At Tuesday night’s convention, delegates danced along as DJ Cassidy played special songs representing each state or territory while announcing the number of delegates supporting Harris. Delaware’s hit was “Higher Love” by Kygo and Whitney Houston, one of the most popular songs of the 2020 Biden campaign.
“It was basically a dance party,” Marshall said. “They were dancing and cheering each other on, but as I watched each delegation appear on the screen and announce their votes, it struck me how many Black women were leading state parties, how many Black women were playing key roles in the state parties, and how many elected Black women from all levels were involved in those delegations and in announcing those votes.”
Marshall said the fact that there are more black women in leadership positions is the result of the last few decades of black women participating in political campaigns to get to where they could influence and make a difference in their communities.
Delaware House Majority Leader Kerri Harris said the state’s Democratic delegation, as well as the state legislature, has become more diverse over the past few years.
“I was talking to a delegate from another state today and they were talking about how we don’t even need to mention diversity because it’s just there and nobody thinks about it anymore,” she said. “Diversity of thought, diversity of geography, diversity of viewpoints, we’re the big tent party and we’ve really started to embrace that and it’s just a wonderful thing.”
Delegate without portfolio Cherise Alexander said she attended the Women, Blacks and Environmentalists caucuses this week to voice her concerns about issues important to her, such as reproductive rights, workplace discrimination and the quality of drinking water in black neighborhoods.
She said it was time for black women to finally be recognized.
“I’m just so happy that we’re at a point in our country where people are starting to recognize the value of black women and our abilities,” Alexander said. “They’re willing to help and realize that this isn’t just for black women, it’s for the whole country.”
