CHICAGO — Vice President Kamala Harris made history in the final night of the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night, becoming the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to be a major party’s nominee for President.
Here are three takeaways from the final night of the Democratic National Convention:
Kamala introduces herself to America
Thursday was the most important speech of Harris’ political career. She attempted to introduce herself to the American people, telling her story as a child of immigrants from India and Jamaica and a child of divorce, brought up working class, raised by a mother who dreamed big.
“My mother was a brilliant, five foot tall, brown woman with an accent, and as the eldest child, I saw how the world would sometimes treat her,” Harris said. “But my mother never lost her cool.”
Harris also offered a return to normalcy before Trump, saying Americans do not have to live divided anymore.
“We are not going back,” Harris said, repeatedly, as she has done since entering the race a month ago.
What’s at stake in the election, according to Harris?
She said: “The freedom to live safe from gun violence, in our schools, communities, and places of worship; the freedom to love who you love openly and with pride; the freedom to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live free from the pollution that fuels the climate crisis; and the freedom that unlocks all the others: The freedom to vote.”
Harris wants to be a president of change
The Vice President wants to be a candidate to return to pre-Trump normalcy but also a change from President Joe Biden, attempting to make a name for herself and be her own person.
Biden mentioned democracy 10 times in his speech. Harris mentioned it, but only twice.
“Our nation with this election has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the past,” Harris said, “a chance to chart a new way forward, not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans.”
She did, however, go directly at her Republican rival and blamed him for the fears some women have faced amid the implementation of strict state-level abortion laws.
“In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man,” she said. “But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”
Say her name
Republicans have been mispronouncing Harris’ first name — possibly intentionally. Actress Kerry Washington invited Harris’ two young grandnieces, Amara and Leela Ajagu to show pronouncing Harris’ name is so easy, even children can do it.
“First you say comma, like a comma in a sentence,” Amara said.
Then you go la like la la la,” Leela added.
