Cori Bush is an American national serving as US representative for Missouri’s 1st congressional district. She is not only a rights activist but also excelled in other diverse fields. This article breaks down the real identity of Mrs. Cori, inclusive of her achievements and struggles.
Who is Cori Bush?
Originally, Mrs. Cori is from Missouri. For she was born and spent most of her early life there. She excelled in her studies to become the first black woman nurse from Missouri and a representative to her entire district. The single mother of two is a staunch activist of Black Lives Matter. More so as since decades ago and even to date, blacks have been preyed on for their color. Mrs. Cori is an excellent reminder of blacks who protested in 2014 when a white policeman unlawfully assassinated an 18-year-old black man. The Michael Brown Jr. protests lasted for about 400 days.
Mrs. Cori expresses that the better part of her life had not been a walk in the park. And amid the challenges she underwent, she developed a sense of problem-solving for her survival. Sexual assault, homelessness, and different forms of violence form part of the difficulties she persevered. Indeed, all great minds have a story to tell.
Her Early Life and Educational Background
Cori Bush was born to both Errol and Barbara Bush on 21st July 1976 in St Louis. Her father was an alderman and a former Mayor of Missouri’s Northwoods, while her mum worked as a computer analyst. From a learned Black family, Mrs. Cori grew to become an excellent performer, very intellectual and ambitious.
She attended her pre-school at St Louis and later Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, where she spent most of her teen life. She joined Harris Stowe State University, then went to Lutheran School of Nursing, where she attained her nursing degree. I would say she was a book worm, but it turns out it runs in their bloodline. Mrs. Bush started working as a registered nurse later in 2008 at the SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital.
In 2011, she founded her church, the Kingdom Embassy International Church, where she preached to her community. However, three years down the line, the church collapsed. Therefore, she returned to her nursing career and worked as a nursing supervisor at Hopewell Health Centers, inc. in St. Louis.
Cori Bush Family
In her mid-20s, the 44-year-old had a husband and was already expecting her first son. At that time, she was working for a health care company. However, upon realizing that she had conceived, she decided to quit her job. Mrs. Cori’s first baby was a boy, whom she named Zion. She gave birth to Zion at five months; hence he came out premature, weighing about one pound. Because he was underweight, he spent the first four months in a hospital incubator.
By the time Zion was healthy enough to come home, his mother was already pregnant for a second baby boy, whom she delivered in the future and named Angel. After having enough maternity leave, Cori returned to her childcare job. Nevertheless, her salary was not enough to cater to all her needs. Therefore, since she could not afford her house rent, their landlord kicked them out, leaving them homeless.
Mrs. Bush and her family then began sleeping in her car. It was not the best environment for her children, who were still infants, but they needed to survive. Some times, they spent nights with their friends or rented a hotel. That went on for about four months. The Washington Post reported that often Mrs. Bush would extend her stay at work to wash her hair. Her boss, however, learned of her struggles and rented her a furnished house. It was not long before Mrs. Bush and her husband divorced, leaving her a single mum.
Cori Bush Career
A Human Rights Activist
History documented Mrs. Bush as one of the potent activists when Michael Brown Jr was shot dead. It was around 2014 when the deceased, an 18 years old black man, died after a white policeman fired at him near Ferguson, Missouri. Witnesses reported the incident was unjust, for the dead were without fault. Bush was among the activists who spent 400 days protesting for justice.
The movement, which they dabbed Ferguson Frontline, condemned and rebuked racial discrimination in the US. Amid the protests, Bush remarked that since she was a nurse and a pastor, she could serve as a medic and clergy simultaneously during the protests. She says that at one point while marching during the demonstrations, she became a victim of police brutality while helping a woman who happened to be having a heart attack.
About six to eight got hold of her, Bush says the officers stomped and kicked her like a doll. While being an activist was not a practice Bush dreamt of, her community’s challenges drove the urge. She says, watching her community in a rage got to her, and that’s what led to her joining the activists union. During an interview with ABC News, this is what she said:
“I was watching my community in rage. I was watching my community look away and feel a way that I was unfamiliar with.”
Mrs. Bush advanced her activism by co-founding the Truth Telling Project and as a leader of the #ExpectUS protest group.
An American Politician
Following her bravery and leadership qualities, her fellow activists urged her to join politics. Though at first, Bush was reluctant, she developed an interest in the Senatorial race. And that marked the onset of her political career. Mrs. Bush aimed to defeat the then incumbent Republican Roy Blunt. Nonetheless, she came second after Mr. Blunt massively defeated her.
Two years later, Bush reran against Lacy Clay but lost. She had only gathered 13% of the total votes that year. Clay had represented her district in 2001 as such was prominent enough, mainly as his father Bill first represented the district in 1968. Bush, however, did not despair. In 2020, she ran for Congress again against Clay. And this time around, she defeated her in the primary after 603 of the votes were in her favor.
Her swearing-in ceremony happened this year on 3rd January, at the United States Capitol. During her first two weeks as a newly elected congress, she wore a mask branded Breonna Taylor. Funny enough, some members of her Congress thought that was her name at first. As a congresswoman, she was appointed to the House of Judiciary Committee and the Congressional Progressive Caucus, where she became the deputy whip.
In early January, Trump supporters launched an attack on the Capitol, hoping to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s 2020 United States Presidential election. Hours after the attack, Mrs. Bush suggested the removal of every congressional republican who worked for Trump’s administration. She also demanded the removal of Trump from office before his time elapsed.
Awards and Honors
In 2015, Cori Bush received the Women of Courage award from the EmmettTill Legacy Foundation. The next year, she got the Dexul Magazine Power Award. And in 2018, the community Activist award from the Missouri Association of black Ministers. She also made it to Gazelle Magazine, which named her as one of the top 50 women of St. Louis. The St Louis Coalition of Human Rights was also honored as an unsung human rights heroin 2017.
Other Things: Victim of Sexual Assault
Mrs. Bush narrates that despite her bravery, she is a victim of rape. The incident occurred in 2016 after she had lost the Senatorial seat during the first round. She says on that day; she had agreed to meet up with a real estate agent with intentions to see an apartment that was available for rent. However, she recalls that upon arriving at the house, the man violently pounced on her and mercilessly raped her.
Right after the incident, she went to the hospital, hoping not to contract any STIs or pregnancy. She was lucky enough to be safe. And it was not long before she identified her rapist to the policemen who arrested him. However, he alleged that she had consented to it and that the experience was just a little rough, and the officers released him.
Bush was not happy about this. She felt traumatized, broken, seeing the man who violated him walk free because the court kept postponing his prosecutions. It took her four months to fight her case. Unfortunately for her, her lawyer told her that the evidence was not enough to prosecute her attacker, despite the rape kit showing she had been assaulted. Bush states that she remembers a particular day she lost it in court because she was in rage seeing the court doing nothing to solve her case.
“I just lost it one day in court because I was just so frustrated that I was still going through this, and nothing was happening,” she said.
