When Prince George’s County council member Krystal Oriadha first ran for office, people around her told her to “tone down the African” and change her name in order to gain support from voters.

But in 2022, Oriadha was sworn in to represent District 7 wearing traditional African clothing. She was elected to the council alongside two other daughters of African immigrants.

The three council members’ shared cultural background helps create a “sense of family” between them, Oriadha said.

Oriadha, Wala Blegay and Wanika Fisher all told The Diamondback that their positions on the council reflect growing inclusion of immigrants in the community.

“A decade ago … it would be less likely that the three of us would be serving [together],” Oriadha said. “Times are changing. People’s minds are evolving.”

Maryland has the fourth largest African immigrant population in the country according to the American Immigration Council. This population plays a fundamental role in Maryland communities, with African immigrants owning more than 40 percent of businesses in the state.

Blegay, who represents District 6, told The Diamondback that her background has driven her to focus more on including the perspectives of African community members.

When she first became involved in politics, Blegay said she noticed few other Africans involved in community activism. While running for the council, Blegay made an effort to improve community engagement by meeting with African community leaders.

“I think having three daughters of African immigrants reminds people that African immigrants are very much part of the community and should be included,” Blegay said.

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Blegay said her parents, who immigrated from Liberia and Nigeria, were very involved in the African community while she was growing up and often brought her along to events and meetings.

She said her family’s involvement in the African community growing up is what inspired her to become a council member.

Fisher, who represents District 2, said her family’s activism during the apartheid in South Africa drove her to become involved in politics. Fisher’s mother, who is a South African of Indian descent, left the country during the height of the apartheid struggle.

Her mother and Nigerian father met in New York, which is where she grew up. She said her parents’ interracial marriage is a motivator for her because she knows she would likely not be here today without the legalization of interracial marriages.

“A lot of people had to fight for justice for me to even exist,” Fisher said. “That’s really what drives me to do what I do every day.”

While attending the University of Maryland, Fisher said she was engaged in the community surrounding College Park and tutored kids in Langley Park, an area she now represents.

“I loved Prince George’s County,” Fisher said. “Coming from another state, I was like ‘Wow, there’s like a thriving Black middle class here. There’s an upcoming African middle class here.’”

Oriadha said she initially engaged in politics through national campaigns. She was not involved locally until President Donald Trump’s first election in 2016.

“[I] wanted a break from national politics and decided to get involved locally,” Oriadha said. “I felt like that was the first line of defense that we had given the president at that time.”

Oriadha spent most of her childhood in Texas with her mom — who was from Kansas City — and her Kenyan father.

Oriadha’s experience as the daughter of an African immigrant motivated her to provide a voice to people who could not speak for themselves. Witnessing her father almost be deported as a child has made her more compassionate toward the people she represents, she said.

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Blegay said that working with others who have an understanding of the immigrant experience has helped promote inclusion within the Prince George’s County community.

“They’re able to easily address some of the ignorance that has gone through communities about immigrants,” she said. “We are able to together … each address the misconceptions that are out there.”

All three council members said they are concerned about Trump’s immigration crackdown amidst increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests and deportations.

As of 2023, 24.5 percent of Prince George’s County’s population was born outside of the U.S., according to Data USA. The county has the second highest foreign born population in the state.

Blegay said that while the council does not have the authority to stop ICE, they have worked to provide resources to support concerned families. Multiple council members hosted events to inform community members about their immigration rights.

Oriadha said she hopes the country moves toward celebrating immigration, rather than rejecting it.

“I think the story of immigrants is one of bravery and strength and family and love … That’s usually at the core of every decision that an immigrant makes to come to this country,” Oriadha said.