblazer for women and minorities in politics. Her unyielding dedication to her constituents has earned her a reputation as one of the most effective representatives in Congress.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Maxine Waters is quoted or remembered for her unwavering commitment to social justice, her willingness to challenge the status quo, and her unrelenting advocacy on behalf of marginalized communities. Her legacy serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and activism in shaping American society.
Quotes by Maxine Waters
I want to be the kind of elected official who not only pays attention but who acts on behalf of people - just average people. Fancy lobbyists get to tell their story, but the average person doesn't.
This country cannot tolerate the fact that someone worked with Russia to undermine our democracy.
Why is it that Michael Flynn, who evidently has a great relationship with Putin, who has received payments for so-called speeches and who's spent a lot of time in Russia and was accused of talking about sanctions, he lied about it, and he got caught?
That's why investigations are so important, to drill down and to connect those dots and to get the facts. What we have is a lot of smoke that causes us to want to know more about what has happened.
I believe that Trump is a danger. I believe that he wants to tighten and build up his relationship to Russia for whatever reasons.
I am talking about strategies that were developed, working with the Trump campaign. I really do believe that much of what you saw coming out of Trump's mouth was a play from Putin's playbook.
It's very important that people who are feeling the need to do something... get activated.
There are people who love and appreciate this country, but they don't talk about it that way. Now is the time to talk.
I saw the real difference between politicians who supported programs like Head Start and those who didn't. I started getting really excited about politics.
A lot of young people don't have a lot of faith in politicians. You can't depend on what they say. They talk in circles. They don't speak the kind of language that has truth to them. I'm speaking differently.