Power to the People

The grassroots have been activated in this campaign.

Regardless of your political leanings, the energetic response to Biden stepping aside and Kamala Harris stepping up for the Democratic presidential nomination has been stunning.

Biden Steps Aside and Gives Democracy a Fighting Chance

In particular, the swift mobilization of various demographic groups behind Harris has led to historic fundraising and, more significantly, a groundswell of support for the presumptive democratic nominee.

As usual, Black women led the way.

On Sunday, just hours after the historic announcement, a group called Win With Black Women, founded by Jotaka Eaddy in 2020, organized a Zoom call that drew 44,000 viewers on Zoom and a total of 90,000 across various platforms.

Within three hours they raised $1.5 million for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

Black men followed suit the next day, and I was on the call with more than 20,000 other Black men for the Win With Black Men event. Again, in a few short hours, Black men contributed more than $1 million to fund the Harris campaign and support Black women.

Other demographic groups did the same.

Photo Credit: Aarón Blanco Tejedor

There was another event, “White Women: Answer the Call.” So many women showed up—164,000—that it caused significant technical difficulties on the Zoom site. But in the process white women raised another $2 million for Harris.

Another online event geared toward South Asians followed the others.

In the first 24 hours after the initial announcement, the Harris campaign said it raised $81 million, smashing the previous record of $50 million by the Trump campaign the day after he was convicted.

This is not simply about the money, though.

This is about the energy people feel at the prospect of the first woman and first Black and South Asian person to win the presidency.

Many people were first time donors which indicates an renewed commitment to the electoral process.

In addition, Harris has drawn historically marginalized and under-represented groups—Black women, white women, Black men, South Asians, and more.

It is a clear reminder that, for now, this is indeed (a flawed, partial, and not yet fully realized) democracy.

And in a democracy, the power is in the hands of the people.

Check out the 34:00 minute mark in this week’s Convocation Unscripted podcast where I explain more.

This is also your invitation to subscribe to The Convocation on Substack. You’ll get a weekly digest of topics from me, Robert P. Jones, Diana Butler Bass, and Kristin Du Mez.