A diverse group of supporters, family members, and well-known allies, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, a host of other elected officials, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, waited Wednesday on Howard University’s famous “Yard” to watch Vice President Kamala Harris as she conceded the 2024 election to former President Donald Trump.
Despite the somber nature as supporters waited for Harris to officially the conclusion of her short, historic and hard-fought campaign, Jeezy’s song “My President,” which features the stirring line “My president is Black,” energized the crowd before her entrance, setting the scene for a moving farewell speech.
Then Harris emerged onto the stage to the stirring strains of Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” which has, since she started her campaign a little more than 100 days prior, served as the vice president’s rallying song.
The atmosphere was charged as Harris began, looking out at a sea of American flags and expectant faces at her alma mater.
“Every one of us, no matter who we are or where we start out, has certain fundamental rights and freedoms that must be respected and upheld,” she stated, pausing as applause swelled from the crowd.
Harris made it clear that while her campaign had reached its end, the fight for justice and equity was only beginning.
“We will continue to wage this fight in the voting booth, in the courts, and in the public square,” she affirmed, issuing a call to action that echoed her campaign’s spirit.
Harris addressed the emotions that many in the crowd were visibly grappling with. Speaking directly to the young people watching, she said: “It is OK to feel sad and disappointed, but please know it’s going to be OK… Sometimes the fight takes a while, that doesn’t mean we won’t win.”
She took a moment to express her gratitude to those who had stood by her side, including her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, and her vice presidential candidate, Tim Walz.
“I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it,” she said. Her voice cracked slightly as she added, “We owe loyalty not to a president or to a party but to the Constitution of the United States.”
She acknowledged her call to President-elect Donald Trump, stating that she offered assistance to him in the upcoming transition. She urged her supporters not to give up, and to keep fighting for the Constitution and Democracy.
Reflecting on the campaign, Harris shared her pride in the coalition they had built.
“We have been intentional about building community… bringing people together from every walk of life,” she said, emphasizing the need to accept the election results but with an eye to the future.
Xiomara Strayhorn, a Howard freshman from Atlanta by way of Baltimore, was proud to cast a ballot for Harris in her first time voting.
“As a Bison I came in knowing of all the greats that came out of ‘the Mecca’ and always wondered what my story would be or what [my] significant moment at the Mecca would be. And it was definitely experiencing my first presidential election as a first time voter and being able to support a fellow Bison through truth and serving the community by informing and voting,”
However, she shared her disappointment in seeing the discrimination Harris experienced throughout the race.
“Overall, as a young, Black woman, I feel the world constantly gives us challenges that we often overcome but not easily. And I feel Kamala was our image of what a lot of us Black women go through— from having to execute last minute problems because we’re ‘best fit’ but having a disadvantage, or facing a multitude of hate from people who tear you down and don’t believe in you while you try and do your best,” Strayhorn explained.
Howard sophomore Kameryn Clark also lamented at all Harris had to overcome during the campaign, comparing and contrasting the races between the vice president and the former president turned president-elect.
“It is disheartening as a young Black woman who is a political science major at VP Harris’ alma mater to see that your success and outcome in life can be predetermined by your external appearance and circumstances rather than your capabilities and credentials,” Clark, visibly emotional, told The Informer. “While Donald Trump’s behavior could be described as ‘lawless,’ Vice President Harris had to be ‘flawless’ in every aspect of her campaign, still to fall short in the race not because of her personal shortcomings, but the lack of progression in America.”
Harris Shines Light in Darkness, Issues Call to Action
While many of her supporters are concerned about dark times ahead, Harris offered light.
“Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars,” a line that drew a mix of cheers and solemn nods as the crowd took in her message of resilience.
Her words offered hope to a dejected crowd.
“Today I was emotional due to my initial thoughts that the fight was over, left with feels of sorrow and hopelessness, but Vice President Harris assured that that is not the case,” Clark told The Informer. “[Reminding us], we only lose when hope is lost.”
The vice president urged her supporters to channel their defeated emotions into continued efforts.
“This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves,” she declared.
Harris, the first woman and only person of Black and Southeast Asian descent to serve as vice president of the United States, acknowledged the fight ahead, framing it not as a loss but as a turning point.
“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” she said firmly. “That is a fight I will never give up.”
Many people in the crowd cheered as she encouraged them to continue in their fight to protect democracy.
“While this was not the outcome we fought for, this is not the first time nor will it be the last, that the American people will have to fight for democracy,” Clark, who is from Tampa, Florida, explained. “Vice President Harris has opened the door and minds of so many American people and I cannot wait to see the influence of this election over time, specifically in American minds. The fight continues.”
As she neared the end of her speech, Harris’ words took on an unmistakable urgency.
“The fight for our freedom will take hard work, but like I always say, we like hard work,” she told the crowd.
As a political science student, Clark was inspired by Harris’ call to action.
“She reminded us that our fight continues and that while the battle was lost the war continues. Now is an essential time to mobilize, centralize, and educate ourselves,” the sophomore told The Informer.
Strayhorn, a computer science major, said she respected the vice president’s composure throughout the campaign and emphasized that Harris has inspired many through her historic race and efforts.
“Kamala showed perseverance and that speaks volumes for a lot of Black women who constantly feel hopeless. Her loss wasn’t totally a loss because, in all, I feel it brings our community together and will push more of us to run and take on roles regardless if we’re wanted. I feel the support system from our community alone is defined now more than ever.”
The vice president urged the crowd to continue engaging, reminding them that meaningful change requires sustained effort.
With a final, defiant wave, Harris walked off the stage arm in arm with Emhoff, her head held high as Beyoncé’s “Freedom” filled the air once more. Her last words: “Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”