By Cheryl Smith
It could’ve been the 1980s instead of almost 40 years later. As I watched the Democratic National Committee Convention, I recalled Rev. Jesse Jackson’s speech at the 1988 DNC convention when he talked about keeping hope alive.
Between the DNC convention speakers and the Sunday night calls with #WinWith- BlackWomen, I do have hope.
The struggle is real, and those in the struggle do get tired. It was the Honorable Fannie Lou Hamer who said, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired!”
The more things change the more they stay the same.
Those were my sentiments before President Joe Biden stepped aside and passed the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris.
But to hear from some of the dynamic speakers and to see love exhibited, along with hearing people talking about a future that was not filled with hate, stupidity and racism gave me hope.
So the DNC convention was over on Thursday and my voice was weak from radio interviews, but I felt good. Sunday came along and I said no way am I not getting on the call with those dynamic sisters.
It was FOMO time for me and I had a fear of missing out. I got on the call and I wasn’t disappointed. There was so much positivity from these sisters who have been working tirelessly to bring us together. It was a lovefest. We talked about the anti-blackness messages, the sexist messages, and the offensive racist ones.
As organizers said, we have to lead with the truth, share the lie, and then end with the truth; as we deal with all the misinformation and disinformation out there.
If no one says anything folks will believe the hype and take every lie as the truth.
There was talk about that document of almost 1000 pages — Project 2025.
We need to know what’s going on with that document and Black Women are sharing information.
We know that the Vice President/the presidential candidate is going to be assaulted from head to toe, inside and out. It’s important that she knows that she has people supporting her. I know that I will continue to say, “VOTE!”
Is that too much to ask? I tell you when I think about what we’re doing, where we are going, what we need to do, and what the alternative is, the least I can do is help get the vote out.
Shavon Arline Bradley of the National Council of Negro Women, was on the call and talked about women of days gone by who fought for a day they knew they would never see.
Then there was the brilliant Donna Brazile who said we must own this moment. She encouraged us to know our electoral status, especially if we are in battleground states, and we have to know the deadlines for our jurisdiction, so we don’t miss out on this important vote.
This is not a game, and as we talked about the challenges before us, and the phenomenal impact that we Black women have had up to this point it was like a celebration.
The grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee, was also on the call. A precinct chair, she said everyone in her precinct is going to vote.
Her words brought tears to my eyes. Mrs. Lee was so up- lifting as she ended her words of wisdom by letting us know, “I’m your grandma!”
What a wonderful expression of love from the 98-year-old queen!
If you’re looking for a place to begin a journey of self-actualization, these calls are perfect!
More than 6,000 were on the call last Sunday. It doesn’t cost you anything but I guarantee you there are so many benefits. Go to #WinWithWomen to get the exact time.
Love you much!
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