Why Joy in Black Leadership Still Threatens the System

By Dorinda White
Washington Post
Reprinted – by Texas Metro News
https://www.washingtoninformer.com/

As a Black woman reflecting on the Nov. 5, 2024, elections, it’s impossible to ignore the unsettling repetition of history. Kamala Harris, a symbol of leadership, resilience, and joy, stood as a powerful figure in American politics. Yet, as the first Black and South Asian female candidate for President of the United States, her very presence was treated as a disruption by a system that has historically resisted Black joy and leadership in power. Her resilience and optimism, like past efforts of Black leaders throughout history, were viewed as a direct challenge to a status quo deeply uncomfortable with such progress.

The saying by George Santayana — “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” — feels especially relevant. Harris’ political journey echoes centuries-old dynamics where systems of power have moved swiftly to suppress joy, pride, and empowerment among Black people. To understand this, we must remember the historical realities of Black rebellion. On plantations, Black joy and expressions of self-worth were feared as seeds of rebellion. To enslavers, any spark of self-empowerment was seen as a direct threat to the established order. In the 2024 presidential campaign, Harris’ joy — her unapologetic pride and identity — represented that same spark, a beacon of self-worth and resilience that the political establishment once again sought to contain.

Harris’ joy wasn’t quiet or compliant; it was assertive and hopeful. It spoke directly to Black women and to marginalized communities, telling them they belonged in spaces historically closed to them. Yet, to a society that has always demanded our compliance, the joy and visibility of Black women in high office continues to be profoundly unsettling. It disrupts narratives of who “belongs” in American power structures, challenging deep-seated stereotypes and expectations.

Just as plantation owners feared the self-realization of enslaved people, today’s political establishment fears Black leaders who celebrate their identity and uplift their communities. When Black women like Harris stand proudly, leading and inspiring with joy, it threatens a political and social order that has often aimed to keep them silent. In 2024, we saw familiar tactics emerge to undermine Harris: relentless scrutiny, pointed critiques, and coded language questioning her competence. This wasn’t just partisanship; it’s a legacy of efforts to undercut Black joy and Black leadership. These methods mirror historical patterns designed to maintain power by limiting our voices and silencing our joy.

The saying that “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” is more than a reminder; it’s a call to break these cycles. By reacting to Black joy and empowerment with fear and backlash, we reinforce an oppressive history. The Nov. 5, 2024, elections are another chapter in America’s long struggle for equality and self-expression, where the establishment once again seeks to contain Black joy. But as history has shown, such attempts have always been met with greater resilience. Our voices, our joy, and our power endure.

Harris’ journey, and the resilience of Black women everywhere, make it clear that joy itself is a powerful act of resistance. Joy reclaims space, declares self-worth, and reaffirms our right to lead. Just as our ancestors’ acts of defiance paved the way for future generations, Harris’ joy and perseverance inspires us to continue fighting for representation and respect in every corner of this nation.

The 2024 elections may have sought to dampen our voices, but our joy, resilience, and leadership will continue to rise. We know where we come from, and we carry forward the legacy of those who refused to be silenced, who found joy in the struggle, and who remind us that true freedom requires courage, tenacity, and, above all, joy.

In the words of the late Maya Angelou, “Still I Rise!”

Dorinda White is an active member of the District of Columbia Democratic Party, serving as the Ward 6 committeewoman and first vice president of the Ward 6 Democrats. She was elected by the D.C. Democratic Party to represent them on the DNC Temporary Standing Rules Committee for both the 2020 and 2024 conventions, contributing to the development of fair and effective procedural standards for the party.