Four years ago, I wrote an op-ed stating that Black people are the Democratic Party, and I think those sentiments have aged beautifully, given our current circumstances. It is no secret that I am a Kamala Harris fan and supporter of her candidacy and platform. But let me be honest, I wanted President Biden to remain at the top of the Democratic ticket. Democrats forfeited the opportunity to allow our best and brightest candidates to primary for the right to become our uncontested Democratic presidential nominee. Having the Democratic Party’s richest and most powerful oligarchs circumvent our electoral process is in juxtaposition with our fundamental duties as Americans to exercise our civic responsibilities at the ballot box. What the Democratic Party allowed to happen to the Democratic Ticket is equivalent to the Republicans’ hijacking of the Supreme Court and rubber-stamping the Citizens United case. These increasingly overt acts of intrusion nibbling away at our constitutional safeguards are becoming increasingly frequent, and they are eroding the very fabric struggling to hold our democracy together.
Right, wrong, or indifferent, we are moving forward with a coronation ceremony for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the next President of the United States of America. Imagine that we are tasking a Black woman to save our democracy—again, from the “existential threat of Trump” for a second time in four years. Despite my historical concerns about circumventing the political process and cowering to Democratic billionaires and millionaires, Kamala Harris is deserving of this opportunity. Moreover, Vice-President Harris is well armed and positioned with a million-woman army and millions of D9 family members to fuel her campaign to victory by reinvigorating “the Democratic Ticket” and the interests of her sorority sisters, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and their sister organizations: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc.
The Divine Nine (D9) is the nickname of a group of nine historically Black Greek Letter Organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). Many of these organizations have been around for over 100 years. The D9 organizations are committed to public service, scholarship, brotherhood and sisterhood, and cultural advancement for the greater good of their communities. The D9’s impact on Black culture — nationally has always coincided with watershed moments in American history like the Civil Rights Movement, the election of Barack Obama, the George Floyd incident, and again with Kamala Harris,
It is no secret that the Democratic Party’s success is tied to the participation and turnout of Black voters, especially Black women. When we have high Black voter engagement, history tells us that the Democratic Party is victorious nationally. For instance, Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden have all had successful campaigns and re-elections due to Black voter turnout. This brings me to my point, Delaware’s D9 organizations can positively impact Delaware’s statewide, district, county, and municipal elections! Delaware’s D9 organizations have the power to flex their proverbial muscles in this state, to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are no longer candidate talking points, but action steps that are reflected in tangible representation in offices throughout our state.
Delaware has the 10th largest Black population in the country but has one of the lowest ratios for Black elected officials per capita. Issues like Black maternal health care, affordable and accessible housing, police and criminal justice reform, childcare, and education are all issues that disproportionately impact Black and minority communities. However, those issues appear to have few if any Black voices leading the charge that can relate to those concerns on a personal level. As many of you gather to arm yourselves with marching orders from your respective D9 organizations to support and ensure Kamala Harris is elected as the next President of the United States of America, please remember to save some of your enthusiasm for your state, local, and municipal candidates. The Democratic Party is only as strong as Black voter turnout, this is as true for national elections as it is for state and local elections. Your vote matters! Delaware’s Democratic Party is stronger when members of D9 organizations are involved, active, and leading the charge to the polls.
Terrell A. Williams
Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Democratic Nominee for State Representative
Delaware’s 9th District
www.Terrell4DE.com
