Former President Barack H. Obama speaks up for DEI, former VP Kamala Harris encourages courage
Yes, she 'told you so' but she also said 'courage is contagious'
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I have been hearing over and over again from anonymous accounts with random stock images that people should be “brave.” Yeah, so brave that you created an account under a hidden display so your employer, your family and your friends don’t know who you are. Real superhero energy.
And these “brave” accounts are people swearing that they’ll never speak nor vote for the former President Barack H. Obama (who already served both terms and Executive Order 14215 wants him to serve a third term even less than his own wife). They also claim they won’t vote for former Vice President Kamala Harris (although she has yet to say if she would run again and was disrespected by far too many non-voters in her second run as president — while still making history with the third highest votes ever in the U.S.).
I can’t speak for anyone but myself. However, I thought neither of these two attorneys and politicians owed us a damn thing, especially considering the same superhero anonymous accounts act like Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush aren’t alive, well and have working mouths. Why are the two minority politicians the only ones you demand speak on command?
I admit that I couldn’t wait to hear what former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had to say about the Signal chaos, especially after all my frustration in a newsroom while having to proofread pointless “her emails” posts. Hillary had every right to point out that using a non-secure messaging channel and not even bothering to triple check the recipients was “dangerous” and “just dumb.” And I like how bent out of shape Trump gets when people are still asking him about Signal, complaining it’s a “wasted story” and demanding journalists “don’t bring that up again.”
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But I wasn’t waiting to hear from Harris or Obama. They worked to exhaustion going around the nation and the Democratic National Convention trying to avoid Trump getting re-elected. What more do you want them to say that they haven’t already said? My attitude has been that people need to redirect their anger from Harris’ silence and Obama’s silence to their MAGA relatives and non-voters. Stop waiting for somebody to talk to the people in your neighborhood and family tree. You talk to them.
Former President Barack H. Obama breaks his silence
While I was just fine being entertained when he accidentally photobombed two kids standing next to cherry blossoms, Obama did speak up recently at Hamilton College about law firms, universities and vocal, wealthy people who scrambled away from the fight for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Former Vice President Kamala Harris broke her silence
And while anonymous users gripe about Harris laughing with a crowd about (not) saying “I told you so,” what they’re not pointing out is how quickly she returned to her messaging about how “courage is contagious” and how we shouldn’t give up. It was a similar theme when she spoke at the NAACP Image Awards, reminding people that she hasn’t gone anywhere.
And I respect what she’s saying, even if she took a moment to laugh to keep from crying. I still don’t feel entitled for her to speak for me or for any other voter — especially those who betrayed her and didn’t support either one of them. But a small part of me understands why people need a glimmer of hope — even when her own husband is getting betrayed at a law firm he partnered with during the same month Trump returned to the Oval Office. She’s got other obstacles on her plate and in her home. I hope she and Doug Emhoff can make the best financial and wellness decision for their household.
Recommended Read: “Over 500 law firms sign brief backing Perkins Coie suit against Trump”
Senator Cory Booker was the voice I didn’t know I needed
Besides House Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Senator Cory Booker is the only person who I would listen to talk for 25 hours, even interrupting other members of Congress who were trying to give him a speaking break. I understand why voters needed someone on the Democrats’ side to publicly speak all the things we’d been saying on a smaller platform.
But I still have the same views when it comes to speaking up. The results come down to you voting, you talking to other people who vote, you voting in midterm elections in addition to presidential elections, and you not just complaining about who needs to leave a political party (although I won’t miss a few if they depart).
Volunteer. Donate. Vote. Sign petitions. Attend productive protests. Sit in town halls. Share progress from your own local politicians. Remind people about the lawsuits that have been won — and Democrats fighting for our rights in court. Do your part. Stop waiting for everybody else to do it. Stop waiting for everyone else to be your mouthpiece. The only person who stands in a voting booth and makes that final decision on your ballot is you. Act like it.
Did you enjoy this post? You’re also welcome to check out my Substack columns “Black Girl In a Doggone World,” “BlackTechLogy,” “Homegrown Tales,” “I Do See Color,” “One Black Woman’s Vote” and “Window Shopping” too. Thanks for reading!