The essays, analyses and opinions presented as Community Voices express the perspectives of their authors on topics of interest and importance to the community, and are not intended to reflect perspectives on behalf of the Salish Current.
Commentary: A Washington state national delegate to the Democratic National Convention cast her vote for another history maker
The 2008 presidential election brought about a renewed enthusiasm and sense of hope for Americans. We saw unprecedented interest and enthusiasm for change in the political sphere. New voters and old voters alike came out in droves to show their support.
Personally, I missed the opportunity to participate in that election cycle, because I was living in rural Honduras, in the middle of a 27-month stint as a Peace Corps volunteer. I missed the feeling that swept over the Democratic National Committee that year, when then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, in accepting his presidential nomination, reminded us of our compassion, our generosity, and our shared commitment to the promise of “America for all Americans.”
Fifteen years later, I finally had my chance to catch that feeling. As a national delegate for the Democratic Party, I got the opportunity to travel to Chicago to cast my vote for another history-maker. An individual who will change the landscape of American politics: U.S.Vice President Kamala Harris. Running as the first woman President, as well as the first woman-of-color President, Kamala is invoking the same “hopey-changey” feeling that caught the country by storm in 2008. This time I can catch the wave!
The hope of a president who finally represents the other 50% of the United States population: women. The hope of a president who represents communities oppressed, enslaved, and marginalized by government and private enterprise since before the Declaration of Independence. Kamala represents opportunity for all those who see themselves in her.
As a mixed-race woman (like myself), Kamala is a real step in the direction of true diversity, inclusion, and belonging in this country. Seeing her and women like her in power has had a ripple effect, showing others like us that they too can have power, and that we can stand in that power to improve our lives and the lives of those in our community. No longer do we need to see ourselves only as the supporters of “strong white men.” It is our time to stand on their shoulders and to lead the people.
Diversity is not for representation alone — it is foundational to collective power itself. We seek to see Harris and others like her in power because their diversity brings strength to our country. By bringing other voices and opinions into power, we can weed out weak positions and blank spots of information and knowledge. Diversity in representation breeds innovation and novel thinking. It lets us more easily see the commonality between seemingly disparate groups, because we can see where we are incompatible. A diverse nation is a democratic nation. It creates space for all to participate. Homogeneity breeds weakness. It lets our enemies see the gaps in our understanding before we can. If we let them take advantage of those gaps, the entire population suffers.
As we move forward, let us embrace this moment, recognizing that our strength lies in our diversity. With leaders like Harris, we can break down barriers, uplift marginalized communities, and build a nation where every voice has the power to influence and every person has the opportunity to thrive.
— By Leah Wainman
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