She may not have won her bid for President of the United States, but Vice President Kamala Harris has succeeded in winning the hearts of millions of Americans for her Herculean campaign effort to become America’s first woman president.
Days before Election Day, I observed two phone banks for the Harris-Walz campaign and saw dozens of White men and White women, Asians and Latinos of varying generations making calls to Pennsylvania and Georgia on behalf of the campaign. Black people were the least in numbers at both phone banks. Prior to that, I covered the Win with Black Women Zoom call on November 3, which was attended by Harris and tens of thousands of Black women civil servants, celebrities and concerned citizens. White women activists like Shannon Watts, Caucasian “Cat Ladies,” South Asians, “White Dudes,” and Black men were also on the call. The mood at all three events was one of exuberance. In full transparency, I did not attend any Trump campaign events, but I did periodically watch conservative media outlets and follow Lara Trump on Instagram to check in on her Women for Trump efforts, which also exuded a similar type of optimism.
After that, I began to tell friends and family to follow both campaigns on social media and to watch both conservative and liberal media outlets, plus neutral channels like C-SPAN, so they’re not getting only one side of the story. My request was met with lackluster reactions, as people seemed to be dead set on consuming news and information that already supported their beliefs. Oof! In the words of Childish Gambino, “This is America!”
On November 5, I walked down to the yard at Howard University, which is not too far from my home. The vibe at the Harris-Walz Election Night party was one of joy and unity, as people from all walks of life were inspired and invigorated by the Veep’s historic run. They had anticipated a victory.
@markettesheppard Howard University is a whole vibe this #ElectionNight, but had to take my son out to witness history at his dad’s alma mater and #herstory with #KamalaHarris’ choosing HU as her final campaign stop. #civicallyengaged #election2024🇺🇸 ♬ Let's Go – JAXSON GAMBLE
Ultimately, a majority of American voters chose what was familiar to them and re-elected the 45th President of the United States Donald Trump as our 47th, too. As Lara Trump’s social media feed had shown me weeks prior, he, too, had won the hearts of millions of Americans, proving that political opinions in this country are as diverse and complex as the people who hold them.
In the aftermath of the election results firming up Trump’s victory, a wave of emotions rippled through Harris supporters on social media reminiscent of Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid bust, which (to me at least) now begs the question:
Is America ready for a woman of any color to lead?
With both Clinton and Harris’ academic, professional and public service credentials clear, what is not apparent is IF women’s leadership at the highest level of American democracy is welcomed at all. What IS certain is that the community that supported a Harris victory remains loyal. I predict that, just as Black women refer to Michelle Obama as the “Forever First Lady,” Kamala Harris will become known as the “First & Forever Madam Vice President” in Black lore for generations to come. The community of Black women, “Cat Ladies,” “White Dudes,” and more also includes business leaders, like the ones at EBONY Media, who named Harris their 2024 Icon of the Year ahead of the election.
“As the daughter of parents who were active during the Civil Rights Movement, I have long been inspired by heroes like Thurgood Marshall – the same heroes who have graced the pages of EBONY – I am both honored and humbled to be recognized as the 2024 EBONY Icon of the Year,” said Harris in a statement exclusive to EBONY shortly after the honor was announced in October.
A day after the election, Harris, who did not address the crowd on Election Night, returned to Howard University where she acknowledged the election results, and promised to continue her work as public servant.
The next time Harris supporters will gather en masse to celebrate her work in public service will be on November 17 in Los Angeles. That’s when the Vice President will receive the ‘Icon’ award at the 2024 EBONY Power 100 Gala, alongside 99 other trailblazers being honored this year.
“Our distinguished special honorees represent the pinnacle of achievement across various fields,” said EBONY CEO Eden Bridgeman in a statement. “From outstanding artists like USHER and Cynthia Erivo and barrier-breaking leaders like Vice President Harris, to pioneering entrepreneurs, such as Uncle Nearest founder Fawn Weaver or inspiring thought leaders like [Humanitarian] Dr. [Kimberle’] Crenshaw, each honoree embodies the spirit of innovation and excellence. This year’s Power 100 celebration not only recognizes these remarkable individuals but also reinforces EBONY’s enduring commitment to showcasing Black excellence and inspiring generations to come,” she said.
Since 1971, the magazine-turned-multimedia company has been honoring influential Black Americans for their positive contributions to society and their ability to effect change, inspire others, and shape culture the world over.
This year’s awards ceremony comes at a time when celebrations will be bittersweet, but necessary for the healing of the American psyche.
