Madam Vice President

Every Vice President in American history

Last week, 75 million Americans voted to elect Kamala Harris -- the first ever female, first ever Black, first ever Indian-American person -- to the second highest office in the land.

Regardless of your politics, this is history.

Its significance to women and girls, especially Black and Brown women getting their due as the force responsible for delivering this milestone, is undeniable.

For my part, whether the partners at a white shoe law firm or the halls of the White House --

Leadership should reflect those being led.

And finally, at this level of government , that is not a white face.

From a storytelling point of view, it's extremely tempting to center this victory or whatever progressive feminist or racial justice agendas squarely on Kamala's shoulders. Or to say that Stacey Abrams single-handedly handed flipped GA blue. The media, hell, the human mind likes simplicity. We have been raised on a storytelling model that centers a hero overcoming challenges to save the girl. Why not tell the story of the woman who overcame racism, sexism, and fascism to save the republic?

The story of a single leader without mention of the many who smoothed her path is a half-truth.

As Jotaka Eaddy, the Black female founder and CEO of Full Circle Strategies reflected about Harris' win:

"I thought about the rich legacy of Black women that made this moment possible that are no longer with us. I thought about the Black women of Delta Sigma Theta who marched for suffrage in 1913. I thought about Fannie Lou Hamer. I thought about Shirley Chisholm, and how she was mistreated. I thought about all the Black women that have been organizing together—you just are grateful to be able to witness such a moment in your lifetime. … You have those moments, and then you know there’s work to do."

Directly after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez took to Instagram with a similar message: at that moment, a giant had been lost, but the movement moved on without her. The progressive policies she upheld did not die with her. There is no one leader who brings about significant change. In her words:

'This is a million person movement.'

Members of the Third World Women’s Alliance in NYC in 1972 (Credit: Luis Garza)

So as we return to work this week to lead in our fields and work to shift the policies, lay new foundations, reimagine our institutions and are inevitably asked to tell our tale of progress at work, it is incumbent that we toe the line between the glory of individual achievement and the humble undercurrent of group effort. One cannot exist without the other.

E pluribus unum. Out of many, one.

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