‘Disappointed but not surprised,’ Harris-Walz supporters mourn during V.P. concession speech

On Election Day, what began as a Howard University party in every way, slowly turned into a gathering reminiscent of a memorial as Harris-Walz supporters began to realize that the polls were reflecting what they had dreaded since July 21 when President Joe Biden endorsed his vice president to be his successor in the Oval Office. Harris had just months to put together a campaign and gather the support necessary to put her there.

Emotions went from anger to sadness, as students and supporters of the vice president expressed disappointment because she did not address the crowd.

Some could be heard turning on the vice president, upset at her failure to appear at the end of a long night. Parents, standing over their children  as they slept on the grass past midnight, and older supporters writhing in pain from standing for hours felt snubbed by the woman whom they had come to support — not getting so much as a hello from their candidate.

Some even went as far as to incorporate stereotypes about her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, into their reasoning. “This is what they do,” referring to AKA’s and perpetuating other stereotypes that are often waged against the organization.

Black women were explicitly vocal about what they described as the country’s constant degradation of their demographic even when faced with an alternative as eccentric as the president-elect.

“I’m disappointed, but not surprised,” said Bailey Sonko, a senior psychology major and political science minor at Howard. “I’m thankful for Kamala because she inspired us and gave us hope, but the results simply reflected the America that we have always known. It’s sad that we live in a world where misinformation holds more power than education, and the voter statistics directly reflected that.”

As the sun rose on Wednesday, the vice president announced her plans to address supporters on the campus of Howard University that afternoon. Supporters once again took to the yard in anticipation of her remarks.

The crowd that gathered was much different in spirit than the one on Tuesday. Each attendee donned Harris-Walz gear in some capacity. Politicians wore dark sunglasses masking their eyes, bloodshot from tears. AKAs dressed in pink and green to honor their soror. A solemn quietness held the crowd as the campaign’s upbeat playlist rang throughout the field. Songs like “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” elicited irritation and anger among onlookers who felt the day called for much more somber tunes.

“It’s the perfect example of how this country is set up. A Black woman can be twice as qualified and be the obvious choice, but the position will be given to an entitled white boy who’s had everything handed to him by his father,” said Nyhri Mudie, a Howard University senior.

The crowd erupted in a frenzy as Harris’ pick for vice president, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, her husband, Doug Emhoff, and children, arrived first to sit by the podium awaiting the Democratic nominee. And through tears, the people chanted “Kamala” as the vice president emerged to give her concession speech.

“My heart is full today, full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country and full of resolve,” Harris said. “The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for.”

With a nod to her alma mater’s motto, the vice president closed her remarks with this: “The adage is, only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time, but for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case. But here’s the thing, America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars. The light, the light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service.”