Black women among Delaware DNC delegation reflect on Kamala Harris nomination

At the convention Tuesday night, delegates danced along as DJ Cassidy played special songs repping that state or territory as they announced the delegate count supporting Harris. Delaware’s jam was “Higher Love” by Kygo and Whitney Houston, a Biden 2020 campaign go-to.

“It was essentially a dance party,” Marshall said. “They were dancing, cheering each other, but as you watched every delegation get on the screen and announce their votes, one of the things that struck me were how many Black women were running state parties, how many Black women were key to state parties, and how many elected Black women from all levels were involved in these delegations and in announcing those votes.”

Marshall said seeing more Black women out front and in leadership positions is the result of the last several decades, when Black women have been working on political campaigns in order to get to places where they might be able to influence their communities and make a difference.

Delaware State House Majority Whip Kerri Harris said the state Democratic delegation, like the state legislature, has gotten more diverse over the past few years.

“I was speaking with a delegate from another state today, and they were talking about how we don’t even have to mention diversity, because it’s just here and nobody even thinks about it anymore,” she said. “Diversity of thought, diversity of geography, diversity of stances, we are the big tent party and we’ve really started to encompass this and it’s just been a beautiful thing.”

At-large delegate Cherise Alexander said she attended the Women’s, Black and Environmental caucuses this week to voice her concern on issues important to her, including reproductive rights, workplace discrimination and quality drinking water in Black neighborhoods.

She said it’s about time that Black women are finally being seen.

“I’m just so happy that we are at a point in our country where people are beginning to recognize the value that Black women have and our ability,” Alexander said. “They are willing to help support and to recognize that it’s not just going to be beneficial for Black women, but it’s going to be beneficial for the country as a whole.”