Black women in politics ready themselves for Harris' historic speech

Tonight, when Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage, she will be the first Black and Asian woman in history to address the Democratic National Convention as her party’s nominee for president.

Despite the pressure, Black women see tremendous opportunity in this moment as Harris’ rise has become a remarkable source of encouragement for women in politics, they say.

Tamia Booker, a Democratic strategist, said, “I know I’m going to be filled with emotion.”

“Black women are oftentimes looked at as the number two, and never good enough to be number one. And she is the one that will finally be able to say, I am the one that can do this,” Booker said.

Meanwhile, LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, said she hopes to hear an “acknowledgement of how we got here.”

“I want her to own that, how special this moment is, historically, for not just Black women, but for all women,” Brown said.

Harris’ identity is resonating with others who are mixed-race with Hillary Holley, executive director of Care in Action, saying she loves “the diversity she represents as herself.”

“I see all the experiences that me and my community have faced,” Holley said. “She also knows it so well and is going to bring that to her presidency.