The announcement came like a hammer. “You won’t hear from the vice president tonight.” said Democratic campaign adviser Cedric Richmond, who took the stage to signal the end of the evening. The music and the faint hope maintained throughout the night stopped dead on the campus of Howard University in Washington, where the Democratic field had organized its election night.
As one, tens of thousands of people held their breath at the announcement of the smallest county that could dress in the colors of their candidate, Kamala Harris. New York, Maryland, Connecticut, California… Shouts of joy erupted with each victory, even if the outcome was a foregone conclusion in these largely Democratic states.
The crowd dressed in blue, the color of the Democratic Party, had gathered on the central esplanade of the university, with their faces tense, turned towards the stage where the results of the elections were broadcast live on CNN. Behind them, the historic white steeple towered over the activists who had come to wait and hope together.
Kamala Harris had chosen Howard, her old university, from which she graduated in 1986, to spend the most decisive night of her career. The Democratic candidate has maintained a very strong bond with her alma mater, which she regularly mentions in her speeches as a place that provided her with the means to achieve her ambition. Because Howard is the most famous of the hundred “historically black colleges” (historically black colleges and universitiesHBCUs) that exist in the country. Nicknamed the “black Harvard,” it has trained the country’s African-American elite since its creation in 1867.
“People can’t stand negativity anymore”
This afternoon there were many students and alumni, moved to find themselves there. “It makes me nostalgic to be able to return to this campus and witness history.” confesses Kristell Knight, 40, with eyes full of memories. A tear falls but does not flow: “I will not cry until the final result. » In the middle of the night, he still wants to hold out hope that Kamala Harris will become “the first black woman president of the United States” despite the difficulties that the candidate encounters in the undecided statesthese states that change the elections.
As the evening progresses, the hope and joy of being together barely overpowers the nervousness of waiting for the final results. The estimates and counts that, throughout the evening, give the Republican field an advantage contradict the enthusiasm that characterized this campaign. It was very brief on the Democratic side, as Kamala Harris only entered the race in July, after outgoing President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. For Natasha Walker, wearing a T-shirt and cap with the candidate’s image, it is still time to party, to celebrate the work done during these last intense months.. “I went door to door every weekend and helped organize the voting. People can’t take the negativity anymore, so I still feel very happy.” she smiled.
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