Senator Kamala Harris Not Your First Choice? Here Are Some Great Reasons to Help Her Win.

by Dominique DiPrima

The selection of Senator Kamala Harris is indeed an historical moment in the United States of America. We all know it is the first time that a Black woman has been nominated by either Democrats or Republicans to be Vice President – or an East Asian. In fact it is the very first time any woman of color has been given a shot at the second highest office in the land by a major party. And while many African Americans are celebrating (I even got a joyous WhatsApp from an African colleague who was thrilled that an Black woman was chosen) there are many who find themselves conflicted. Progressive activists including some affiliated with anti-racist movement and  certain Sanders voters are disappointed that their agenda will not be represented. There is talk that as a former prosecutor Harris cannot embrace a real reimagining of policing. Some are saying it’s not fair  that a darker skinned woman would never get the nod because of unconscious bias. Others worry that America is not ready to give any Black woman such proximity to the office of the presidency, especially one who is in an interracial marriage.  Still others are angry over a specific policy or misstep the Senator from California has made during her career as a prosecutor or in public office. I admit I myself have issues with decisions or policies Harris has embraced in the past (her truancy policy while San Francisco D.A. is one example.) But I am more than ready to lift her up now and do all that I can to help her get elected as the first woman to work in the top jobs in the white house as a leader, not a spouse. Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Alicia Garza said in a recent article “representation is important -and it’s up to us to match symbol with substance.” 

So here are a few reasons why I am giving my full support to Senator Kamala Harris. Maybe I can help you with your own attitude adjustment or even get you to the point of being actually inspired to fight and to win.

First of all. Harris is an highly qualified and extremely intelligent candidate. She is a rock star – charismatic, photogenic, cool under pressure, with prosecutorial skills used to brilliant effect when grilling the likes of William Barr or Brett Kavanaugh. These things will serve her well as a candidate  and on the job.  She is an attorney who also holds a degree from a strong HBCU – Howard University – an institution that has it’s own storied track record of activism. She has acted as Attorney General for the most populous state in the union, a state that is larger than many countries,  giving her the administrative experience to handle the job. She was born in Oakland California and has a Bay Area background that undoubtedly means she has been exposed to progressive ideas at a level not common among our nations top tier leaders. And let’s not underestimate her upbringing as the daughter of civil rights activists. That runs deep. And that will surely play a part in her orientation should she rise to the office of the Vice Presidency. Kamala Harris has evolved on many of the issues she was criticized for early in her career, as our country has,  and continues to evolve. From that perspective, she is in step with our nation’s better impulses.

Lastly, it is our job as progressives to push Senator Kamala Harris, and former Vice President Joe Biden, and the entire congress to the left. I truly believe that had we been marching, and consciousness-raising, and using our economic clout the way we are now, President Barack Obama (even though he is a centrist) could have delivered much more to progressive America in general and the Black community in particular. We will need to keep the pressure on, demand accountability and continue to show up the way we are showing up in 2020.

I urge you to let Black women have our moment and our movement – we have certainly more than it earned within the Democratic party and these United States. We deserve whatever joy and progress this historic decision affords us.

It is time to set our differences and critiques aside and make history. It is time to  go full throttle towards victory. Just as Jesse Jackson and others opened the door for Barack Obama, Shirley Chislom and the powerful Black women voters of the Democratic party opened the door for Kamala Harris.  We called on Biden to choose a Black woman and he has done just that. We called on Senator Harris to embrace a progressive platform and she is supporting policies and concepts from the progressive agenda. 

It’s time for us to unite and move forward to put a Black woman in the white house. If you don’t do it for yourself,  do if for your mama, your grandma or your daughter. Or do it for Charlotta Bass.