The last few weeks have been a roller coaster ride for many of us. But right now, we are on the rise.
Make no mistake. It is not an accident that in the last 24 hours, virtually every major Democratic figure, including Nancy Pelosi, and Bill and Hillary Clinton, and such purported potential rivals as Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, West Moore, Josh Shapiro, and Roy Cooper have coalesced around Vice President Kamala Harris.
The first impetus, of course, was President Biden’s prompt, full-throated, and skillfully-executed endorsement of Harris as the nominee.
The second, without question, was the overwhelming, powerful, and inspirational show of support for Harris from Black women across the country.
Black women had the most invested in Joe Biden and fought the hardest for him. So his withdrawal from the race was probably more devastating to us than any other demographic.
And we felt it. Profoundly. I certainly did. It literally knocked me to my knees and every sister I’ve talked to had a similarly visceral reaction.
And we grieved … deeply … for about 10 minutes.
And then we got up ourselves up, brushed ourselves off, and got back to work. No whining. No handwringing. No what coulda shoulda beens.
And then, a few hours later, 44,000 of Black women – not a typo – gathered on a historic call strategizing, mobilizing, organizing.
And we put our money where our mouths are. In just an hour, Black women in the call had raised $1.5 million, providing a foundation for the nearly record-breaking $60 million the Harris campaign raised immediately after the announcement.
It is obvious that the impenetrable wall of support Black women built immediately built is, second only to Biden’s endorsement, the reason that today Kamala Harris has the wind at her back. She stepped up onto that wall, took a giant leap, and is now soaring into history. And we are going to continue to embrace, surround, protect and propel her every inch of the way. Because our vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is not only tan, but she is tested and ready for this challenge.
I am so proud of what we have done and are going to do. And I urge all of my fellow Democrats, whatever your race, to look at what Black women did yesterday, and then follow our lead.
Because when Black women lead, we ALL win.