On Nov. 5, 2024 it was made clear how America feels about the Black woman. Malcolm X’s quote, “The most disrespected woman in America is the Black woman” echoes the results of the Presidential election. The words “We Are Not Going Back” became Black women’s catalyst for hope. According to Spelman senior and Second Attendant to Miss Spelman Josefina Osei-Owusu: 

Kamala Harris was a representation of Black women in America, but she also represented the child immigrant story within the United States. Madame Vice President Kamala Harris, a community stakeholder, a change maker, and a voice for the voiceless, has shown us all that we too can make a difference. This opportunity to vote for a face that looks like us is a moment that we will forever cherish. 

Utilizing our power of civic engagement to vote directly impacts political representation, social justice, quality of life, and equity. Casting our ballots is far more than just a task. It is our duty. Spelman senior and Co-President of The African Diaspora Social Society Samiyah Allen explains the historical and present power of voting.  “To me, voting means freedom…looking back on history knowing that they [our ancestors] fought for us to have this [voting] opportunity. We have nothing else to do other than uphold that standard.” As Co-President, Allen consistently upholds The African Diaspora Social Society’s mission to create mentorship and networking among the Black community by hosting events that encapsulate Black joy, creativity, and expression. Allen states, “Voting means fight, it means power, it means that we are going to do whatever we can to turn things around.”

Where we stand as Black women in leadership is a crucial position between the change we have made and the change we are destined to make. As we move forward, we are building upon the path the women before us have made. Black women are the moral consciousness of America. We are at the forefront of every great movement and the brains behind every successful operation. We have minds that are constantly churning and fueling the ideas of America. From Angela Davis posted at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement, to Jasmine Crockett utilizing her voice to speak power and advocate, to Toni Morrison writing the unspoken stories of Black women, Black women define advocacy in more ways than one. 

As we sit within an America that has voted against our existence, some of us are at a standstill as to how we can maintain our joy. Joy is crucial to the continuous advancement of our community. Throughout the countless decades of inequity, we have remained authentic to our joy and forever undaunted. As an institution and as Black women, we must continue to shape and evolve our joy in our way despite the systemic oppression we face. Osei-Owusu shares how she shapes joy within her community through her platform “Living Joy in Color.” She believes that as we continue to move through our commitment to social justice, the losses that we endure should never allow anyone to kill our joy:

A lot of times when a loss so great like this happens it makes a heart bleed out so much that you no longer see a purpose in continuing the fight. But, as a Black woman in a leadership position on campus, times like these help me realize where my community is bleeding out and how my voice and joy can be the Band-Aid that it needs. I want my platform to leave a legacy on campus so that whenever situations like this happen, people are reminded that joy is still prevalent. It reinforces our purpose, advocacy, and civic engagement while encouraging us to look forward to seeing another day. 

Madame Vice President exuded joy in all ways. With her poise, her policy, and her hope for change, she truly was a representation of our ancestors' wildest dreams. The mark she has made is not something that will simply perish. Her efforts and success will prevail. We must now demand a call to action. We must come together as a community to continue to push our needle of excellence and advocacy. We must read up on our history, stay civically engaged, pull in our peers, push initiates that align with our beliefs, and gear up for the next 4 years. We must embrace Grassroots Advocacy, making it more accessible for our voices to be heard, and our presence to be seen within our work. We have the opportunity to educate ourselves, rest, and pursue our wildest dreams. Allen states how she plans to continue the shaping of her advocacy by “Educating people, making educational opportunities. Hosting panels, or workshops, covering the importance of civic engagement, and the history of voting rights.”

Madame Vice President Kamala Harris has made a mark on America, reminding us that we are qualified and equipped with the strengths we need and empowering us to move forward in our purpose. She allowed herself to be open and vulnerable while pushing forward the needle of excellence. She put joy into communities, emphasizing the fact that Black people deserve to be in the room with a seat at the table. Her position in politics has allowed marginalized communities to have representation in positions of power, highlighting our ability to lead and inspire. 

As Black women our advocacy is multifaceted. Allen shares the push for hope that she sees on the horizon:

Keep doing what you’re doing, keep making your choice to change the world. When we keep going, when we keep fighting, and when we keep showing the world what we’re capable of,we stay strong. We are not going to dwell on the Trump Administration that is trying to destroy our lives. We have to keep doing us, [which is] what we do best.

The present that we have advocated for will push us forward into the future we want to create.