Virginia House Speaker Addresses the House of Delegates

“The historic nature of my speakership is not lost on me,” said Don Scott (D), speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, during his remarks after being sworn into office as the first African American to hold the position in the commonwealth. “Every time I look around this room, I do see this, I see the ghosts ... those Black folks who were enslaved here, whose dignity and humanity was discounted right here in this room,” said Speaker Scott as he acknowledged those that came before him. The speaker spoke on his background and his love for family and promised to work with Republicans, saying the only way to get things done is to “do it together.” close