Karine Jean-Pierre - Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America

Most political origin stories have the same backbone. A bright young person starts reading the Washington Post in elementary school. She skips school to see a presidential candidate. In middle school she canvasses door-to-door. The story can be intimidating. It reinforces the feeling that politics is a closed system: if you werent participating in debate club, the Young Democrats and Model UN you have no chance.

Karine Jean-Pierres story breaks the mold. In Moving Forward, she tells how she got involved, showing how politics can be accessible to anyone, no matter their background. In todays political climate, the need for all of us to participate has never been more crucial. This book is her call to arms for those who know that now is the time for us to act.

Praise for Moving Forward

In Moving Forward , Karine Jean-Pierre shares her inspiring personal story and offers a useful road map for all of us about how to make a difference in this big, bustling democracy.

David Axelrod, former senior advisor to President Obama and a CNN senior political commentator

Karine Jean-Pierre is one of the most important voices of her generation. Her story is the very essence of the American story. This powerful narrative will teach you about strength, courage and determination, reaffirm your faith in our immigrant nation, and have you saying, Yes, she can!

Joy-Ann Reid, author and host of MSNBCs AM Jo y

Moving Forward arrives at a moment when inspiration, insight, and optimism are in short supply. Karine Jean-Pierre delivers all three in abundance. Her advice resonates across differences with a single, necessary command: move forward. With Karines book as our guide, we absolutely can.

Stacey Abrams, author of Lead from the Outside

Karine Jean-Pierres new book Moving Forward inspires us to re-engage in the struggle for an enduring and just society with a fresh voice that is crucial at this crossroads in American leadership. A child of Haitian immigrants who rose to serve in the Obama White House, her story, while both unique and representative of our ideals, will fill you with hope.

David N. Dinkins, 106th mayor of New York City

Karine Jean-Pierre is at once a committed citizen and a remarkable human being. Moving Forward is not only a field guide for those who would transform our politics but also a manual for living a virtuous and warmhearted life.

E. J. Dionne, Jr., author of One Nation After Trump

Moving Forward gives us an astute and insightful look at both a remarkable political journey and an inspiring life. Part memoir, part instruction manual, this is one of those books that will become indispensable in helping us make sense of the long election cycle ahead, and beyond.

Edwidge Danticat, author of Brother, Im Dying

If your idea of political power is a bunch of old seen-it-all cynics playing an inside game, Moving Forward will inspire you to believe every voice has the potential to be a mighty force for good. The poignantly honest story of Karine Jean-Pierres journey proves that despite formidable obstacles and profound disappointments, a talented new voice can develop the strength and resilience to thrive and become a force for good who serves as a role model for the next generation of leaders. Looking for hope? Looking for inspiration? Youll find them here within this remarkable story.

Valerie Jarrett, former senior advisor to President Obama and author of Finding My Voice

MOVING FORWARD

A STORY OF HOPE,
HARD WORK, AND THE
PROMISE OF AMERICA

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE

Karine Jean-Pierres political experience has ranged widely from presidential campaigns to grassroots activism, from local politics to working in the White House. She is now the chief public affairs officer for MoveOn, a political analyst at MSNBC and a member of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, where she teaches a course on campaign management. She lives in Washington, DC.

I dedicate this book to all of the people who have been told no.
I hope my story inspires and motivates you.

I have changed many of the names of my family and friends as well as some details to protect their privacy.

Contents

M ore than a decade has passed since I met Karine Jean-Pierre when we both worked in the administration of President Barack Obama. In this time her strengths, abilities and all of the character traits that have made her a passionate and effective leader today have grown and matured into the essence of her identity, so fully integrated that they are difficult to name one by one. This was why I hesitated for a moment when someone asked what it is that stands out about Karine. In that quiet moment, he thought he might help me out with some suggestions.

Is it her work ethic? he asked. Her intelligence? Her experience? Her courage? Her energy?

My answer was, How about all of the above, and then some?

This wasnt hyperbole. When I first met Karine, she was barely thirty years old and, like many young people, she was a fireball of energy and appeared fearless. And as I grew to know her, I discovered that she is smart, wise beyond her years and follows through on every task until it is done better than anyone expected. Her expectations of herself are high, yet she is very human.

Karine is also courageous. The world got a peek at this in 2019 when a rather large man jumped onstage at a panel discussion where she was participating with then senator Kamala Harris. With hate crimes on the rise, Karine instantly thought of the worst that might happen, sprang from her seat and blocked the man as he bolted toward the senator.

News film of the incident, which aired around the world, showed a very small woman blocking like a Chicago Bears lineman, and commenters made much of Karines quick thinking and bravery. When she was interviewed, she didnt want to discuss the superficial facts. Instead she called attention to the irony that the panel had been discussing the race and gender gaps in politics.

We were three women of color onstage having this really insightful conversationand here comes this guy with all his male privilege and jumps onstage and says, I have something better to talk about, she said, using the opportunity to highlight an issue far bigger and more important than her own immediate experience.

As a Black woman who is also an immigrant and a lesbian, Karine has endured more than her share of insults. But she has developed a powerful strategy that helps her persevere. Shes promised herself that

I may be targeted for insults. I may not be understood or appreciated.

But I do have a reservoir of courage that will help me continue to take

risks and put myself out there. Courage doesnt mean Im not afraid.

It means I can keep going even when I am afraid.

In Moving Forward , Karine shares her story, not as a celebration of her own success but as an honest view of a very human being whose experiences are both relatable and instructive. The intellectual and emotional curiosity she demonstratesshes always asking questions and listening to the replies with an open mind and heartis a trait that can be adopted by anyone with the will to grow. The same lesson can be learned from the process Karine followed to embrace her own identity. She isnt saying Do it the way I did it. Instead, by describing her life experiences that made her who she is, including the deeply painful parts, she offers help to those who want to move forward and discover the limitless possibilities of their own lifes path.