Virginia’s new lieutenant governor is a Black Republican woman. That identity is more common than you may think.

Sears, a working towards evangelical, drew upon that racial optimism and embrace of capitalism — with a splash of individualism — in her victory speech, when she mentioned, “We [Black people] can reside the place we wish. We are able to eat the place we wish. We personal the water fountains. We’ve had a Black president elected not as soon as, however twice. And right here I’m, dwelling proof.”