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Opinion: Kamala’s Duende Express and the Grassroots Coalition of the New America

Remember Oakland five years ago when Kamala Harris invoked her Asian mother and announced a run for the presidency. And then came Iowa. She wasn’t ready. She’s ready now. On Monday, Joe Biden, still isolated with Covid, spoke via speaker phone to his campaign staff that early evening to tell them the truth behind his decision.

Published

3 months ago

August 8, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Emil Guillermo

Remember Oakland five years ago when Kamala Harris invoked her Asian mother and announced a run for the presidency.

And then came Iowa. She wasn’t ready.

She’s ready now.

On Monday, Joe Biden, still isolated with Covid, spoke via speaker phone to his campaign staff that early evening to tell them the truth behind his decision.

“I know it’s hard because you’ve poured your heart and soul into me,” Biden told the campaigners who won him the nomination and then the presidency in 2020. But it wasn’t to be in 2024. “I think we made the right decision,” the president said.

The decision to withdraw came Sunday when Biden released a letter on social media with the shocking and historical news.

“The name has changed at the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn’t changed at all,” the president said.

That was essentially the passing of the torch, the flame. Or the passing of “duende”? That’s what Boston Globe columnist George Frazier, one of those who inspired the column form in me, might have called it.

Duende is that charismatic allure that a world class performer has, that makes you constantly want to watch their every move. For a politician to possess it is pure gold.

Biden had it throughout his long political and legislative career. And now, as he steps aside, and allows Harris, his Veep, to step forward, it was clear. She had it too. Duende. And much more of it than anyone ever thought.

Harris addressed the cheering crowd, but was still aware of Biden’s presence. “We love Joe and Jill, we really do,” said Harris.

“It’s mutual,” said Biden cutting in via speaker phone, almost like the Asian Filipino meaning of “duende,” which I’ve known as a spirit in the house, sometimes a helpful, loving one.

“I knew you were still there,” Harris said looking up with a laugh. “You’re not going anywhere, Joe.”

“I’m watching you kid, I love you,” Biden said.

“I love you too,” Harris said, as the crowd cheered and clapped.

That made it official. The torch had been passed.

GOP’S RESPONSE

For the most part Republicans heads’ are still spinning by Harris “duende express.” Some continue to “other” her by mispronouncing her name. It’s KAH-ma-la. Not kah-MAH-la.

Or they’ve just relied on GOP racist rhetoric. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn) called her a “100 percent DEI hire,” a phrase intended to damn “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” But Harris who has distinguished herself as a local district attorney, a state attorney general, a U.S. Senator and a U.S. vice president, has the resume any White male could envy.

A more subtle approach was used by Sen. Tom Cotton (R.-Ark) Tuesday, who, in a TV interview, kept referring to Harris as a “San Francisco liberal.”

Correction. She’s really more of an Oakland liberal.

I’m in exile now, but I’ve been writing columns as a “San Francisco liberal” for decades. One of my topics was District Attorney Kamala Harris. I always chided her for not going after White attacks on Asian Americans back in the day.

I never spoke with Harris directly. But once at a fund-raiser our eyes met. We chose the diplomatic option and walked the other way.

Now she’s on the verge of history and the duende is palpable.

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LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

5 days ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

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Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

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OP-ED: The Illusion of Allyship. White Women, Your Yard Signs Mean Nothing to Me

NNPA NEWSWIRE – “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

Political yard signs can symbolize intentions and allegiance. But this year, they’ve also symbolized betrayal. During this general election, Black women were led to believe that more White women would stand with us. Exit polls, however, told a different story. Despite overwhelming displays of support, more White women still chose to vote for the convicted felon, reality TV star, and rapist. White women answered the call but left us hanging at the polls.

A Familiar Disappointment

I live in DeKalb County, Georgia, and the abundance of Harris-Walz yard signs could’ve fooled me. But I’ve seen this before, back when Stacey Abrams ran for governor. White women showed up, put up signs, attended rallies, knocked on doors, and phone-banked. Yet, when it came time to vote, they let us down—not once but twice. I’ve been here for over 15 years, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that political signs are symbols without weight.

In every election, I’ve talked with White women. Most aren’t the primary earners in their families and vote along party lines, aligning with the preferences of their fathers and husbands. These conversations reveal a reluctance to break from tradition, even when their votes affect women and certainly when their votes impact the lives of people who look like me.

The Illusion of Solidarity—Symbols Are Not Enough

On social media, I’m seeing White women posting pictures of blue bracelets to “prove” they didn’t vote for Trump. “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

I’ve seen Black Lives Matter signs and black squares posted on Instagram to “prove” support for Black people, but we now know that was a lie, too. Will those same people who claimed Black lives mattered now take down their Harris-Walz signs and show their true selves?

Navigating these truths is a daily struggle for me—professionally and socially. White women often misuse their privilege, supporting us only when it’s convenient. Seeing overqualified Black women sabotaged or abandoned by White women at critical moments is a constant emotional challenge. It’s exhausting to live with this reality, especially when solidarity seems like something they pick up and discard at will.

One clever campaign ad from Harris-Walz that spoke directly to White women. “Your Vote, Your Choice” emphasized that their vote was private—independent of their household situation. Another was from Olivia Howell Dreizen, the “Vote Without Fear” campaign, which empowered women to consider the greater impact of their choices. But it seems many still couldn’t choose the roadmap to freedom—even when it was handed to them.

A Call for Action Beyond Words

White women, I want to believe you care, but actions speak louder than yard signs, bracelets, or Instagram posts. Show up in our communities, advocate in your workplaces, and stand up to dismantle the structures that uphold white supremacy. Only through real action will we know where you stand.

If you choose not to act, we see you—and we know exactly where you stand. Good luck these next four years.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.