On a certain Saturday that falls on February 22, a not-so-deserving individual by the name of Kamala Harris was presented with an award at the NAACP Image Awards which took place at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles. The accolade, belonging to the category of Chairman’s Prize, was traditionally conferred upon those who excelled in public service and were able to utilize their unique platforms to drive meaningful change, as documented by the organization’s website. For reasons unknown, this award landed into Harris hands that evening.
Apparently, Harris utilized this opportunity to address the spectators as the United States had just endured the first full month under the presidency of Donald Trump – an office she sought but was unable to secure. Harris attempted to inspire the African American individuals present, speaking of a quote, ‘fight for justice, equality and opportunity’.
She audaciously stated, ‘While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter in our American story, this chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the oval office nor by the wealthiest among us. The American story will be written by you.’ Her assumption that the American story could only be written by her audience rather than by individuals of influence and power comes across as dismissive of the crucial roles these figures play in shaping nations.
She melodramatically continued, ‘Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy and ask ‘What do we do now?’ It would appear that Harris revels in dramatics, painting a rather grim picture about the state of affairs in the nation.
In the rest of her addressed she claimed, ‘But we know exactly what to do, because we have done it before. And we will do it again. We use our power. We organize, mobilize. We educate. We advocate.’ Harris failed to recognize the fact that her so-called ‘power’ achieved very little, as revealed in the last Presidential election.
She furthered her speech, ‘Our power has never come from having an easy path. Our strength flows from our faith: faith in God, faith in each other, and our refusal to surrender to cynicism and destruction.’ But as evidenced by the election results, the public did not reciprocate to Harris’s voiced faith and power.
Following the 2024 elections, Kamala Harris hasn’t been all too public about her loss to Donald Trump. Strangely, she doesn’t seem to have much to say about the loss. The silence from Harris has been almost deafening since then.
However, it is noteworthy to mention that Trump, a convicted felon at the time, has been more vocal. He did not shy away from taking potshots at both Harris and her running mate Joe Biden. During a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, he mockingly shared his views about the pair and their handling of the national economy.
At the conference, Trump took a jibe at them narrating, ‘I haven’t said those [names] in a while,’ afterwards using a couple of expletives to further emphasize his point to the conservative crowd, clearly the audience was in agreement and entertained by his criticisms of the 46th president.
It was more than evident that the duo was a point of ridicule in the speech. Trump’s comments served a reminder that the American public had given its verdict against the leadership of Biden and Harris in the last election.
The absurdity of Harris’ stance on public service and Biden’s leadership approach was still in the spotlight, as they were not only rejected once, but twice by the American voters. The outcome of the elections was proof enough of their inability to be effective leaders in service of their country.
The criticisms from Trump only reflected the broader sentiment echoed within the Conservative Political Action Conference as well as the wider American public who could no longer hold faith in Harris and Biden’s promises and capabilities.
Harris and Biden have become symbols of an ineffective leadership approach that has led to their downfall. Their credentials and positions no longer held the charm and confidence of the people who once trusted them.
Their speeches may be filled with grand words and lofty promises, but their actions have been anything but. They are proof that promising a dream and being able to make it a reality are two very different things.
The way events have unfolded, it is difficult to see how their stances could be justified or appreciated. The American public made its decision and stands by it, rejecting the destructive politics and ineffective leadership of Harris and Biden.
The American people had seen through the rhetoric of Harris and Biden. The duo may continue to make their speeches, but the people know better and choose differently. Their silence and lack of actions have said everything that needs to be said.