Black History Month spotlight: Congresswoman Janelle Bynum
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KTVZ) -- With Black History Month coming to a close, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of individuals who are shaping history today.
One such trailblazer is Congresswoman Janelle Bynum.
Born on January 31, 1975, Janelle Bynum came from a modest background that did not stop the ‘eager learner’ in her.
“I grew up with my mom, dad and two brothers in Washington, D.C., in the heart of the city. My parents were teachers and I went to public schools. When I was in sixth grade, I was always an inquisitive kid and always like to do things with my hands. I was going to engineering classes on the weekends,” said Bynum.
Although she says she had a wonderful childhood, she came of age amidst an outbreak of sorts. Bynum says: “It was in the middle of the crack cocaine epidemic in Washington, D.C., so I shaped a little bit by that. But I always had big dreams, and my parents had big dreams for me.”
Those big dreams would evolve into an incredible journey.
In high school, Bynum would travel to Japan for a research project that only she can best describe as: “Silicon germanium, doping for MOSFET transistors.”
After graduating high school, Bynum would go on to obtain a degree in Electrical Engineering at Florida A&M University, and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
During her college days, Bynum would land jobs with very prestigious companies.
“I got to go work at Boeing every summer for four summers, and I ended up working at General Motors,” said Bynum
Fast forward, Bynum is now married with children. She and her husband had to choose where to settle their family.
But, when she began looking for jobs within her engineering scope, Bynum was shocked at what she discovered. Speaking candidly:
“We chose Oregon, and it had an industry, the semiconductor industry, that could support me as an Electrical Engineer, but when we got there, it did not, and all of the, you know, engineering jobs were drying up and I couldn't get a job.”
Bynum decided to support her husband and his family business as well as support her children’s growth. Not a distraction, though.
“So that was a pit stop, but going now into politics, I take all of those experiences with me, whether it was being unemployed for a significant amount of time because of some world event... starting a family, finding childcare and being able to afford it.”
Bynum’s professional career would now include engineering roles and entrepreneurship.
That skillset placed her political career in play.
In 2017, she served in the Oregon House of Representatives, until her historic election to congress in 2024. During her tenure at the state level, she championed legislation focusing on mental health care, youth voter engagement, and support for women of color in the workplace.
It is with that support why Bynum says acknowledging Black History Month is essential.
“The Quakers and Jewish people had a strong impact in the trajectory of this country as it relates to, first slavery and the abolitionist movement and then civil rights. But I would say, particularly with the Quakers, they were always there in a very consistent way, and that is a part of Black History, So when people understand Black History and its evolution in this country, they can understand what is happening today, so that is why Black History Month is so important.
Janelle Bynum represents a significant milestone in Oregon’s history, and her story is a testament to the progress celebrated during Black History Month and serves as an inspiration for future generations.
