close
close

Yiamastaverna

Trusted News & Timely Insights

    • Some black women see themselves in Kamala Harris
    Duluth

    Some black women see themselves in Kamala Harris

    Eira Gwyneth Posted on

    play

    CHICAGO — When Kamala Harris takes the stage at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night to accept the Democratic nomination, many black women will recognize themselves in her image — as someone who was underestimated and picked apart, only to prove the skeptics wrong.

    During most of Harris’ first term as vice president, the 59-year-old has faced low approval ratings and has been criticized for struggling to find her niche in government after being given the difficult tasks of voting rights and addressing root causes of migration at the southern border.

    And before President Joe Biden dropped out of the election in June, some Democrats considered bypassing Harris altogether and holding a contested convention to choose the party’s nominee.

    And now, a month after launching her candidacy, Harris has united the Democratic Party, held campaign rallies in large arenas, overtook Republican candidate Donald Trump in crucial swing states and raised around $500 million in campaign funds.

    “She has so much fire in her that people haven’t seen, and now people can see the fire that burns in her,” said Margaret Sumpter, a Democratic National Committee delegate from South Carolina who chairs the state Democratic Party’s Council of Black Democrats.

    “Black women are strong,” says Sumpter, a 66-year-old grandmother. “Black women are truly the backbone of the family. And often people underestimate the power we have.”

    More: DNC Live Updates: Tim Walz, Bill Clinton and Nancy Pelosi take the convention stage

    With her nomination, Harris becomes the first black woman and the first Asian American to run as a major political party’s presidential nominee. If she defeats Trump in November, she would be the first female president since Hillary Clinton lost to Trump in 2016.

    Thelma Sias, a 71-year-old black delegate from Wisconsin who lives in Milwaukee, wore a custom-made jacket airbrushed with Harris’ portrait and the words “Madame President” as she entered the convention hall.

    “Now I know more than ever that we have the ability to do this. We have the energy. We have the understanding. And we made a courageous decision in transferring power,” said Sais, a longtime Democratic activist.

    She described it as an “almost overwhelming and extraordinarily proud moment” to be on the threshold of a possible black president.

    “The reality is that women across the country have had an experience of being taken for granted and of having their power underestimated – not just in terms of what we can do, but in terms of our extraordinary talent. This is nothing new,” Sias said.

    More: “Now is the time”: Democrats dream of electing a female president again after Hillary Clinton’s defeat

    In her stirring speech at the convention on Tuesday, former first lady Michelle Obama touched on a similar theme of expectations when she slammed Trump for doing “everything in his power to make people afraid” of her and Barack Obama, the first black president.

    Trump famously started his political career years ago by spreading the “Birther” conspiracy, which was directed against Barack Obama’s citizenship.

    “His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated and successful people who happened to be black,” Michelle Obama said. “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s looking for might be one of those ‘black jobs’?” she added, criticizing Trump’s use of the phrase.

    Since Harris won the Democratic nomination, Trump has repeatedly launched personal attacks on her, calling her “dumb” and “stupid” despite her long career as a prosecutor and in politics. He mocked her for laughing and even said he was “better looking” than Harris.

    Trump also questioned the black identity of the biracial Harris, falsely claiming that she “turned black by accident.”

    “Black women are underestimated,” said Rogette Harris, a 42-year-old black delegate from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “That’s why I had to laugh when Donald Trump made the comment that she was only black now. He treats her like a black woman.”

    Rogette Harris, chairwoman of the Democratic Party in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, said black women are “measured by a different standard” and “once they get to that standard, they move it. But we just have to outdo ourselves.” She said Vice President Harris is proving herself with the way she is engaging Democratic voters.

    “Sometimes the best kept secret is being underestimated because people don’t know when you’re coming,” said Rogette Harris.

    Polls show Harris has begun to reassemble the coalition that helped elect Biden in 2020, improving Biden’s poor showing among women, young voters and voters of color. There is also evidence that Harris is mobilizing black voters in ways that Biden failed to do.

    More: Harris gains popularity among black voters in key swing states, but gaps remain

    A USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll last week found that 77% of black voters surveyed in Michigan are now “very motivated” to vote for Harris, compared to just 52% who previously said the same for Biden. In Pennsylvania, 78% were very motivated to vote for Harris, compared to 61% who said they were motivated to vote for Biden.

    At this week’s convention, however, Democrats sought to dampen their enthusiasm, as they expect a close election that could be decided by tens of thousands of votes in some swing states.

    More: “Hope returns.” Obamas storm the national stage: insights from the second day of the DNC

    “There are still so many people desperately hoping for a different outcome — who are ready to question and criticize every move Kamala makes,” Michelle Obama said in her speech. She called the election an “uphill battle” and urged Democrats to “do something” to help Harris win.

    But on Thursday night, black women will witness this historic moment at the United Center.

    Edwina Martin, a delegate from Staten Island, New York, said she knew something special was happening when she joined 45,000 other women on a Zoom call with the slogan “Win ​​with Black Women” on the night of Biden’s exit.

    “I can say that at the end of the night, when I hung up the phone, I knew people were going to rally around her. You could feel it,” she said. “It’s hard for me to put into words how happy I am, how excited, how hopeful – and how worried.”

    More: Kamala Harris heads to the DNC in Chicago with momentum and a big chance

    Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.

    Tagged:

    LEAVE A RESPONSE

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Eira Gwyneth
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like

    ads