Is it really possible that the USA will finally have a woman, specifically a woman of color, as president of this so-called enlightened country? «My country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing,» has been a difficult place for women to get elected at the local, state and national levels.
Now, as a serious presidential candidate, Kamala Harris is facing attacks from all sides for her gender, ethnicity, and even for not having birthed a child and for having a cat. Many men and women, for various reasons, have not been birth parents, and that number is growing every year.
Issues are raised about women candidates, along with extra scrutiny that is not applied to male candidates at all levels. Many men, and some women, have been reluctant to fund or vote for women candidates. I was a campaign manager for congressional and national senate candidates and experienced the harsh reality of party politics when it came to women candidates. However, these candidates, along with others, began to open the doors to future women candidates.
The USA has had women run in primaries to be the selected presidential nominee, but only Hillary Clinton received that endorsement. While she won the popular vote, she lost in the electoral votes. Within the two-party system, there have only been three vice presidential candidates: Geraldine Ferraro, Sarah Palin and Kamala Harris.
While the U.S. has yet to break the presidential glass ceiling, 57 countries worldwide have been led by women since 1960. In 1872, Victoria Woodhull became the first female presidential candidate, even before women had suffrage in the U.S. Charlotta Bass was the Progressive Party nominee for vice president in 1952, the first Black woman nominated for the office by an American political party.
Today, Kamala Harris will be scrutinized most carefully. They will call out her laugh, her smiles, her tears, her clothes, makeup, hair, her longtime friends, her multicultural ethnicity, her sorority, and her ability to dance. However, most critics avoid confronting her on policy and rule of law issues. No male candidate goes through this, although Obama was once criticized for wearing a tan suit, which was a most ridiculous attack.
For years, some women have been frustrated by this lack of respect and equality. Behind closed doors, women have contemplated forming a Women’s Third Party, which would truly challenge the two-party system. Women are seeking the formula for obtaining their God-given rights in politics, business, the arts and education.
One day, we might all have to face this tsunami of change coming from women demanding freedom and justice not only for themselves but also for others. Today, Black women voters have proven to be a force to be recognized within the two-party system. It has been recently reported that a substantial number of white women are joining the Harris campaign.
As a union and peace and freedom activist, I have found women to be some of the smartest and strongest activists who seem to fear nothing. As we move forward, we must remember the clarion call of Fannie Lou Hamer when she said, “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
