I, along with an estimated 20 million plus viewers each night and almost 30 million viewers on the final night, sat glued to my television Monday through Thursday, August 19th-22nd, watching the Democratic National Convention where Vice President Kamala Harris made history as the first “Black and South Asian Woman” to be nominated by her party for the office of President of the United States!
In addition to that fact, which made this convention historic, it was a pure joy to watch—from the innovative roll call of each state and U.S. territory as they pledged their delegates to Kamala to songs being spun by DJ Cassidy who, to quote a viewer “brought country, rock, rap, and soul to politics”—to Lil Jon’s and Oprah’s surprise appearances—to each night’s marquis lineup of speakers who were a virtual Who’s Who of our country’s elected officials past and present, renown leaders from various walks of life and regular people like you and me with important stories to share, like the brave husbands and wives who spoke about the impact abortion bans have had on their lives to representatives of the “Central Park Five,” now referred to as the “Exonerated Five,” who were innocent teenagers when Donald Trump led the charge against them in an $85,000 ad campaign under the headline, “Bring Back The Death Penalty. Bring Back Our Police!” calling for them to be executed. Night after night, these speakers spoke to our multifaceted democratic country.
Hope was in the air again and we were unabashedly joyful and we cheered out loud—even if we were alone in our living rooms—or bedrooms—as we listened to speeches well into the night. Here are some selected highlights from a few of the female speakers who not only inspired us but, more importantly, called us to action.
Kamala Harris — “Do Something About It!”
“My mother was a brilliant, five-foot-tall, brown woman with an accent. And, as the eldest child, I saw how the world would sometimes treat her. But she never lost her cool. She was tough. Courageous. A trailblazer in the fight for women’s health. And she taught Maya and me a lesson that Michelle mentioned the other night—She taught us to never complain about injustice. But…do something about it. She also taught us—Never do anything half-assed. That’s a direct quote.
We are the heirs to the greatest democracy in the history of the world. And on behalf of our children and grandchildren, and all those who sacrificed so dearly for our freedom and liberty, we must be worthy of this moment. It is now our turn to do what generations before us have done. Guided by optimism and faith, to fight for this country we love. To fight for the ideals we cherish. And to uphold the awesome responsibility that comes with the greatest privilege on Earth. The privilege and pride of being an American. So, let’s get out there and let’s fight for it. Let’s get out there and let’s vote for it. And together, let us write the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told. Thank you. God bless you. May God bless the United States of America.”
Hillary Clinton —
“Don’t Get Distracted or Complacent”
“In 1972, a fearless black congresswoman named Shirley Chisholm, she ran for President. And her determination let me and millions of others dream bigger. Not just because of who she was, but because of who she fought for: working parents, poor children, the last, the least, and the lost.
In 1984, I brought my daughter to see Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman nominated for vice president. If we can do this, Gerry said, we can do anything.
And then there was 2016, when it was the honor of my life to accept our party’s nomination for President. And nearly 66 million Americans voted for a future where there are no ceilings on our dreams.
And afterwards, we refused to give up on America. Millions marched. Many ran for office. We kept our eyes on the future.
Well, my friends, the future is here.
Together, we’ve put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling. And tonight, tonight’s so close to breaking through once and for all.
Don’t get distracted or complacent. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Volunteer. Be proud champions for the truth and for the country that we all love.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez —
“We Will Not Go Back”
“Six years ago, I was taking omelet orders as a waitress in New York City. I didn’t have health insurance. My family was fighting off foreclosure and we were struggling with bills after my dad passed away unexpectedly from cancer.
Like millions of Americans, we were just looking for an honest shake and we were tired of a cynical politics that seem blind to the realities of working people. It was then only through the miracles of democracy and community that the good people of the Bronx and Queens chose someone like me to elect them in Congress.
In Kamala Harris, I see a leader who understands. I see a leader with a real commitment to a better future for working families. And Chicago, we have to help her win because we know that Donald Trump would sell this country for a dollar if it meant lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends. And I, for one am tired of hearing about how a two-bit union buster thinks of himself as more of a patriot than the woman who fights every single day to lift working people out from under the boots of greed trampling on our way of life.
Ever since I got elected, Republicans have attacked me by saying that I should go back to bartending. But let me tell you, I’m happy to, any day of the week because there is nothing wrong with working for a living. Imagine having leaders in the White House who understand that, leaders like Kamala and Tim. But Chicago, just because the choice is clear to us does not mean that the path will be easy.
America, when we knock on our neighbor’s door, organize our communities and elect Kamala Harris to the presidency on November 5th, we will send a loud message that the people of this nation will not go back. We choose a new path and open the door to a new day, one that is for the people and by the people.”
Michelle Obama —
“Do Something.”
“Something, something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn’t it? Yeah.
You know, we’re feeling it here in this arena, but it’s spreading all across this country we love. A familiar feeling that’s been buried too deep for far too long. You know what I’m talking about. It’s the contagious power of hope, the anticipation, the energy, the exhilaration of once again being on the cusp of a brighter day. The chance to vanquish the demons of fear, division, and hate that have consumed us and continue pursuing the unfinished promise of this great nation. The dream that our parents and grandparents fought and died and sacrificed for. America, hope is making a comeback.
Kamala Harris and I built our lives on those same foundational values. Even though our mothers grew up an ocean apart, they shared the same belief in the promise of this country. That’s why her mother moved here from India at 19. It’s why she taught Kamala about justice, about the obligation to lift others up, about our responsibility to give more than we take. She’d often tell her daughter: “Don’t sit around and complain about things. Do something.”
So, no matter how good we feel tonight or tomorrow or the next day, this is going to be an uphill battle. So, folks, we cannot be our own worst enemies. No. See, because the minute something goes wrong, the minute a lie takes hold, folks, we cannot start wringing our hands. We cannot get a Goldilocks complex about whether everything is just right. And we cannot indulge our anxieties about whether this country will elect someone like Kamala instead of doing everything we can to get someone like Kamala elected. ■
