What’s next? Boston thought leaders debrief on the presidential election

Local community leaders share their disappointment about the recent U.S. presidential election results, along with their praise for Vice President Kamala Harris and her campaign.

Rev. Irene Monroe, one of the hosts of the weekly podcast, “All Revved Up!” on WGBH (89.7 FM) Boston Public Radio said that while the election results were not the outcome she wanted, she believes that each vote is an act of faith.

“It’s not the outcome I had hoped for, but I do understand this, that every vote is a prayer. It’s an act of faith and the belief that participating in the democratic process that the majority of good will, people’s intention will come to fruition. As a child of the Civil Rights Movement, I’ve been Black too long to really get upset with the new form of white supremacist reconstituting and ruling the White House,” she said.

Monroe also credited Harris for running a great presidential campaign, despite her time restraints.

“Now I would have had tears of joy had she won like when Obama won, but she did a superb job with a 107-day campaign. It is the way that we Black women make a way out of no way. I’ve  got nothing but love for having seen another Black woman work her Black girl magic…the brevity of her campaign. I’d say she was miraculous, superb. I think about the width, the shoulders she stands on, one of which is my former congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm; we used to, as kids, call her Miss C. But, you know, she’s standing on so many shoulders. I’m proud to have witnessed this,” she said.

She also talked about the inspiration that Harris has left after running her presidential campaign.

“Kamala Harris’s blunders were magnified and her victories muted. With Trump, it was obviously a double standard. He was lawless, but she must be flawless. I think she carved out a lane for herself…she met the moment. Let’s just say that—she really met the moment. …It was a miraculous run, a very good one. What I like is the inspiration that she leaves us all. I like that she remembers where she comes from—she went back to Howard University. … It was a beautiful, beautiful moment of what we can possibly expect in this country,” Monroe said.

Colette Phillips COURTESY PHOTO

Colette Phillips, president/CEO of Colette Phillips Communications, Inc., said she is horrified, disappointed, and shocked about the American voter electing former President Donald Trump for a second presidential term.

“That the American voter would choose a 34-time convicted felon, an adjudicated rapist, a pathological liar, a con artist, and a cheat, cheating the banks and the government taxes. A known racist who did not rent his property to African Americans and other people of color over a highly qualified, highly competent, highly articulate and experienced Black and South Asian is just beyond appall. It is the epitome of racism and white supremacy, because if Donald Trump was a Black man, first of all, he wouldn’t even be on the election roster, they would have kicked him off and done everything to keep him off, or a woman, too, for that matter. It tells us how much work America still has to do,” she said.

Phillips also said that America has lost its moral compass.

“I don’t know what parallel universe the people who voted for him (were) living in, but the things he said on the election, the attacks on immigrants, the attacks on Latinos, the attacks on just women, vile things he said, and the names that he called the vice president was just unbelievable, and people were sitting in his audience laughing. … America is supposed to be the bellwether for the world. We are the country that the rest of the world looks up to. And I shudder to think what the rest of the world is thinking about America. And it just goes to show you that we have not come as far as we thought,” she said.

However, Phillips said that as Black people, we should not give in to despair, despite the election results.

“Despair is a luxury we do not have. Despair is surrender, and we cannot afford to surrender. We have to stand up for what we do, and this is the time. The superpower of Black people in America is our resiliency—that we have been through so much, and yet we are still standing. We have to remember that, and not buckle. My words of encouragement to Black America, to Black Bostonians, Black New Englanders, is to stay grounded in our faith, because this too will pass. America needs to be able to go through this experience. I thought maybe after the first Trump presidency and administration, they would have learned their lesson, but they didn’t. We now find ourselves in a very precarious situation where lots of people are anxious.There’s a lot of anxiety going on,” she said.

Now is the time for white allies to show up for Black people, Phillips says.

“This is the time for them to show up. I want to remind the white allies, the ones who marched during Black Lives Matter and after George Floyd, this is the time for them to stand beside us in partnership. Stand in front of us to protect us, and stand behind us, so that we don’t fall backwards. That’s what true allyship is about. It’s not a performative one-day, one-week, one-march action. It has to be a lifetime commitment to making a difference. That’s my lesson to white Americans who want to be allies and are allies to Black people. Show up, speak up, stand up, be there for us, because we need you now more than ever,” she said.

Attorney Michael Curry said that ultimately, this election came down to American democracy vs. prejudice, regardless of party affiliations.

Michael Curry BANNER PHOTO

“Prejudice won. Whether it’s the fear of brown people coming over the border, a woman leading on the world stage and machismo, transgender people getting gender-affirming care, (or) too much DEI and wokeness, this election tapped into the worst of us. ‘But, this too is America!’ he said. “This was less about the price of eggs, the fear of escalating global conflict and support for Israel, than people are making it out to be. America had a chance to choose progress and civility and inclusion, and once again failed to meet the moment.”

Curry said that while it is great that so many people are “woke” or are “waking up,” he calls us to now be insomniacs.

“Out of the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, Oval Office, and Supreme Court will come proposals and decisions, known as Project 2025, that will likely set the law for the next two generations. After this week, all of us need to turn back on our televisions, come to terms with this situation, the trauma it caused, and battle like our ancestors did for the soul of America. That’s in school committees, city councils, state legislatures, Congress, courts, classrooms, boardrooms and the streets,” he said. 

“Stay sleep at your own peril! Frederick Douglass, Ida B Wells and Dr. King will tell you that “when we fight, we win—eventually,” but that may come well into the future after we endure this campaign to Make America Great Again,” he added.   

Joyce Ferriabough Bolling, a media and political strategist and communications specialist, said that she was at first excited by Harris’ presidential candidacy and the possibility of her being elected as America’s first woman and woman of color president, however she knew the burdens that Harris would have to bear during her campaign.

“As a longtime advocate for getting more Black women into office, I knew how hard Kamala would have to climb and that racism and misogyny was alive and well. But I knew that win, lose or draw, just being in the race, she would be a barrier breaker. And that she was. She got 85 percent of the Black vote and handily eclipsed the myth of Black men possibly not voting for her, because she was a woman and the questioning of whether she was indeed Black,” she said.

“Last time I looked, Jamaicans were Black. We still have work to do in that arena because in many ways, it’s a tool that is used to divide and conquer. We may have come here on different boats, but we are in the same boat now. The race showed we have a lot of work to do. But in a 107-day run, Kamala did an amazing job and gave communities of color and especially Black women a blueprint to build upon for the future,” she added.

Embrace Boston President and CEO Imari Paris Jeffries said that the results left him feeling disappointed and alarmed, yet not surprised.

“As hopeful as we need to be to make change, we also have to be grounded in the reality of our times. And we are in special times. On the other side of our collective emotional response is resolution and commitment to action. And that commitment is needed more than ever before,” he said. “While the election speaks to the work on a national level, we also need to be vigilant about the work on a local level. Now is the time to work for the world we want to see.”

Jeffries also said that we must channel our frustration into a relentless push for reforms that will fortify our democratic process.

“Despite the hurdles thrown our way, like voter suppression, our collective resolve is unwavering and more crucial than ever. It’s essential that we stay the course, making sure every voice is heard and every person is valued. Reflecting on this election, let’s treat it not just as a lesson but as a powerful catalyst for action. It’s time to double down on our commitment and build a future that truly aligns with our highest ideals. Together, we will move forward, transforming disappointment into determination and shaping a world that genuinely embodies justice and dignity for all,” he added.

Kelley Chunn, founder of Kelley Chunn and Associates consultancy, said that sadly, this is not the first time that America has shown us what kind of country it is, and it will not be the last.

“Democracy is a dream and this election outcome places us further from that dream becoming a reality. Of course, we will continue to fight for racial, social and economic justice—both at the grassroots and policy levels. Moving forward, our challenge is to reach out and engage Americans across color, class and cultural lines to find a way to coalesce and fight for a more equitable future for us all,” she said.

Rahsaan Hall PHOTO: ULEM

Rahsaan D. Hall, Esq., president and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, said that as they reflect on the outcome of the national election, trust that they will continue to fight for the community—today and every day.

“We stand with Black women, immigrants, the LGBTQIA+ community, justice-involved individuals, and all marginalized communities throughout the nation who seek to make the dream of America a reality. Democracy is one of the pillars of the Urban League, and our mission and advocacy doesn’t rise or fall due to the outcomes of any one election. Our commitment to the work of empowering communities and changing lives will never be interrupted,” he said.

Hall also says that he is reminded of the words of Civil Rights leader and former National Urban League Executive Director Whitney M. Young Jr., who, when addressing the injustice in America prior to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, stated, “The unhealthy gap between what we preach in America and what we often practice creates a moral dry rot that eats at the very foundation of our democratic ideals and values.”

“The proclamation of equality, undermined by the denial of equal access; the articulation of civic duties, silenced by disenfranchisement; the invitation to tired, poor, huddled masses rescinded by xenophobia. Today, we are reminded of the harsh reality that despite generational progress, unhealthy gaps in American ideals still exist. Despite these prevalent gaps, our communities remain strong and are strongest when we build political and economic power,” he said.

Ed Gaskin, executive director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets, said that while he believes that Vice President Kamala Harris was the right candidate demonstrated by her ability to raise over $1 billion in such a short period of time, closing the gap between herself and Trump, which led  analysts to say she had the most successful 60 days in campaign history, it was her campaign who failed her.

Ed Gaskin PHOTO: JAMES BOYKIN

“The campaign felt that the argument about democracy and Trump being unfit was a winner. The voters didn’t buy it. They survived a Trump presidency before and believed they could do it again. The campaign made a similar mistake concerning abortion. They thought women would give reproductive rights a higher priority than the economy. That wasn’t true. Most states where abortion rights was an issue had developed a state-level response. They weren’t looking for a federal response. Abortion rights were important in worst-case situations, higher grocery prices affected them every week,” he said.

Gaskin also said that immigration was another misstep by the Harris campaign.

“When states such as Massachusetts were spending over a billion dollars on immigrants, the campaign needed an explanation on what they did accomplish, the same way the campaign needed to discuss the other things Kamala accomplished with the responsibilities in her portfolio. Crime was an issue for some and 26% of the Trump campaign spent ad budget went to “Saving Girls Sports,” an attack on Harris that the campaign didn’t respond to.”

He said that the campaign never explained why Harris was running for president nor developed a theme for her, like Trump’s “Make America Great Again,” former President Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can” or “Hope and Change.”

“As a result, people voted for the one that had the clearest economic message, which was their top concern,” he added. 

Nia K. Evans COURTESY PHOTO

Nia K. Evans, director of Boston Ujima Project, said that this reminds her of a joint statement that her organization released alongside the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), Boston While Black, and Embrace Boston when the 2020 election outcomes were still unclear.

In that statement, Evans said, they wanted to acknowledge their different roles, levels of activity, understandings of power, and offer concrete prescriptions that all can try in some way, shape or form—everyday democracy.

They offered steps to “excavate and develop our individual and collective power,” such as finding a Black- or Indigenous-led organization, creating new possibilities—wherever you are, then, going to a meeting to listen, notice, and address the ways internalized white supremacy shows up in daily interactions.

The steps also encouraged asking the organization for other ways you can be supportive, and staying engaged with that organization and if possible, commit to the organization by joining, volunteering, or directing resources its way, noting that this sequence is just one of the ways that people can practice everyday democracy.

Evans said that these steps “to excavate and develop our individual and collective power” continue to require fulfillment by communities across the United States.

“In that statement we also stated, ‘This is a long game.’ It has somewhat dismayed me to see shortsighted backpedaling with regards to the power of we, collectivity, interconnectedness, and joy in the wake of a win grounded in hate and extreme individualism,” she said.

“To see the principle of how one wins being just as important as winning itself being thrown out of the window. To see winning for the sake of winning taking precedence. As the only constant is change, as our emotions ebb and flow and as our assessments change in time, in the spirit of the long game, I hope we take time to truly examine our values, identify our fears, understand how we are driven by both and work on being less driven by our fears and more driven by our values. Not just once but over and over again,” she said.

Evans said that we should practice and strengthen concrete love and care so that when we face moments of uncertainty or fear, such are our default as opposed to hate and indifference.

George (Chip) Greenidge Jr., executive director of the Greatest Minds, said that we cannot argue with the voter—Trump has won.

“It appears that African American voters are at the forefront of trying to protect democracy. Again, no one is at the interest of the African American at its core, this is another wake-up call. This election is the biggest mirror for the Democratic Party to have to have. It has to look at itself—now, we as citizens must rely on the other branches of government to check this authoritative government,” he said.

Rev. Miniard Culpepper, senior paster of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, said he has worked on presidential campaigns for many years, including the Harris campaign for a short time in George.

Rev. Miniard Culpepper COURTESY PHOTO

“My first campaign was working for Senator Ted Kennedy when he ran for president, but I learned the most from Jim Carville when he was the campaign manager for former President Bill Clinton. I’ll never forget his quote that summed up President Clinton’s win over George Bush: “It’s the economy stupid.” Voters forgot that the huge cost-of-living increases began under the Trump administration during COVID-19. Notwithstanding the loss, the “Souls to the Polls” proved to be a great asset to the campaign,” he said.

Haitian community leader Marie St. Fleur said that the result of the presidential election was painful.

“Many hoped that America’s disregard for the contributions and leadership of women, especially Black women, had ended. Unfortunately, this election proves otherwise. Some will blame the Democratic Party’s messaging or lack of focus on economic issues, but the truth is, America voted as it always has. Now, we must lift our spirits, analyze the campaigns of the past decade and develop a plan of action to talk with our people and protect our democracy,” she said.

BECMA president and CEO Nicole Obi said that decisions, especially elections, have consequences.

“The American voters have made their choices; the consequences will surely follow. As a Black woman and mother to a Black child, I am disappointed and discouraged by the outcome of the election. As the CEO of an economic council focused on building Black wealth, we will continue to advocate for and advance efforts to ensure that Massachusetts Black business owners and residents have access and opportunities to not just survive but thrive, regardless of who is in office,” she said.