By KH Hamilton
What began as a simple text from a dear friend, who asked me to only share the Zoom link with like-minded sisters in support of Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for the White House turned into a late-night Zoom webinar filled with powerful speakers that had over 44,000 participants on the call. In fact, at 11:00 pm, the call had reached 47,000 supporters, which doesn’t even include the 5,000 plus sisters, brothers, and allies who patiently and painstakingly listened on Clubhouse (some folks don’t believe in muting themselves). The strategy call was organized by Win with Black Women’s Founder, Jotaka Eaddy. Additional organizers included Holli Holliday. According to the organization’s website, Win With Black Women are doers – led by the spirit of unity and sisterhood.
The power of their sisterhood and actions was felt on Sunday night when they raised over 1.5 Million dollars in less than two hours. Initially, the call began at 8:30 pm and had already reached its capacity of 1,000 participants. At 8:45 pm, the call grew to 3,000. When it ended at 1:00 am, there were still 44,000 supporters on the call praising the efforts of the organizers and sisters on the call.
Since it was a safe space, I will only name a few people who have already been leaked by the press, including Congresswomen Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX). Other participants revealed to the public were Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile and The View co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro. Additionally, the night was filled with powerful sisters ranging from Civil Rights legacy and celebrity aunties to former presidents of universities. Of course, the Sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated were present to support their soror, VP Harris.
The call was off limits to the press, so I attended as an American Black Muslim Woman mother, educator, and community advocate, who is beyond exhausted with the dynamics of race and politics. Tired of hearing folks who are either overly emotional or new to politics weigh in on how they are going to sit this election out and deal with Trump for another four years since they know what he’s capable of…really? Granted, the pain and heartache of the humanitarian disaster happening in Gaza and Rafah are unbearable, but to allow Trump, the former president who implemented a Muslim Ban, destroyed the Department of Education, placed biased federal judges on benches, and currently supports Project 2025 to win again… really. To allow the man who went from felon to superman overnight to become president again is unacceptable. It’s like playing Russian roulette, especially when our youth’s safety and well-being are at stake.
For me and other sisters, brothers, and allies on the call, pledging our allegiance to support Vice President Kamala Harris’s historical bid to become the Presidential nominee is just the beginning. As of Monday night, July 21, Vice President Harris had secured more than 2500 Delegate pledges for the nomination and raised more than 2 million dollars between the 1.3 million Black women raised on Sunday night and the 1.3 million that more than 1.7 million Black men donors raised on a similar zoom call Monday night with more than 50,000 Black men on the call. The Men’s call was hosted by Roland Martin’s Black Star Network, with he and attorney Bakari Sellers as lead hosts. Our own California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer are on the shortlist. But don’t sleep on progressives like Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX). Despite the tasks ahead, one thing was certain on Sunday night’s call. The majority of Black women who are a force to be reckoned with in the Democratic party are fired up and ready to serve in her campaign as she transitions from Vice President to Madam President of the United States of America. The stakes are high but we, including Black men and many of our Brown, Asian, and White allies are all in.
Visit https://www.winwithblackwomen.org/ for more information on how you can get involved and support the Harris for President campaign.
