Why Kamala Harris

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On Saturday, July 20 no one, not even seasoned pundits, could have predicted that within 24 hours the US political landscape would completely change, positioning a woman of color to become the 47th President of the United States.

The nation has been in turmoil since that fateful Sunday morning, grappling with the unfolding events. The Republican National Committee’s chair has stepped down, citing a lack of strategy to counter Vice President Kamala Harris.

On the first night, #WinWithBlackWomen hosted a Zoom event with 40,000 Black women to discuss supporting Harris. The event, featuring many Black women celebrities, raised $1 million in just four hours. Days later a group of white women gathered on Zoom and raised millions more. A few days later a call hosted by ‘White Dudes for Kamala’ raised more grass roots money.

Some of my closest friends, both Black and white, were totally checked out this election year. They thought it was all just a messy circus. Now, they’re all ears.

Before President Biden exited the race, many voters reluctantly supported his re-election. Numerous young voters indicated they would abstain from voting. With Biden now out, there’s strong support from the political left and center for presumed

Democratic nominee Harris, despite her 2020 loss of Black voters due to her prosecutorial record disproportionately affecting Black men.

Vice President Harris’s candidacy for President will unleash a storm of misogynoir, the toxic blend of misogyny and anti-Black racism. As she also represents the South Asian community, this intersectionality heightens the stakes.

Vice President Kamala Harris is poised to confront centuries-old prejudices and stereotypes about women of color. As a

Presidential candidate, she challenges the archaic notions that question the intellect, ambition, and global leadership capabilities of women. Harris faces an initial challenge rooted in race. Like most of my clients, she will dedicate substantial effort to proving that she transcends the stereotypes that have been imposed upon her.

The real question for the 21st century is whether this nation can truly uphold its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men—humans– are created equal.”

Before Michelle Obama, the public perception of Black women was often limited to stereotypes involving social services and teen pregnancy. Rarely did we see women of color in the leadership ranks of Fortune 500 companies. Now, with Kamala Harris historic candidacy for the highest office in the nation, the narrative is evolving. Kamala Harris is redefining the image for

Black women. With her candidacy she can illuminate a

path from centuries of marginalization to a possible future of unparalleled achievement on the global stage that will serve both Black and White women.

In 2016, nearly a century after women won the right to vote and led nations like England, Germany, Italy, and Israel, America still questioned if a woman could handle the presidency. These concerns stem from bigotry, not reality. Women lead Fortune 100

companies, hold seats on the UN Security Council, the International Criminal Court, and serve on influential Congressional committees. They also serve as mayors and governors. A Black woman was Secretary of State, succeeded by a white woman who ran for President.

We know how the White House works. The President isn’t leading solo. While her heart, soul, and intuition are crucial, the Executive Branch is fortified by a powerhouse team of skilled and seasoned advisers. The triumphs and setbacks of her Administration won’t hinge solely on her initiatives; they’ll also depend on the dynamic interplay with Congress and the Supreme Court.

The key question facing a potential Harris Administration is whether America, a nation founded on stolen land and built by free labor, can transcend this complex legacy. Can a woman of African and South Asian descent lead the conversation about our country’s future? Can we truly judge individuals by their character, not their skin color?

Half of the world’s population is women, and only 16% are white people, that is approximately 1.19 billion people out of 7.4 billion. To stay influential in global governance, we must learn to lead without relying on force. As we approach the mid-21st century, it’s essential to reshape our self-perception to inspire global change.

A Harris presidency presents us with a unique opportunity to truly embody the UNITED in our name. It is time to reaffirm our commitment to the self-evident truths that define us. Let’s prioritize the future of our children over today’s political turmoil.

Are we propelling forward or anchoring to a past of slavery and misogyny?

Some may argue that our nation will always be plagued by bigotry. I sincerely hope this isn’t our fate, for the well-being of our country and its role in the world and, more personally, for the future of my grandchildren.

Joia Jefferson Nuri has a keen intuition for helping women of color executives achieve their goals. Her training as a coach in executive Leadership and public speaking has sharpened her ability to understand and support clients clarify their objectives. Joia helps her clients build a toolkit to battle their destructive inner critic, allowing them to rise from their zone of excellence to their zone of genius. Trained in the rubric of positive psychology, her techniques put clients in touch with their inner critic so they can quiet it. As a leadership coach, her ultimate goal is to help clients understand their worth, maximize their abilities, and live the lives they see for themselves. Joia’s signature executive team-building and inner critic workshops assist companies, social change groups, and women’s organizations to maximize their Leadership while aligning their values and practices.

Before coaching, she was a human rights communication strategist for Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover, TransAfrica, The Institute for Policy Studies, and Truly Living Well Center for Urban Agriculture. As a communication strategist, she testified before Congress on Haiti Relief and co-wrote Congressional Testimony for Danny Glover. Joia Nuri has co-written, edited, and coached 14 TEDx Talks, including one for herself. She was honored to be invited to deliver the keynote address in Vienna, Austria, before the 53 nations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Her communications career at NBC News was one of the first women hired as a technician. Her move to CBS News made her the first Black woman to serve as Technical Director of the CBS Evening News and Face The Nation. She also worked as a senior producer at NPR, PBS, and C-SPAN.

Her public speaking training began with her father, a classical baritone. Later, her training continued with Shakespearean actress Naomi Jacobson. Joia has performed voiceovers for documentaries on Civil Rights icon John Lewis, ballet dancer Misty Copeland, filmmaker Ava Duverney, and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

Joia Nuri’s early career was in network newsrooms, where she was the first Black woman to be Technical Director of the CBS Evening News and Face the Nation. She also worked as a senior producer at PBS, NPR, and C-Span.She applies her experience, intuition, and training to help each client achieve true Leadership. Today, she is coaching government, education, corporations, and philanthropy leaders.

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