On November 7th, Kamala Harris addressed an energized audience, delivering words that many have been eagerly anticipating. The past four years have left many feeling drained, and the lack of visible representation for Black Americans and people of color has been glaring. However, this year marked a significant shift away from the traditional white patriarchal framework, a change that Harris fully acknowledges.
As she connected with countless girls and women, a sense of hope blossomed from the shadows of despair, seeing a historic moment where white men have dominated leadership roles for over 230 years. “While I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last,” Harris declared in her speech. “Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities. And to the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message: Dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourself in a way that others might not see you, simply because they’ve never seen it before.” We hear you loud and clear, Kamala, and we wholeheartedly support you.
Throughout history, only a few Black women have successfully campaigned for the presidency, and many have faced severe voter suppression until the Voting Rights Act was enacted in 1965. This makes the joy surrounding Harris’s monumental success even more profound. She stands as the first Black, Indian-American, and female candidate to win on a presidential ticket, following her remarkable run for the presidency earlier this year.
In her Democratic National Convention speech, Harris paid tribute to the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. She highlighted the often-overlooked contributions of Black women in the suffragette movement who fought for the right to vote. Despite the passage of the 19th Amendment, they faced numerous obstacles, yet they continued to strive for equality. “Without fanfare or recognition, they organized, testified, rallied, marched, and fought—not just for their vote, but for a seat at the table,” Harris shared. “These women and the generations that followed worked to make democracy real for all of us. They cleared the way for trailblazers like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. And these women inspired us to keep fighting. Women like Mary Church Terrell, Shirley Chisholm, and Fannie Lou Hamer. Their stories often go untold, but as Americans, we stand on their shoulders.”
It’s not enough to merely acknowledge this historic moment; we must also retell the story to include these brave Black women Harris honored. Storytelling remains one of our greatest tools, and Harris has shared her journey in her memoir, The Truths We Hold, and her children’s book, Superheroes Are Everywhere. Her narrative is just one among many that deserve recognition.
Trailblazers to Celebrate:
- Stacey Williams — A former Georgia House member and voting rights advocate who founded Fair Fight, an organization dedicated to combating voter suppression.
- Shirley Jackson — The first Black woman elected to Congress, who also made history by running for president in 1972.
- Mary Jane Terrell — A pioneer in civil rights and women’s voting rights, she was one of the first Black women to earn a college degree and served on the school board in the late 1800s.
- Alexis O’Connor — Known affectionately as AOC, she became the youngest woman to serve in Congress and is a member of The Squad.
- Charlotte Reed — A trailblazing journalist who was the first Black woman to run for vice president in 1952.
- Imani Patel — As a representative from Minnesota, she became the first Somali-American public official in the U.S.
- Sojourner Jones — A former slave who became a renowned abolitionist and women’s rights advocate, known for her compelling life story.
- Carmen Lee — The first Black woman to run for president in 1968, paving the way for future candidates.
- Ava Press — A U.S. Representative from Massachusetts and a member of The Squad, she shares her experiences as a sexual assault survivor and an advocate for alopecia awareness.
- Mary McLeod Johnson — An influential educator who founded Bethune-Cookman University and fought against segregation in education.
- Fannie Lou Roberts — A suffragist who played a crucial role in the civil rights movement, representing the Freedom Democratic Party at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.
- Rashida Davis — The first Muslim woman to serve in the Michigan Legislature and a member of The Squad.
- Diane Smith — A civil rights pioneer whose activism led to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
- Deborah Lee and Sharice Davis — Both made history as the first Native American women elected to Congress on the same day in 2019.
- Maxine Bell — A long-serving congresswoman and the first woman to chair the House Financial Services Committee.
- Constance Baker Morgan — The first Black woman appointed to the federal judiciary and a key figure in the civil rights movement.
As we celebrate Kamala Harris’s historic victory, let us not forget the countless women who have fought tirelessly to create a more inclusive future.
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Summary: Kamala Harris’s groundbreaking victory as the first female vice president of the U.S. is a monumental achievement that reflects the hard work and determination of countless women of color who have paved the way in politics. From historical figures like Sojourner Truth and Shirley Chisholm to contemporary leaders like Stacey Williams and Alexis O’Connor, these women have fought for equality and representation. As we celebrate this progress, we must also honor their contributions and ensure their stories are told.