By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.
The 2024 presidential election has everyone talking. Many are saying that this election is the most consequential one of our lifetime.
I share that perspective. Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States of America is the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. The excitement around Vice President Harris’ nomination is being felt near and far.
Her candidacy has given people hope. She has made the transition look seamless.
Her demeanor and persona look and sound presidential.
Democrats, Independents and many Republicans are ecstatic. Yes, even Republicans who have seen the light are happy, too.
If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands.
One group clapping their hands is the Divine Nine. As you probably know, Vice President Kamala Harris is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA).
She pledged AKA while she was an undergraduate student at Howard University, an HBCU, in Washington DC. It is no secret that she has been quite proud of her sorority affiliation over the years.
Many of us pledged Divine Nine fraternities and sororities. Our common interests have resulted in creating college fairs, food relief programs, job fairs, blood drives and voter registration drives to name just a few of them.
The organizations have al- ways been at the forefront of education and social justice initiatives. This presidential election will be decided by voter turnout. We know that equality and equity happen when citizens vote. Now is the time for us to break voting records. We must ensure that our family and friends get to the polls. Nothing can be taken for granted.
According to reports there are approximately 4 million members who are part of the Divine Nine. To me, that means four million votes for Kamala Harris to be the next president of the United States of America.
The tide has turned in favor of Vice President Harris. Her favorable rating is now higher than her opponent according to CNN.
This is not surprising to me as goodness will always trump meanness. Bad will is much like sinking sand and her opponent is getting caught in it.
The Republican Party was taken aback by how quickly her campaign has become energized and formidable. One Republican who didn’t want to be identified said her campaign is for real and we better be on the lookout.
Right now, the GOP doesn’t have a strategy to counter her platform of ideas and opportunity. They don’t cast a wide net and they have not been appealing to people of color.
The Divine Nine has always been included in that large tent of the Democratic Party. Now it is poised to play a major role in getting the vote out for Vice President Harris. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at the Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Boule in Dallas TX in early July. She said, “In this moment, once again, our nation is counting on the leaders in this room to guide us forward; to energize, organize and mobilize, to register folks to vote and to get them to the polls in November.”
On July 24th, Vice President Harris spoke at the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Grand Boule in Indianapolis IN. My wife is a Zeta and pride covered her face when talking about the VP’s address.
The International President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Dr. Stacie NC Grant was on CNN last week and talked about how the sorority will help Vice President Harris. There is a thirst for the truth to be told in America. An appetite for good to replace evil. We, the members of the Divine Nine will provide lifelines of integrity and honesty. Being a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will give me that chance. Our task is before us and that is to make Vice President Kamala Harris the next President of the United States of America.
Dr. James B. Ewers, Jr. is a longtime educator who hails from Winston Salem, N.C. Ewers is a life member of the NAACP and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Dr. Ewers is a member of the CIAA Hall of Fame.
