On election night, Kamala Harris, a proud alumna of Howard University—a historically black institution nestled in Washington DC—refrained from addressing her fervent supporters gathered at her alma mater. Following the disappointing losses in the first two pivotal states declared, Harris opted not to emerge amidst the dwindling throng of revelers on campus, whose spirits dimmed as the hours ticked by.
Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee who earned her bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Howard in 1986, has maintained a steadfast bond with the university. Ben Vinson III, Howard's president, noted that this election night marked a historic first: a presidential election watch party hosted on a college campus in modern times. He expressed the university's immense pride in nurturing the first female vice-president of color and honored her choice of Howard as the potential stage for making history anew.
Yet, as Tuesday night unfolded, the festive atmosphere at Howard gradually faded. Around midnight, a senior campaign member broke the news to the shrinking crowd that Harris would not be joining them. The big screen erected outdoors on campus flashed the results, declaring North Carolina and Georgia, two crucial swing states, for Trump.
Nabila Mangum, 31, dressed in the vibrant pink of AKA—the sorority she shares with Harris—had anticipated celebrating election night at Howard with boundless enthusiasm. "I was filled with motivation and excitement," she recounted. However, she perceived the shift in mood instantaneously, a palpable deflation enveloping the crowd. "The energy waned," she lamented, "but we're not done yet. It's not over until the final tally."
Earlier in the evening, Harris's supporters had gathered outside the school, brimming with anticipation before the watch party commenced. However, their spirits plummeted eerily as North Carolina was projected as a Trump victory. "I understand the concerns over the numbers right now," remarked Howard student Jordan Newsom shortly after the projection. Newsom emphasized that his fellow supporters were striving to maintain their spirits. "Our best bet is to unite and hold onto our faith amidst each other," he asserted.
Among the jubilant revelers, Cheryl Taylor, an alumnus of Howard University, stood proudly. It was she who had encouraged Harris, a freshman at the time, to join Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation's pioneering black sorority founded at Howard in 1908. Members of AKA and other black sororities have forged a closely-knit national network that significantly bolstered Harris' presidential bids in both 2019 and this year. Ms. Taylor, reminiscing with the BBC, revealed that even at the tender age of 19, Harris shone brightly as a leader. "She was nothing short of amazing – beautiful, intelligent, and a genuine soul," she praised.
Ms. Taylor was deeply touched by Harris' decision to hold a watch party at Howard, viewing it as an acknowledgment of the university's pivotal role in her journey and the beacon it had been in showcasing the prowess of "black excellence." She dismissed the vitriol aimed at Harris' racial identity, including质疑 from Donald Trump, who had questioned her blackness. "We don't entertain such doubts here," she asserted firmly.
Kendall Claytor, a first-time voter and a freshman, eagerly awaited with her friends, describing Harris as her role model. "As a black woman, I admire her deeply," she said, her eyes gleaming with admiration. "Knowing that she hailed from the same place, slept in the same dorms, attended the same school and classes, and has achieved such heights, speaks volumes to us as students."
William Ward, a spry 65-year-old, entertained the crowd by playing music from the back of his bicycle. "I'll turn 66 in December. I yearn to witness history. I've seen the Obamas make their mark, and now I'm poised to see a woman break barriers," he exclaimed. The cheers momentarily drowned out a Destiny's Child song as screens flashed early returns from Michigan and Pennsylvania, indicating Harris' surge.
"I know countless efforts have been put on the ground, and it's delightful to see them bear fruit," said Danielle Sydnor, a fervent Harris supporter. Jerry Patterson, eyes glued to his phone displaying election results, walked into Howard's watch party. "I'm anxious but cautiously optimistic," he confessed. Clad in an all-green tracksuit adorned with Kamala Harris pins, Patterson joined the exhilarated crowd brimming with enthusiasm in the Yard for the vice-president's watch party.
"We hope for a favorable outcome," he added, emphasizing democracy and women's reproductive rights as his top priorities. He insisted that Harris had amply demonstrated her worthiness for the country's highest office after three months of passionately advocating her stance and laying out her agenda. "If people fail to grasp that, it's because they refuse to listen," he concluded.
