Vice President Kamala Harris has rarely discussed her gender or racial identity on the 2024 campaign trail.
But at the Democratic National Convention this week, trailblazing Black women have set the stage for Harris on Thursday to make history as the first Black and South Asian woman to accept a major party’s nomination for president.
First it was Michelle Obama, who despite her aversion to partisan politics reentered the spotlight to back “my girl Kamala Harris.”
In rousing remarks on Tuesday, Obama said she and Harris were similarly raised by mothers who believed in the promise of America and encouraged them to do something for others.
“So, with that voice in her head, Kamala went out and she worked hard in school, graduating from an HBCU, earning her law degree at a state school,” she said. “And then she went on to work for the people, fighting to hold lawbreakers accountable, strengthening the rule of law, fighting to give folks better wages, cheaper prescription drugs, a good education, decent health care, child care, elder care.”
“From a middle-class household, Kamala worked her way up to become vice president of the United States of America,” Obama said, prompting loud applause.
Former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama speaks during Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Aug. 20, 2024.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
The former first lady also had some of the sharpest words yet for Trump on the issue of race, as she reflected on her family being the target of some of his vitriolic rhetoric and warned Harris is likely to face the same.
“For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us,” she said. “See, his limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black. I want to know who’s going to tell him, who’s going to tell him, that the job he is currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?”
“It’s his same old con. His same old con. Doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people’s lives better,” she added.
The following night, television legend Oprah Winfrey made a surprise appearance to endorse Harris. In doing so, Winfrey reinforced Harris’ historic path to the nomination and possibly the presidency.
Her speech included a tribute to Tessie Provost Williams, one of the “New Orleans Four” who helped integrate the city’s public schools in 1960. Williams died earlier this year at the age of 69.
“It was the grace and guts and courage of women like Tessie Prevost Williams that paved the way for another young girl, who nine years later became part of the second class to integrate the public schools in Berkeley, California,” Winfrey said, the other young girl being Harris.
US television host and producer Oprah Winfrey speaks on Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, on Aug. 21, 2024.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
During the 2019 Democratic primary race, Harris famously mentioned her backstory with busing. In one of the most salient moments of her campaign, she sparred with President Joe Biden on stage at the debate about school segregation and busing.
“There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bused to school every day,” Harris said, “and that little girl was me.”
Winfrey framed the election as a series of choices between common sense and nonsense, bitterness and joy.
“Soon and very soon, we’re going to be teaching our daughters and sons about how this child of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, two idealistic, energetic immigrants — how this child grew up to become the 47th President of the United States,” Winfrey said. “That is the best of America.”
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Democratic National Convention, in Chicago, Aug. 19, 2024.
Chicago Tribune/TNS
It remains to be seen if Harris plays on similar themes as she accepts the nomination on Thursday, which will mark the biggest speech of her political career.
Among her key objectives for the address, a campaign official said, is to share her personal story as well as her professional background.
The official said Harris will root her optimism about the future in her faith in the American people.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama and media mogul Oprah Winfrey have long been trailblazers in their respective fields, breaking barriers and inspiring millions of people around the world. Now, they are paving the way for another historic moment as Senator Kamala Harris accepts the nomination to be the Democratic vice presidential candidate.
Michelle Obama, who made history as the first African American First Lady of the United States, has been a powerful advocate for women and girls, using her platform to promote education, health, and equality. Her memoir “Becoming” became a bestseller and inspired countless women to embrace their own stories and strive for their dreams. Throughout her time in the White House, she showed grace, intelligence, and compassion, setting a high standard for future leaders.
Oprah Winfrey, known for her groundbreaking talk show and media empire, has also been a champion for women’s rights and social justice. She has used her influence to shine a light on important issues and support causes that empower marginalized communities. Her endorsement of Senator Harris is a significant moment in the political landscape, as it signals the support of a powerful figure who has the ability to reach a wide audience.
Senator Kamala Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian descent, is making history as the first woman of color to be nominated for vice president by a major political party. Her background as a prosecutor and senator has prepared her for this moment, and her strong voice on issues such as criminal justice reform, healthcare, and immigration has resonated with many Americans. By choosing her as his running mate, former Vice President Joe Biden has shown a commitment to diversity and inclusion in his campaign.
The support of Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey for Senator Harris is significant not only because of their influence but also because of what it represents for women and people of color in politics. By standing behind Senator Harris, they are sending a message that leadership should reflect the diversity of the country and that women are capable of holding positions of power and influence.
As Senator Harris accepts the nomination and prepares for the upcoming election, she is carrying the hopes and dreams of many who see her as a symbol of progress and change. With the support of trailblazers like Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, she is poised to make history once again and inspire future generations to follow in her footsteps.
