By: Erica M. Ponder
Thousands around the country rejoiced as Keisha Lance Bottoms won Atlanta’s mayoral race and runoff against Atlanta City Councilwoman Mary Norwood in December 2017. The deal was sealed Tuesday afternoon as Bottoms was officially sworn in as the 60th mayor of Atlanta.
Today I was sworn in as the 60th Mayor of Atlanta. This is a moment I won’t soon forget. Thank you to my family, friends and all of Atlanta for your support, your encouragement and your faith in me. I am honored to be your new Mayor – now let’s get to work. #OneAtlanta pic.twitter.com/Du4FXDL2dN — Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) January 3, 2018
Exuding Black Girl Magic, Bottoms is a proud graduate of Florida A&M University, and attended Georgia State University School of Law. She was strongly backed by U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, former Atlanta mayors Andrew Young and Kasim Reed, and a strong celebrity following, such as T.I., Tameka “Tiny” Harris, Kandi Burruss, LaLa Anthony, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Ludacris, Gabrielle Union, Toya Wright, and more.
Daughter of singer and songwriter Major Lance, Keisha has been very open about her upbringing and challenges, revealing in a Breakfast Club interview that her father ran into issues that eventually landed him in prison.
“My circumstances really on paper looked as if I should’ve repeated the mistakes of my father, but when you are in the city of Atlanta, and there are people around you each and everyday showing you there’s something bigger and better than your circumstances, then it makes you strive for bigger and better. I’m a mom of four now, and I just want Atlanta to be that place for my kids,” she said. She is also the proud wife of Derek Bottoms.
Bottoms has volunteered with organizations such as The Children’s School, Walter Young YMCA, YWCA of Atlanta, and CURE for Childhood Cancer, and is a proud member of organizations like the Atlanta Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights- Women’s Solidarity Society, and the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Congrats, Mayor Bottoms! Listen to her first full speech as mayor here.