‘We could possibly turn Mississippi blue’: Black women in MS rally around Kamala Harris

“I see her as someone different.”

With just over 100 days until the 2024 Presidential Election, Kamala Harris took over President Joe Biden’s place as the expected Democratic candidate after the sitting President dropped out of the race Sunday, July 21.

If elected, Harris would not only become the first woman to serve as United States President, but also the first Black woman and South Asian woman in the role.

Black women throughout Mississippi have rallied around Harris since her Sunday announcement to run. Both political figures and community members feel Harris would much better represent their rights over Republican Candidate and former president Donald Trump.

Some Democrats hope Harris is the key in securing Black voters and women voters, two groups that showed dwindling support for Biden’s campaign during its final weeks.

Harris’ campaign has already kicked it into high gear in regard to securing womens’ votes. On Tuesday, the “KamalaHQ” Instagram account posted a video showing pictures of Harris and Trump overlaid with lyrics from artist Chappell Roan’s song “femininomenon.”

Harris has been vocal about her support of abortion rights, another key issue that may persuade women to cast their ballots in November.

On Sunday evening, 44,000 Black women throughout the nation joined a Zoom call hosted by the collective “Win With Black Women.” The call exceeded expectations and raised $1.6 million for Harris’ campaign in under four hours.

Hattiesburg City Council Member Deborah Delgado was one of the women on that Zoom call. Delgado said she supports Harris for one simple reason: she’s qualified.

“(Harris) has a record of supporting issues that are of concern to me as a Black woman and as an elected official,” Delgado said. “A lot of times, government makes decisions or puts policies in place that are not always in the best interest of the people that we’re supposed to represent. I see her as somebody different.”

Mississippi in recent presidential elections leans red. While unlikely to tip the scale blue, Delgado said it’s still important to vote.

“Every election is important,” Delgado said. “It’s not just the people at the top of the ticket, but certainly as a Black woman, I’m mostly motivated by her being at the top of the ticket. I know if we have someone with her capabilities at the top of the government of this country, that we’re going to be better and things are going to change in a big way.”

Delgado said she hopes the next few months leading up to November include a robust campaign from Harris.

“I hope that people who have historically not been excited about voting get the excitement that we need, that we just create a movement that’s going to make us victorious in November,” Delgado said.

Mississippi Dist. 69, State Rep. Tamarra Bulter-Washington, D, shared similar sentiments about Harris’ long resume as district attorney and a former U.S. Senator from California.

Butler-Washington added another crucial trait in Harris’ campaign: “She’s relatable.”

“I truly believe that she will be fighting for the people, and not just certain people, but all citizens of the United States,” said Butler-Washington, who was eating in a restaurant in Chicago on Sunday when her husband looked at his phone and told her Biden had endorsed Harris. She said she was “elated” to hear the news.

“That spoke volumes because that means that the president himself, our current sitting president, believes in her and believes she can run this country and believes she can do it right,” Butler-Washington said.

The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus held a town hall meeting in Jackson Monday evening. Butler-Washington attended after flying back from Chicago earlier that day. During that meeting, the Caucus officially endorsed Harris as the Democratic nominee.

“We had people of all ages that were there,” Butler-Washington said. “I heard the excitement in their voices … I’ve heard more people talk about a push to mobilize not just African Americans to get out and vote, but everyone to get out and vote in this election. It is imperative that we vote.”

Cassandra Welchlin serves as executive director of the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable. While the Jackson-based organization is non-partisan and does not endorse specific candidates, Welchlin did emphasize the general need for representation.

“Our efforts ensure that Black women have a voice at the policy tables that impact our kitchen tables,” Welchlin said. “Representation matters.”

The buzz of Harris’ campaign has been evident in the local Jackson community, Butler-Washington said. She said most of the chatter has been positive and bursting with excitement.

When asked why voting for Harris is important even in a red state like Mississippi, Butler-Washington said, “We could possibly turn Mississippi blue.”

“We have come so far in regards to all economic inequalities — health care, criminal justice reform, and on women’s health issues,” Butler-Washington said.

Along with securing votes with Black voters and women voters, Harris has aimed her campaign toward Generation Z.

Washington said that demographic is crucial. When discussing Project 2025, she predicted Gen Z won’t accept similar projects “as easily as maybe our parents did or our grandparents.”

“(Young voters) have a voice, and they want to be able to project their voice,” Butler-Washington said. “They want to be able to participate with this process.”

Harris could potentially bring representation to groups historically marginalized within the White House: women and people of color.

“As an African American woman in the Mississippi Legislature, my support undoubtedly is for our Vice President Kamala Harris as the candidate for our upcoming presidential election,” Butler-Washington said. “I am proud to see that we as women are making strides in politics, that we are making all women — Black, white, Asian, Latino — we’re all making strides in politics.”