If you haven't heard of Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), he's a fascinating study in American democracy. Hurd is the only black Republican serving in Congress. He represents a district that covers the longest stretch of land covering the U.S./Mexico border and his district is 71 percent Latino. Needless to say, he has some complicated feelings about building a wall with our southern neighbors and says President Trump has never reached out to him to discuss border policy.
And now, he's also decided he's decided to get out of Congress.
Whether you're a Democrat, Republican or fiercely independent, this is a big deal. It's a huge embarrassment for our country that only one black Republican currently serves in the U.S. House and after the 2020 election, that number could very well be zero.
In an announcement on his page, Hurd said he wants to "grow a Republican Party that looks like America," and he knows we have a long way to go:
As the only African American Republican in the House of Representatives and as a Congressman who represents a 71% Latino district, I've taken a conservative message to places that don't often hear it. Folks in these communities believe in order to solve problems we should empower people not the government, help families move up the economic ladder through free markets not socialism and achieve and maintain peace by being nice with nice guys and tough with tough guys. These Republican ideals resonate with people who don't think they identify with the Republican Party. Every American should feel they have a home in our party.
Again, even if you disagree with those ideals, they are well within the bounds of normal political debate in America and are ideas that resonate half or more of all Americans. That's not the problem. The real problem is that proponents of those ideals rarely look or sound like our increasingly diverse electorate and often don't even make an effort to connect with Americans outside the homogenous block of center-right, white Americans who increasingly fill the ranks of the Republican Party.
It's sad that Hurd thinks he can do a better job of addressing this problem outside of the federal government. It's even sadder that his party is losing their sole African American member in the House.
Putting ideology aside, it's vital for all of us as Americans to have a diverse elected body of leaders that looks like, sounds like, and listens to the problems of the people they are voted to represent. A more representative democracy is good for everyone and more vital than ever.
Father talks with son.Image via 
Dad and son sit on the floor flexing muscles.Image via 
"Now I'm intrigued." 
Celebrate the wins.Image via 
Surprised and happy mother.Image via 
The original photo.Image from “
Photoshopped for MexicoImage from “
Photoshopped for ArgentinaImage from “
Photoshopped for USAImage from “
Photoshopped for SyriaImage from “
Photoshopped for SerbiaImage from “
Photoshopped for UkraineImage from “
Photoshopped for PhilippinesImage from “
Photoshopped for RomaniaImage from “
Photoshopped for South AfricaImage from “
Photoshopped for Netherla ndsImage from “
Photoshopped for EgyptImage from “
Photoshopped for UKImage from “
Photoshopped for ChinaImage from “
Photoshopped for VenezuelaImage from “
Photoshopped for Spain Image from “
Photoshopped for ItalyImage from “
Photoshopped for PeruImage from “
Photoshopped for ColombiaImage from “
Problematic homework question
A student’s brilliant homework answer outsmarted her teacher's ridiculously sexist question
From an early age, children absorb societal norms—including gender stereotypes. But one sharp 8-year-old from Birmingham, England, challenged a sexist homework question designed to reinforce outdated ideas.
An English teacher created a word puzzle with clues containing “UR.” One prompt read “Hospital Lady,” expecting students to answer “nurse.”
While most did, Yasmine wrote “surgeon”—a perfectly valid answer. Her father, Robert Sutcliffe, shared the incident on X (formerly Twitter), revealing the teacher had scribbled “or nurse” beside Yasmine’s response, revealing the biased expectation.
For Yasmine, the answer was obvious: both her parents are surgeons. Her perspective proves how representation shapes ambition. If children only see women as nurses, they internalize limits. But when they witness diversity—like female surgeons—they envision broader possibilities.
As Rebecca Brand noted in The Guardian: “Their developing minds are that little bit more unquestioning about what they see and hear on their screens. What message are we giving those impressionable minds about women? And how might we be cutting the ambitions of little girls short before they've even had the chance to develop properly?”
X users praised Yasmine while critiquing the question. Such subtle conditioning reinforces stereotypes early. Research confirms this: a study found children as young as four associate jobs with gender, with girls choosing “feminine” roles (e.g., nursing) and boys opting for “masculine” ones (e.g., engineering).
Even preschoolers avoided careers misaligned with their gender, proving sexist conditioning begins startlingly young.
- YouTube www.youtube.com
The problem spans globally. Data from 50 countries reveals that by age 15, girls disproportionately abandon math and science, while boys avoid caregiving fields like teaching and nursing. This segregation perpetuates stereotypes—women are underrepresented in STEM, and men in caregiving roles—creating a cycle that limits both genders.
- YouTube www.youtube.com
This article originally appeared last year.