HELLO CHICAGO!!!!
HEY SIS (& the Brothers who love us)!
We heard some of y’all might be roaming around the internet searching for a rundown on the Democratic National Convention because you had to work, were on the run, or are just too busy to curl up at home with popcorn every night and watch the whole thing. Don’t worry, we got you! Whenever you’re ready, just click that video above and catch the Day 2 proceedings. Among the featured speakers are former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
If you missed Day 1, we got you on that too.
But first … let’s give a nod to the women who are pouring Black Girl Magic all over the Democrats’ big party. Veteran strategist Minyon Moore is in charge of the show as convention chair and there’s a cadre of sisters in the trenches with her. Read all about it in this report by Deborah Barfield Berry of USA Today.
DNC 2024 got off to an action-packed start, so much so that we won’t even try to explain it all right now. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t alert you to what Congress’ queen of alliteration, Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, had to say.
Not only did Crockett serve up another colorful phrase — “will a vindictive vile villain violate voters’ vision?” — she put the resumes of Vice President Kamala Harris and her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, side by side on the jumbotron to illustrate which of the two is more qualified to occupy the White House.
“She’s lived the American dream while he’s been America’s nightmare,” Crockett said. “America, looking at the two choices before you, who would you hire?”
Crockett then shared the story of her first meeting with Harris. Elected in 2022, Crockett arrived in Washington in early 2023 to a House in disarray, trying to choose a new speaker. The chaos made her question her decision to serve in Congress, Crockett said, and she went to the vice president’s residence for her official meeting with Harris with this on her mind.
“We’d never met. but she saw right through me,” Crockett said. “She saw the distress. I immediately began crying. And the most powerful woman in the world wiped my tears and listened.” She said Harris told her, “You are exactly where God wants you. Your district chose you because they believe in you, and so do I.”
Oh who are we fooling with this summary? Click here to watch Crockett’s speech. You can also click the video below to watch the entire opening day program.
DNC Day 1
Must-see speakers include President Joe Biden, 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Sen. Laphonza Butler of California, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
For those of you who are in Chicago for the festivities, swing by the Sisterhood Lounge if you’ve got time. The lounge is set up by the Black Women’s Leadership Collective, a group of Black women-centered organizations. Among the ladies scheduled to gather there: Mayor Tishaura Jones of St. Louis and Black women prosecutors such as Cook County state’s attorney Kim Foxx.
HE’S BAAACK: SHEPARD FAIREY’S KAMALA ART
Remember Shepard Fairey? The artist who gave us the famous Obama “HOPE” poster in 2008? Well he’s back with a similar pop art treatment for Kamala Harris.
Fairey called the image “a tool of grassroots activism” that he created “purely in pursuit of a better future.” He has made the Kamala poster available for free on his website, and included a link where voters can check their registration status ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
“Politics is messy… but messy is no excuse for checking out. Messy is the work and the work can be joyful,” Fairey said.
That’s all for now, but watch this space! We’ll be back soon to take more sisters off mute, one story at a time!
