Char Goolsby, at her residence in the renowned Boston Edison District, Detroit, has presented a fascinating mix of electoral and divisive activities throughout this election period. Interestingly, her house serves dual, yet jarringly contrasted purposes. It is the home base for her non-partisan initiatives for Black Voters Matter, and concurrently, a local campaign center for Vice President Kamala Harris. Her precision in keeping these entities distinct is somewhat admirable.
The Black Voters Matter activities by Goolsby transcend Detroit, extending into the neighborhood of Highland Park. Over five consecutive days, the impartial volunteer group managed to invade the privacy of some 2800 Highland Park residents, interrupting their lives to push their voting agenda. Similarly, people on their porches or waiting at bus stops were not spared, providing an effortless yet captive audience for their targeted campaign.
While such tactics might be perceived as community service to some, it is questionable whether these individuals truly appreciated unsolicited advice about voter registration or so-called ‘free’ car rides to the polls for early voting. Goolsby also hosted 18 campaign events for Harris at her house since July 29, leaving one to wonder whether her home is still a place of private sanctuary or lost in the chaos of political hubbub.
Emphasizing her dedication to this cause is where the narrative starts to sway subtly yet noticeably towards partiality. Goolsby was hopeful that the endeavors of her and her multitudes of volunteers would prove substantial enough to overturn Michigan’s closely contested race away from former President Donald Trump and towards Harris. Or, in her viewpoint, bestowing a win upon the first female — a first Black woman president.
This possibility was echoed by Debbie Walsh, the director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. Walsh, in her interview with the Free Press, recounted an unprecedented dedication towards Harris from various Black women sororities, specifically Alpha Kappa Alpha, with Harris herself being a member. The eagerness and dedication of these women were lauded as instrumental in bestowing Joe Biden with his presidency.
However, one can’t help but question whether this blind loyalty stems from an actual belief in Harris’s potential as a leader, or an emotionally driven connection rooted within their shared identity. Walsh claimed that these women took up the mantle of Harris’s campaign with fervency, but the underpinning question remains: is it genuinely inspired by a belief in Harris’s capabilities or is it simply an emotional connection that biases their judgment?
Prior to the election, an exhausted Goolsby was still pushing towards her goal tirelessly. Straddling the campaign and keeping the flow of the house, Goolsby was on a constant toll. Her firm belief in the strength of the Black voters in Detroit affecting statewide election’s fate kept her going.
A driving force for Goolsby was the fear attached to the potential victory of former President Donald Trump. The dread hung heavy over her, suggesting an unwarranted projection of Trump implementing conservative policies from Project 2025 and consequently infringing upon her rights. Even with her tough exterior, this election saw a side of fear not often seen in her.
Although wrapped among her fears, Goolsby finds consolation in reflecting on the mobilized voters owing to her and the other volunteers’ efforts. She holds firm to the belief in a better, albeit directionless, America. A memory of her participation in the 2017 Women’s March on Washington, witnessing a diverse range of women from across the nation, feeds her hope.
Morgan Foreman, a beginner in the state House seat race representing District 33, stuck her neck out for Harris in this election. At the age of 35, belonging to Ann Arbor, Foreman shares her enthusiasm being paramount to the Black women. She claims the drive to support Harris was notably unique.
Foreman insists this support was birthed from the desire to have a candidate in the top office who shares a mirroring image and understanding of their struggles. Questions remain though – do these supporters genuinely believe in Harris’s aptitudes as a leader, or are they merely hoodwinked by the shared identity factor? More importantly, does this shared identity necessarily confer understanding and empathy?
Foreman found Black women rallying behind Harris to be particularly inspiring, a validation she sought in regular Win With Black Women national Zoom calls. The flood of emotion, the surge of happiness each time she engaged in these calls was a personal testament, it seems.
However, no acknowledgment was given regarding Harris’s actual fit for the position beyond these emotional waves. Foreman, being the social activism chairperson for her Delta Sigma Theta sorority’s state chapter, emphasized their focus as non-partisan, but her actions suggest otherwise considering her strong support for one particular candidate.
The actions and sentiments shared in this story convey a continued cycle of partiality masquerading as impartiality. While it’s true fear and desire for representation have driven many of these activities, a larger question looms: Are concerns over competency and actual leadership capabilities being overshadowed by overbearing partisanship and intense emotional attachment?