On the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Vice President Kamala Harris officially accepted the Democratic nomination, becoming the first Black and Asian woman to win a major party presidential nomination.
“Let’s fight for it. Let’s get out there. Let’s vote for it, and together, let
us write the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told,” Harris said during her acceptance speech on Aug. 22 at the packed United Center.
At the moment history was made, Etta McChristian, a teacher from Chicago, cheered on the candidate she already calls the 47th president: “I am proud to say that I’m a woman. I’m proud of her vision and kudos to the next president.”
McChristian was at a free watch party held at Soldier Field that attracted thousands of people.
“God is who we believe in, but this is the hope for us here on Earth to make the world better than it is,” McChristian said.
Harris formally addressed delegates and attendees for the first time at the convention on Thursday night, Aug. 22, just four weeks after Biden dropped out from the race. President Biden withdrew his bid for reelection and Harris announced her 2024 presidential campaign on July 21.
“On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination to be president of the United States of America,” Harris said during a convention that embraced themes of patriotism, diversity and hope for the future.
Harris previously ran for president in 2019 before dropping out of the race and becoming President Joe Biden’s running mate, making history as the the first female, first African-American and first South Asian vice president.
Thousands of Chicagoans showed up at the Soldier Field watch party, many wearing Harris shirts styled in Shepard Fairey’s famous Obama “Hope” painting and camo hats in honor of Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic Party’s vice presidential candidate. They waved American flags and danced.
Walter Cumnningham, a Chicago resident from the West Loop, wore a blue shirt stating “Madam President” in signature Barbie pink font while waiting for his husband in between musical performances.
Cunningham said he was not surprised by Harris’ nomination because as a Black man “I’ve seen the power of women of color my whole life.”
“Whether it’s my mother, whether it’s my grandmother, whether it’s the women I get to work alongside, work for or work with, so I’m not surprised by this. I’m glad that finally we are recognizing leadership is not only within one gender, one color or one life experience.”
Cunningham said he felt a lot of things but chose to use some of the words he’s heard many of the speakers say in their speeches, “I’m joyful. Optimistic. Hopeful and lets just hope this is life changing, because we’re in the need of a change.”
Other watch party attendees shared similar feelings.
As Allison Perkins waited at the end of the Burger Bar line to order food for her and her family, she said both Harris and Walz bring “new energy” to the Democratic Party.
“They’re both solidly for the people, not just wealthy people. They’re entrenched with regular Americans, people who work and send their children to school,” the Southside resident said. “These things are important to them, just like they are to us.”
Perkins said she has no concerns when it comes to Harris as a presidential candidate. “I lived in California and she was harsh but she was a solid attorney general,” Perkins said.
Perkins said Harris’ nomination sends a message to future generations, as “little girls everywhere will know there is no glass ceiling.”
Before any speakers set foot on stage, Emily Bhandari sat a few rows back waiting for her friend to join her. She said both Harris and Watz point towards a new direction for the Democratic Party.
“I think people seem way more enthusiastic, I mean look at the crowd here,” the South Loop resident said. “I think we can all positively move forward just like they are telling us.”
The event, hosted by the group GoChiLife, saw performances from Chicago rapper Common and The House Chi.
Nadja Skelton, who lives in Chicago, said that as a Black woman who also shares Jamaican ancestry, Harris’ nomination is close to her heart.
“It couldn’t be any better than this,” said Skelton, who is originally from New Jersey. “This is going to be epic. It’s time. It’s her time but she has a lot of work ahead of her. We know that she can do it. We’re going to vote for her.”
With pretzels and drinks in hand, Abby Gordon from Boston, Massachusetts, looked for a seat in the crowd. Gordon was invited to the watch party by her roommate through a text message. “From the moment Biden stepped aside until her nomination, it has set a precedent of letting the youth’s concerns have a spot in our country’s politics,” Gordon said.
Gordon said she feels better about the Harris and Walz ticket compared to a lot of other candidates.
In her acceptance speech, Harris laid out her vision, making pledges on voting rights and reproductive rights. Although she reiterated her support for Israel’s right to defend itself from terrorist attacks, she also pledged to end the war in Gaza.
Harris’ background in politics ties back to her years at Howard University, where she graduated with a degree in political science. During her tenure there, she became a sister of Alpha Kappa Alpha, a sorority part of the “Divine Nine,” a group of historical Black fraternities and sororities which together have more than 2.5 million active members across the country.
During the Biden administration’s time in office, they invested $16 billion in historically Black colleges and universities. When Harris announced her candidacy AKA created its first political action committee, raising $1.5 million on a Zoom call in late July that attracted 44,000 participants.
She also was quickly endorsed by President Biden and other Democratic Party organizations such as Future Forward who secured $150 million in commitments.
AKA International President and CEO Danette Anthony Reed said being an organization mainly composed of Black women, the organization holds a “unique perspective” on Harris’ nomination.
“Her candidacy represents a significant progress in this nation towards women and communities of color, as she embodies the values and aspirations we have long championed,” Reed told the Chronicle in an email interview. “Seeing a woman rise to such a prominent position fills us with pride and hope for a future where diversity and equality are at the forefront of decision-making.”
As a lawyer and politician, Harris served as the U.S. senator for California from 2017 to 2021 and advocated for issues such as economic inequality, health care and climate change.
Reed called Harris’ potential ascension to being commander in chief “a monumental shift in the landscape.”
“This milestone sends a powerful message to society about the exceptional abilities and potential of women of color in leadership positions, opening doors for future generations to follow in her path and contribute to shaping the nation’s political future,” Reed said.
At Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen in the Near West Side neighborhood of Chicago, a crowd of about 40 people fell silent as they watched Harris walk onto the stage at the DNC.
The civic and social organization The Bench held a DNC after-party at the deli where attendees were able to sit and watch Harris’ live speech. Michka Bengio, founder of The Bench, said he aimed to make “politics more accessible” through this event. Manny’s Deli is a common stop for politicians during Election Day, but tonight’s group joined in celebration of the nomination.
On the left side of the deli, Keren Margolis and John Greta sit across from each other. Both from New York City, Margolis is a conservative and Greta, her husband, is a liberal, they said.
Although Margolis does not align politically with the left, she was excited to be a part of the event, she said as she pointed out her green colored “Brat” dress.
On the other side of the table, Greta said Harris at the top of the ticket sets the Democratic party in a productive direction, especially with the political polarization of the country. Greta expressed that while Harris would not be his first pick, the “election between her and Trump couldn’t be easier.”
“She was a prosecutor, she was an attorney general of the biggest state in the country, she was a senator. She’s been vice president. She’s overqualified,” Greta said, “I have faith in a Kamala administration.”
But Margolis said the Harris and Walz ticket “represents a strong alignment with some very leftward radical elements of the Democratic Party.”
Margolis also said Harris hasn’t done much as vice president. “It’s forgotten that she is the incumbent. She is in office right and yet the things she said she’s going to fix could have been fixed during these last four years,” she said.
Seated a few rows away, Gabby Vice-Lamonica of New Jersey came to Chicago specifically for the DNC. She clapped as Harris walked off stage and said she felt excited, especially about Walz as a running mate.
“I have a lot of family in Minnesota and he’s very well liked. He’s doing things like legalizing marijuana, giving kids free lunches and pushing paid medical leave,” she said.
Vice-Lamonica said Harris’ nomination sends a message of hope to future generations.
“I do think she’s someone who cares a lot. She’s willing to come to the table with people and I think she’s proven that over and over again,” she said.
Sitting near the back of the deli, Alexander Young flipped through his phone after Harris walked off stage. Wearing a “Creators for Kamala Harris” sweatshirt, Young stayed with a friend during the convention and expressed his joy over the Harris nomination.
“I went to her college and also to the McDonald’s she worked at. We usually don’t get this human touch from politicians,” the Philadelphia native said. “It’s nice for a regular person who’s more in touch with us rather than other candidates who are in their late 70s.”
Meanwhile at The Resolution Studio, located at 2226 W. Walnut St., almost 1,000 people awaited Harris’ speech on Thursday night. The pop-up event called “Into Act!on 2024” was split between an exhibit with over 200 artists and a common area for watching a livestream from the United Center.
Eunice Shelley, from Robins, Illinois, wanted to see Harris “in action” and support her campaign. She found the issues addressed in the exhibit to be especially powerful next to a watch party.
“All of the art pieces have a very specific message, but they’re so beautiful in of itselves,” she said. “To have art and a message at the same time that’s so powerful at such an important and historic time in our lives. We won’t see this again, so I’m just so grateful to be a part of it, and be able to support it.”
Shelly said she feels Harris is trying to redirect this country for the better.
“I have children and grandchildren, and I’m here in support of the future that I know they deserve, as well as Kamala Harris for president,” she said.
Cherrell Anderson, from Chicago, waited to hear Harris speak later in the night.
“I think this is a really huge moment,” Anderson said. “I feel really blessed to be able to witness this, as a Black woman. And this has happened so suddenly, with the sudden resignation of Joe Biden from the race. I think that we all sensed that it might happen, but now that it’s happening it’s like ‘oh my gosh.’”
Additional reporting from Vivian Richey
Copy edited by Trinity Balboa
