From The Mecca to the White House: Reflections on Kamala Harris's Historic Candidacy and the Legacy of Howard University
Let me take you back to May of 2017. I was preparing to graduate from THE Howard University with my second degree from the institution, a doctorate in philosophy in Communications, Culture and Media Studies. My outfits were ready, my family and friends were there to cheer me on and I felt hopeful for what the next stage of my journey would bring. As I sat in the audience (albeit, taking selfies), reflecting on everything that led me to become Dr. Brandale Mills, I couldn’t help but feel inspired by my commencement speaker, United States Senator Kamala Harris.
During her introduction by then Howard University President, Dr. Wayne Fredrick, he joked about how amazing it would be to have a Bison sitting in the Oval Office one day. Harris smirked in a way commonly seen from Black women who recognize their power, and I realized she knew she was destined to [continue] make history. Beyond her smile, I saw a Black woman who defeated the odds and unrelentingly broke barriers despite the racist and sexist ideologies she’s confronted with daily. I saw an Indian American woman who wasn’t afraid to stand firm in her beliefs and vision for our country. I saw a fellow Howard Bison committed to the University’s mission of truth and service. And I saw my Divine 9 sister who had persevered through challenges to accomplish what some may consider, the inconceivable. I saw our future president of the United States.
Howard University has shaped me as a Black woman navigating professional environments, a scholar dedicated to elevating the voices of marginalized communities through research and a fierce advocate for Black representation and social justice. My illustrious institution has educated activists, intellectuals, community leaders, and politicians, reinforcing its longstanding commitment to social change and empowerment. Howard University was a life-changing experience for me and has been for thousands of students for decades. Students like President hopeful, Kamala Harris who have impacted countless generations.
Now that we’re just days before the most historic election of my lifetime, I can’t help but feel encouraged, scared, excited, motivated and most importantly proud, of what Vice President Harris has accomplished. Not only will she be the first Black and Indian American woman president of our United States of America, but she is a Bison. Her foundation, the core of who she is as a civil servant, was cultivated at “The Mecca,” an institution created to produce scholars to make this world a better place for all, especially for marginalized communities who need advocates to amplify their voices.
Vice President Harris’ Presidential candidacy has a deeper significance for Black women and the unique pressures and triumphs we face. The pressures to not become “the angry Black woman” in our corporate environments. The triumphs of becoming “the first,” despite the sad realization that “the first” should’ve been 30 years ago. Black women’s resilience, ambition and dedication to our communities are the foundation of the American values that pretend to be. Hopefully, after November 5th, we’ll be closer to realizing the dream of a more unified nation.
As I prepare for the inevitable excitement of Election Day, I feel deeply motivated by this historic campaign and all it signifies—for me as a Howard University professor and alumna, for my students as future Howard alumni, for my daughter who could see a Black woman in the White House embodying the possibilities of her own future, and for my son, who will grow up knowing that women are just as strong, intelligent, and capable as any man in achieving the impossible. I am beyond proud to see Vice President Harris breaking barriers and paving the way for generations of marginalized women. Her journey opens new possibilities for future generations, encouraging current generations to continue fighting fiercely and relentlessly, knowing that we have the power to change the world.