When writing about Senator Kamala Harris, I’ve paid close attention to her relationship to my sisters — black women, and women in the LBGTQ community. There have been numerous articles written about her special relationships to women, her mom, her sister, the sisters of her sorority and other black women’s groups. and I’ve watched a lot of lesbian/bi/trans women speaking up for her, and those who are part of her team.
What I haven’t seen as much of in the media, is her outreach and the reach back from black men, and gay/trans men.
Are there brothers who are critical? Yes. Are there some of “my brothers” who are misogynistic and phobic (you already know the answer)
Shudder — just take a look at Ben Carson. (when I see Carson — “all skin-folks are not kin-folks” is what I hear in my head)
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson expressed concern about “big, hairy men” trying to infiltrate women’s homeless shelters during an internal meeting, according to three people present who interpreted the remarks as an attack on transgender women.
While visiting HUD’s San Francisco office this week, Carson also lamented that society no longer seemed to know the difference between men and women, two of the agency staffers said.
Lawdy :(
Today - I thought I’d highlight some of my brothers, who are steppin’ out and steppin’ up for Kamala.
South Carolina Representative JA Moore is an example:
When Kamala was introduced at the Leadership Conference by Benjamin Crump she said it was the best intro she had ever had.
During the Dr. Moses C. Norman Sr. Leadership Conference, Senator Kamala Harris brings greetings to the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. She delivers an importance message on Historically Black Colleges & Universities and Minority Wealth.
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump is endorsing Kamala Harris for president, citing the California senator’s record on criminal justice and comparing her campaign to former President Barack Obama’s historic White House run in 2008. Crump, a high-profile Florida attorney, represented Trayvon Martin’s family after the teen was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in 2012. He has since represented other families whose children were killed in fatal altercations with white police officers that captured the nation’s attention, like Mike Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Mo., and 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland.
In a phone interview Monday afternoon, Crump said that while he had gotten calls from multiple campaigns, Harris was the candidate in the top tier who stood out to him.
“When you look up some of the stuff that she’s tried to do working from the inside, you know that she understands the challenges of trying to get progress when there are a lot of powers that be that are pushing against the cause for equal justice,” he said.
Specifically, he referenced Harris’ role as California attorney general in getting the state’s Justice Department to publish criminal justice data and her “Back-on-Track” reentry and anti-recidivism programs.
“Senator Kamala Harris has demonstrated an unbridled commitment to a fair and just criminal justice system from her very first days as district attorney,” Crump said in a statement obtained by POLITICO. “Our work on the outside championing reform relies on people on the inside who will make decisions informed by their cultural experiences and a willingness to listen.”
I realize that many folks outside of the black community know very little about HBCUs and Black Frats and Sororities and the role they have played in our community.
Here’s some of the history and background.
I pointed out in that story:
Not all black folks are part of this particular segment of our community; however, many of our most active black Democrats in office are. That fact alone should make Democrats pay closer attention.
HBCUs have been in existence since Cheyney University was founded in Pennsylvania in 1837. Black Greek organizations have stood the test of time for over 100 years. Their members are a part of our past and our present:
Alpha Phi Alpha brothers include W. E. B. DuBois, Thurgood Marshall, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; A. Philip Randolph and Congressman John Lewis are Phi Beta Sigma; Omega Psi Phi includes poet Langston Hughes and the Rev. Jesse Jackson; Kappa Alpha Psi members include Arturo Schomburg and Charles Blow; Delta Sigma Theta sorors include Barbara Jordan and Dorothy Irene Height; Zeta Phi Beta gave us Zora Neal Hurston; and Alpha Kappa Alpha has enriched us with Toni Morrison.
The young black college students who are just now pledging will play no small role in building our future.
Bakari Sellers pointed out what might not have been obvious to not-black viewers.
For those of you not familiar with the Los Angeles Sentinel — it is one of the oldest black newspapers in the U.S.
The Sentinel was founded in 1933 by Leon H. Washington Jr. for black readers. Since that time, the newspaper has been considered a staple of black life in Los Angeles. The paper mainly focuses on and thus enjoys most of its circulation in the predominantly African-American neighborhoods of South Los Angeles, Inglewood and Compton.
Zachary Woods wrote:
Kamala Harris is the Best Player in American Politics
Senator Kamala Harris’s debate performance last Thursday night in Houston, Texas was phenomenal. She has received a lot of credit for her wit, her pith, and her smart decision to train her fire on Donald Trump as opposed to needling the other Democratic candidates sharing the stage. She has been commended for being personable and quick on her feet, absolute and aerodynamic even in the face of tough questions.
Senator Harris has also been praised for skillfully laying out her impressive prosecutorial record and rather powerfully and eloquently speaking on the importance of Black educators for Black children. Some paying especially close attention have even rewarded Senator Harris for her nonverbal finesse and clearly superior preparedness.
First, I deeply appreciate and want to affirm all of these observations. Being the only Black woman pursuing anything, anywhere, in America, is hard. Being the only Black woman running for president of the United States must be unbelievably demanding. So it makes me very happy to see Senator Harris receive any and all forms of affirmation, affection, and admiration. Briefly, I want to add to the accumulation.
There were moments during the debate when I thought to myself: You know, If I were on a plane pitched nose down in a tailspin, I would want Kamala Harris to be on that plane with me, because unlike me (and many others screaming), Senator Harris would be able to think carefully, act swiftly, and calmly reassure me of my safety. In last Thursday’s debate, the sense never flickered or faded that she was up there having fun — and separating herself from the pack in the process.
She exuded confidence in the composure of her warmth, the angle of her self-assertion, and the naturalness of her stage presence. I felt like I was watching someone do five or six things really well, all at the same time. The most satisfying description I’ve drummed up: Senator Harris artfully employed her superlative talent to persuasive effect. A performance of the highest caliber that gave me something to feel good about.
I loved this viral video from Drew Comments:
Here is an upload with captions:
Many people in the Black community watch/listen to The Breakfast Club.
Detractors.
What shocked me when I saw it, was what happened with “Uncle Luke,” who was a very outspoken critic of Kamala.
Uncle Luke (quick bio)
Luther Roderick Campbell (born December 22, 1960), also known as Luke Skyywalker,Uncle Luke and simply Luke, is an American rapper, promoter, record executive,and actor. He is best known for being the former leader of rap group 2 LiveCrew, and star of his own short-lived show on VH1, Luke's Parental Advisory. As a result of one of the group's songs, which used a parody of Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman", Campbell was party to Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., which was argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. As a result,the Miami New Times described Campbell as "the man whose booty-shaking madness once made the U.S. Supreme Court stand up for free speech".
More surprising — Politico covered the story (though as usual their headlines leave much to be desired)
Christopher Cadelago wrote:
So it was more than a little curious when Campbell announced very publicly he’d changed his mind. In an Instagram video last week, he said he and Harris had recently talked on the phone about her record and presidential priorities, from gun control to the rehabilitation programs she started. Campbell said he wanted to determine whether she’s a “real sister.”
“I went back and looked deeper at the record,” Campbell said in an interview with POLITICO.
Uncle Luke: Turns Out Kamala Harris Is the Black Presidential Candidate Who Deserves Our Vote
A few weeks ago, I had an unexpected phone conversation with California's U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate whom I gave no chance of winning the black vote. Harris reached out because I've harshly criticized her in this column space since she began her campaign for the White House.
Harris, one of ten candidates who qualified for the next debate, September 12 in Houston, is running behind former Vice President Joe Biden and her Senate colleagues Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in most polls.
But after I spoke with her, Harris changed my mind. She is the only candidate who can scare Donald Trump in a head-to-head matchup. And by having a conversation with someone who trashed her publicly, Harris proves she can work with anybody to lead this country in a positive direction.
He has continued tweeting about Harris:
Okay — let’s talk “fierce”
For those of you who are not on twitter, you may not realize that “Black Twitter” exists, and has a major presence. There is also a large segment of the community that is black, male and gay (which also includes quite a few pundits, and tv news folks)
One of the people in that community I follow is Chris Evans. We were all overjoyed when he finally got his wish. To meet Kamala.
We all applauded!
There is also another Chris, I follow — who is white, and gay and just as fierce as Not Cap.
Just a quick roundup today. Will add more to comments!
Group boilerplate.
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Group Guidelines
The Kamala2020 community group has been created to positively support Senator Kamala Harris, and not to engage in negativity towards other Democrats running in the 2020 primaries.
All should be made to feel welcomed here. What’s not welcomed here is petty bickering over any of our preferred candidates, or personal attacks on fellow Democrats. We’re not responsible for the actions of others who may offend, insult or attempt to sow discord and disunity — that’s on them.
What we are responsible for are our own words and actions — that’s 100% on us.
I’d like to ask all group members, as well as those dropping by who support or are interested in Kamala’s bid for the nomination, that we not respond to negativity from other campaign’s supporters with even more negativity. Let’s do better than our best and respond with respect, humor or try to hold our peace. Recipes and cat pics work, too 😃
Doing no harm costs us nothing... pie-fights will cost us everything.
And don’t forget to donate.
And BTW — in case you have never seen brothers “steppin’
Here are some brothers in step shows