China Cochran met Kamala Harris at a campaign event in Detroit last year and was swept away by her ambition, charisma and leadership. She hoped the California senator would advance in politics.
So when Joe Biden named Harris on Tuesday as his running mate -- making her the first Black woman on a major party's presidential ticket -- Cochran wasn't just struck by the history. It represented a full-circle moment for Black women, who for generations have fought for their voices to be heard and political aspirations recognized.
"Joe Biden understood this historic moment required a tough, smart and respected public servant," said Donna Brazile, who managed Al Gore's campaign in 2000 and served as Democratic National Committee chair in 2016. Ravi Perry, Howard University's political science chair, said Harris' elevation also represents the first time that a graduate of a historically Black college or university will be represented on the ticket. Harris graduated from the Washington-based university and is a member of the storied Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha.
"While I fully appreciate her scope of responsibilities while she was in that role, I still think she was empowered to stand up more for minorities, and I think it was just a really missed opportunity," she said. "But I absolutely will be voting. We have far too much at stake. And for me, as a mother, I'm frightened and I just feel like another four years with this administration will be catastrophic.
"For some activists, it is important that a Black woman is represented on this ticket, and for other activists, substance is going to be much more important than symbolism," Garza said. "The trick of getting people out to vote will be a successful combination of the two. This is an incredible moment of opportunity, it's a moment that is rife with possibility and I'm still hopeful that this newly announced ticket will rise to meet the moment.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Joe Biden Picks Kamala Harris As His Vice President In 2020 ElectionShe's been a front-runner for the gig for months now.
Read more »
Joe Biden selects California Sen. Kamala Harris as running mateJoe Biden named California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate on Tuesday, making history by selecting the first Black woman to compete on a major party's presidential ticket and acknowledging the vital role Black voters will play in his bid to defeat U.S. President Donald Trump.
Read more »
Biden selects California Senator Kamala Harris as running mateHarris is first Black woman to be on a U.S. presidential ticket
Read more »
In picking Kamala Harris, Joe Biden has answered one major question – but raised several moreIn an effort to defeat an incumbent president without precedent, Mr. Biden made a choice that breaks all precedent
Read more »