Kamala Harris launches her presidential bid with unprecedented fundraising success and a groundswell of diverse grassroots support, echoing the organizing power of Barack Obama’s historic campaigns (Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr).
Vice President Kamala Harris officially began her presidential campaign this past week…and it’s safe to say she is on a roll and on her way!
Within the first 24 hours of the news that outgoing President Joe Biden endorsed her to become the new 2024 Democratic nominee, Vice President Harris broke online fundraising records by raising approximately $81 million.
And in the days that followed, a vibrant, diverse grassroots coalition quickly organized around the Harris campaign. Groups like Black Women for Harris, Black Men for Harris, White Women for Harris, White Guys for Harris, Asian-Americans for Harris, and many others came into formation. Organizers had to contact Zoom for more bandwidth because some calls attracted 160,000 participants or more!
Many of my friends were on the Black Men for Harris call. Even in this virtual setting, the energy around this campaign — this movement — is palpable.
As someone who comes from an organizing background, I could not help but be reminded of the campaign of our first Black president and the vibrant, diverse grassroots movement that both elected and eventually re-elected him to the White House.
In 2008, I had the honor of serving as a delegate at the Democratic Convention in Denver, Colorado. In 2012, I served as the D.C.-area District Director for President Obama’s re-election campaign.
Both experiences and the many campaign rallies and gatherings I took part in further validated my already firmly held belief that the power of organizing can change our communities, nation and indeed the world, for the better.
Barack Obama also hailed from a community-organizing background. This experience helped shape the inclusion-focused and people-powered movement he started, which powered his two historic election victories and enabled him to make lasting changes for our nation, including the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
President Obama presented an inspiring vision to our nation. And the movement he built around that, on the power of organizing, helped him defy his doubters and make history. I see this same vision, the same “audacity of hope” in Vice President Harris and the movement she is building.
I honestly haven’t seen this same kind of energy, enthusiasm and hope in a presidential campaign since President Obama’s.
Barack and Michelle must see it, too. They recently announced their support of Vice President Harris, further boosting a campaign skyrocketing into orbit.
After nearly a decade of Trumpism—which has further infected and inflamed our already oft-divisive politics—it’s clear that many Americans from all backgrounds are ready to turn the page. We proved that in 2020 with President Biden’s defeat of Donald Trump.
Now, it’s up to us to ensure that Trump is shown the door—once again and once and for all—with the peaceful but unequivocal power of the ballot, the power of our vote and the power of our collective voice.
For decades, Black Americans, like Vice President Harris, have had to fight for democracy for our communities, including for our right to vote.
When he was first a candidate, many people did not believe Barack Obama could overcome America’s well-documented and undeniable history and legacy of racism to reach its highest office.
But, propelled by his movement of hope, he did just that—and got re-elected, too!
Today, because of this same history—which unfortunately repeated itself with Trump’s rise—many share that same doubt about Vice President Harris, who has the extra obstacle of breaking America’s highest and hardest glass ceiling: to become its first woman president (and Black woman president and woman president of Asian descent).
While I certainly cannot guarantee that America will not fall back into its old and much more recent ways, the past week’s events have given me hope. The same hope that helped us make history before.
In the coming days, weeks, and months, I am determined to do whatever I can to help Vice President Harris — and her vibrant, diverse grassroots movement — shatter that glass ceiling.
I hope you will join me!
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