In the American dynamics, Black women have held a distinctive, albeit undermined, role since the beginning. Chronicled by Paula Giddings, Black women have remained entwined in the progress of racial and women’s rights. Still, their endeavors are habitually eclipsed by the deeds of Black men and white women. Ambitiously, in 2024, there was a presumption that the nation was ready to celebrate this historic narrative by selecting a prominent and accomplished Black woman to address the nation’s challenges.
Political diversity is inherent in any democratic community, and the case of Black women is no different. Many of us were hoping for substantial debates and legitimate cross-examinations of the track record of Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee. Unfortunately, the discourse drifted toward questioning her racial identity, personal history, intellectual acumen, and capacity for leadership with deceptive narratives.
Presently, we’re trudging through the aftermath of an electoral catastrophe despite persistent efforts, activism, and invocations from Black women. The fundamental pillars such as democracy, free speech, economic equilibrium, human rights, environmental justice, civil and LGBTQ+ rights, peace, and the sanctity of the constitution, all appear in jeopardy. The current tide inclines to undermine what I strongly advocate for, and I’m aware this critique comes with personal risks.
Our expectations were rooted in the belief that voters would sidestep an adversarial temperament and volatility associated with Harris’ opponent, even if Harris wasn’t their favored choice. We aimed to shine a light on her many strengths, surpassing her all too human flaws. The first Black woman nominated for the presidency by a major political party faced a torrent of character assassination. There was a widespread understanding that she’d have to be exceptional to seem nearly equivalent to her male counterparts, especially given the glaring incompetencies and threats associated to her seemingly unfit competitor.
The possible understanding of others toward the existing threats was something we banked on. Surely, immigrants would perceive the looming danger of a president vocalizing massive deportations. And definitely, white women would identify the confrontational tone of a campaign engrossed in misogyny, while young Black and brown voters would sense the amplified risk within a presidency promising to suppress protests with military might.
In the face of these apparent truths, we remained hopeful that polls were erroneous and Harris would secure a sweeping victory. Paradoxically, the obsession with being correct can sometimes blind and debilitate even the sharpest among us. The hollow reward of ‘I told you so’ becomes nothing more than a reminder of past errors.
With every disturbing news report, the imprint of electoral missteps becomes more pronounced. It might appear tempting to recline and witness the incurring damage to America. An understandable exhaustion coupled with depleted resources makes such a stance seem appealing. Eventually, however, we must remind ourselves of our nurturing role, acknowledging that our communities and we, ourselves, are headed for challenging times.
Over 75 million Americans had cast their vote for Harris, sharing our disappointment. Over 10 million demoralized citizens, from diverse backgrounds, either opted out of voting or chose a third-party candidate, disillusioned by the deeply divided political scene. Many of these are among the most susceptible in our society.
In a country that aims for justice, we would attentively listen to their worries, and address them accordingly. As we congregate together in unity, we can hope to elevate together, and reconstruct America into a shelter of inclusive prosperity.
The experiences and wisdom of generations of grandmothers, aunts, and cousins have shaped me and other women in my life like sisters, cousins, daughters, nieces, neighbors, and friends. We are intelligent, strong, resilient, generous, and loving. And in 2025, we endure the raw pain of our ancestors who dared to dream and believe that our lives mattered, that our undisputed sacrifices resonated, and we were appraised accurately – as the most capable leaders, most insightful arbiters, and most reliable members of society.
The futile attempts to smear Kamala Harris only serve to expose the irrelevance and redundancy of those advocates. Their inability to appreciate the numerous attributes Kamala possesses, ranging from intelligence to leadership, illuminates their narrow perspective.
This narrow perspective, which fails to see veracity and is glued to malign narratives, only exacerbates the grave misstep of not electing someone capable like Kamala. When individuals resort to questioning the racial identity and personal history of a candidate instead of their leadership abilities, it highlights the skewed priorities that plagued the electoral process.
Facing the aftermath of such an election, the question becomes just how in danger our democracy and fundamental pillars like free speech, economic stability, and human rights, among others, are. Perhaps the true calamity lies within the continued erosion of these ideals that we ought to hold dear, and the malicious deductions now seeking to discredit voices that speak up.
As we reflect on the character assassination first Black woman nominated for presidency was subjected to, we realize the daunting hurdles societal prejudices insist on placing for candidates like Harris. That she was anticipated to be more than exceptional also exposes the heavy-handed bias that plays against female candidates, amusingly enough, especially when compared to grossly unfit male counterparts.
That the threat of mass deportations, entrenched misogyny, and suppression of protests through militarism did not sway voters enough is a commentary on the fragile state of our nation’s consciousness. It is indeed a reflection of the disappointingly myopic understanding of the current reality.
Out of the ashes of this electoral misfortune, it’s vital to remember the potential strength of unity in discerning our future course. If the despair of more than ten million disaffected Americans or the shared disappointment of over seventy-five million other voters is any indication, we are far from a truly just America. As we look to the future, we must also recommit to dignifying each other’s experiences and sharing the burden of leading this nation towards a more equitable trajectory.