‘Let’s Write the Subsequent Nice Chapter’

Vice President Kamala Harris‘ historic finale speech on the 2024 Democratic Nationwide Conference marked the primary time a girl of colour has accepted a significant occasion’s nomination for president. Tasked with exhibiting the nation that she’s prepared to steer, Harris delivered an assertive and patriotic tackle that sought to unify Individuals throughout the political spectrum.

“I do know there are folks of assorted political opinions watching tonight. And I would like you to know: I promise to be a president for all Individuals,” she mentioned. “You may all the time belief me to place nation above occasion and self, to carry sacred America’s elementary rules, from the rule of legislation to free and honest elections to the peaceable switch of energy.”

She continued: “I will likely be a president who unites us round our highest aspirations, a president who leads and listens, who’s real looking, sensible, and has widespread sense, and all the time fights for the American folks. From the courthouse to the White Home, that has been my life’s work.”

Harris’ speech started with an acknowledgement that the present election is enjoying out in a different way than voters imagined. “The trail that led me right here in current weeks was little question sudden,” she mentioned. “However I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys.”

The vp, who solely lately changed President Joe Biden on the prime of the White Home ticket, formally launched herself to the nation, telling the story of her childhood and sharing classes from her late immigrant mom, Shyamala Gopalan, about resilience and dedication. Touting her profession as a prosecutor, the previous California lawyer basic mentioned the one shopper she’s had in her profession has been the American folks.

“I really like our nation with all my coronary heart,” she mentioned. “All over the place I’m going and everybody I meet, I see a nation that is able to transfer ahead. Prepared for the following step within the unimaginable journey that’s America. I see an America the place we maintain quick to the fearless perception that constructed our nation and impressed the world. That right here, on this nation, something is feasible. That nothing is out of attain.”

Whereas many of the DNC’s keynote audio system made jokes in regards to the Republican presidential ticket, Harris maintained a solemn tone whereas discussing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his operating mate, J.D. Vance, characterizing their imaginative and prescient for America as a darkish one.

“Fellow Individuals, this election will not be solely crucial of our lives, it is among the most necessary within the lifetime of our nation,” she mentioned. “In some ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. However the penalties of placing Donald Trump again within the White Home are extraordinarily critical. Take into account not solely the chaos and calamity when he was in workplace, but in addition the gravity of what has occurred since he misplaced the final election.”

“Our opponents on this race are on the market daily denigrating America, speaking about how horrible every little thing is,” she continued. “Effectively, my mom had one other lesson she used to show: ‘By no means let anybody inform you who you might be, you present them who you might be.’ America, allow us to present one another and the world who we’re and what we stand for.”

After forcefully hitting on each main election 12 months problem — together with reproductive freedom, gun violence, border safety, overseas relations and constructing the center class — Harris leaned into patriotism.

“We’re the heirs to the best democracy within the historical past of the world. And on behalf of our youngsters and our grandchildren and all those that sacrificed so dearly for our freedom and liberty, we have to be worthy of this second,” she mentioned.

“It’s now our flip to do what generations earlier than us have carried out,” she continued, “guided by optimism and religion to combat for this nation we love, to combat for the beliefs we cherish, and to uphold the superior duty that comes with the best privilege on Earth: the privilege and satisfaction of being an American. Collectively, allow us to write the following nice chapter in probably the most extraordinary story ever informed.”

Harris, who accepted the vice presidential nomination on the DNC 4 years in the past, was on observe to earn the VP nomination as soon as once more this 12 months, till Biden exited the race on July 21.

Inside at some point, Harris had changed him because the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, altering the state of the race only some weeks forward of the nominating conference.

Since changing into the main face of her occasion’s White Home ticket and choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her operating mate, Harris has seemingly reenergized the Democratic Occasion, surpassing a number of of Biden’s highest polling numbers in a matter of days and forcing Trump to discover a new marketing campaign technique.

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Harris is the primary lady, Black individual and Asian American to function vp of the USA. If elected in November, she would develop into the nation’s first feminine president and first lady of colour to steer the nation.