I kicked off today with a run inside on the treadmill. It’s not the same as hitting the streets in the California sun, but if you are going to play a part in picking the first female President, you need your strength, and you got to represent!
On my second day in Philly, I’m struck by the level of diversity in the Dem party. I’ve been a Democrat my entire life and have heard the rhetoric about it being the “big tent party”, but this convention is highlighting black women in a significant way, and it feels good!
From Donna Brazile, the new interim DNC chair who rallied the Clinton supporters at the Rules Committee meeting yesterday; to Congresswoman Marcia Fudge who I rocked with to gospel musical at an Interfaith service today and who we unanimously voted yesterday in Rules to be the chair of the convention, to my new friend Adrianne George who traveled from Sweden to Philadelphia to represent Democrats abroad, there are a lot of black women and diversity at the DNC! And, damn it feels good!
With recent polls showing African Americans polling at zero percent for Donald Trump, it’s no wonder that the DNC has a large number of African Americans in Philadelphia. It’s also not rocket science for the Clinton campaign to ensure that African Americans play key leadership rolls in her campaign. After all, she won an overwhelming percentage of black voters in the primary and is counting on our vote in November.
When black voters see iconic leaders like Congresswoman Maxine Waters as co-chairs of the convention; and Cory Booker and Michelle Obama as prime time convention speakers, it sends a message that Clinton may be the candidate that crushes more than the glass ceiling. Unlike President Obama who has been often criticized by Blacks for not doing enough for African Americans and by whites for sympathizing with “Black causes,” Clinton has the unique opportunity to open doors for African Americans and other minorities without fear of being labeled “too Black.”
And judging by day two in Philadelphia, she is off to a good start!
