The last time a Black person ran for president of the United States, Jessica Hughes Bennett was graduating from college and preparing to start her first job. She was both excited and shocked that a Black person could possibly lead the country. Then, she says the hate started.
“I saw polite people, kind people, church-going people, and let’s be real, non-BIPOC people, being not nice about that Black guy running for president,” she wrote on her Instagram story after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency.
Bennett’s memory of Obama’s candidacy, his following presidency and the way the country responded to him being in power, has led her, along with many other Black women, to have reservations about what is next for Harris. To help explain her fears, Hughes also shared a post by author Austin Channing to her story.
“I cannot imagine what is coming down the pipeline for a Black woman to have to contend with and how that will intimately impact so many of us,” Channing wrote. “I need you to recognize the hits Black women might be taking over the next three months. I need you to look racism/sexism square in the face and call it what it is when you see it.”
The Road Ahead
Politics are rarely nice. The Black women sharing their anxiety around Harris’ presidential run don’t seem to have that expectation. They aren’t asking that anyone take it easy on the vice president. Rather, they are fearful of the potential blatant racism and sexism that she may face. It is one thing to face harsh criticism and tough questions. However, it is another to be doubted because of the color of your skin or sex. Some Black women worry that the latter will happen and in ways that will trigger their own hurtful life experiences.
“Black Women (no matter your stance), the type of disrespect we are about to witness MAY chip away at your spirit,” co-host of The Scottie & Sylvia Show, Scottie Beam, wrote in an Instagram post. “Our value will definitely be the topic of every discussion. Please take care of yourself.”
In the comments under Beams post, other women weighed in on the toll the news has already taken on their mental health.
“I’m already seeing it. I had to unfollow one of my neighborhood pages on Facebook because of how disrespectful it was getting. I may have to just deactivate all social media for awhile for my own mental health. Hugs to all during this time,” one user wrote.
Protecting Peace Within Politics
Licensed clinical social worker Odile McKenzie says it’s difficult to witness the vitriol that comes with a Black person trying to access power in America.
“If we have to look at this from a trauma lens I think we are going to be re-traumatized by seeing somebody else face some of the same things we experienced in the workplace and school and society,” McKenzie told 21Ninety. “It’s going to bring up a lot of feelings, a lot of anxiety, a lot of sadness, a lot of fear based in our own experience.”
McKenzie says Black women must radically prioritize self-care and protection of their mental health. She says that can be done by limiting what you consume whether on television, online or on social media. She also suggests leaning into a community that understands and supports you as a way to regulate your nervous system.
“The brain finds different ways to protect itself,” McKenzie said. “If you can’t consume it offer yourself some grace. Just know your body is speaking to you. Your brain is speaking to you telling you that this is too much. Just take a cue from that and find other ways to take care of ourselves.”
She advises creating a ritual to help manage the stress around the current political landscape.
“What has worked for you to help manage your anxiety, fears and sense of hopelessness? Try to identify what are those things and try to recreate it,” she said. “Create a ritual around it. Find a way to do it even if it’s two minutes a day. We can do that with movement, scent or community. Really lean into things that bring joy, peace, comfort and do it often.”
Mounting Excitement
Despite some of the growing fears around watching Harris run, there is also excitement from Black women who are looking to help the vice president get elected. The group, Win with Black Women, organized a Zoom call following Biden’s announcement. About 40,000 women joined the call including several political powerhouses. On it, they shared personal stories about Harris and talked about the importance of voter registration and fundraising. According to the groups X account, they were able to raise $1.5 million dollars in just three hours.