Making history as the first Black woman and nominated by the Democratic Party for Vice President, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris from California accepted the nomination tonight at the Democratic National Convention from Delaware, where she is working with Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden.
The daughter of Shyamala Gopalan Harris, her an East Indian immigrant mother, and Donald Harris, a, Jamaican immigrant father, Harris gave a heartfelt, powerful speech acknowledging the support and love of her family as well as so many of the women who blazed the trail ahead of her, such as Mary Church Terrell, Mary McLeod Bethune, Fannie Lou Hamer, Diane Nash, Constance Baker Motley and Shirley Chisholm.
Harris also pointed to structural racism for the inequities in America — “education and technology, health care and housing, job security and transportation” — as heightened by the coronavirus, and how she and Biden are committed to doing the work to fulfill the promise of “equal justice under the law.”
To read Harris’ acceptance speech in full, see below:
The Democratic National Committee has launched a new initiative, the Seat At the Table Tour, a Black women outreach tour designed to “rebuild relationships, restore trust, and strengthen infrastructure within communities to champion Democratic values and build towards electoral victories,” Refinery29 has learned.
Black women have been the Democratic Party’s most reliable voting bloc since the 1990s. Doug Jones’ win over Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate special election in December especially highlighted Black women’s power; they were largely credited to lifting Jones to victory through on the ground organizing and voter registration efforts.
Despite this, however, the Democratic Party has been criticized for neglecting the needs of Black women and not adequately supporting Black women who are running for office. Many Black women candidates, particularly in Alabama, have been operating with little institutional support, as Refinery29 reported in June.
According to the DNC, the tour, in collaboration with the Congressional Black Caucus and Black women mayors, will consist of listening and training sessions for Black women.
“This is the Democratic Party’s opportunity to show that we want more than just Black Women’s votes. We also need and want Black Women’s input, ideas, and organizing power,” Waikinya Clanton, the DNC’s director of African American outreach, told Refinery29. “We want to hear from Black Women across this country about what keeps them up at night and what we can do to help fix it. Whether it’s training candidates on how to address certain issues, training organizers on how to advocate on issues locally or connecting Black women Democrat. We want to connect and work with Black women to help move this country forward in a real and meaningful way.”
The tour officially kicked off June 16 in Brooklyn, where the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, was honored.
According to Black Women In Politics, a database of Black women running for office, there are 603 Black women candidates this year.
“This is our chance to invest in more than just candidates and state parties but opportunity to invest in infrastructure and people who help sustain communities,” Clanton said.
DNC Interim Chair Donna Brazile (photo via apbspeakers,com) article by Mark Joyella via adweek.com
CNN and ABC News contributor Donna Brazile will take over as interim chair of the Democratic National Committee following the resignation of Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Wasserman Schultz announced her resignation Sunday, following revelations this weekend from leaked DNC emails. She said she would focus on party unity as the Democratic National Convention begins in Philadelphia Monday. “Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as Party Chair at the end of this convention.”
Brazile will serve as the DNC’s interim chair through the November election. Earlier in the day, Brazile said on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos that she had apologized to the campaign of Bernie Sanders, after leaked emails appeared to show DNC leaders working to advance the primary campaign of Hillary Clinton at Sanders’ expense. Update: CNN released this statement: “With news of Donna Brazile stepping in as interim chair for the Democratic National Committee, CNN and Brazile have mutually agreed to temporarily suspend her contract as a contributor for the network effective immediately. As a valued voice and commentator, CNN will revisit the contract once Brazile concludes her role.”
Tracy Reese at Spring 2013 Fashion Week. (Photos: Getty Images)
Tracy Reese became instantly buzz-worthy last week when first lady Michelle Obama wore a custom-made dress by the designer to deliver her speech at the Democratic National Convention. The frock was so stunning that Reese had to rush the dress into mass production to meet consumer demand. A similar reaction followed her Spring 2013 Fashion Week showing in New York City among the fashion industry insiders who flocked to the tents for more of Reese’s magic.
