Jamaicans in Chicago say yes to Kamala Harris
Jamaican residents of Chicago are enthusiastically embracing policies Vice President Kamala Harris proposed during last week’s Democratic National Convention which was held in the state of Illinois.
“A change is coming,” Ephraim Martin said after hearing priorities laid out by the potential first female commander in chief.
“I accept your nomination to be president of the United States,” a confident, fast ascending challenge to the Republicans said.
“We’ve come a long way,” the founder and chairman of a 42-year-old reggae music awards, the Black Heroes Matter Coalition, the Chicago Music Awards and several other Illinois-based entities said. He exuded hope and optimism for the nation when Vice President Kamala Harris made the closing argument to what seemed like a prosecutorial case.
“I was impressed with all four nights of the convention but after she accepted the nomination and outlined her plans for the Middle East I am more committed to my group to help register 100,000 new voters,” Martin said.
“It tells you America is on the rise.” The Jamaican national explained that since the momentous acceptance speech he had received calls from the Caribbean island committing relatives residing in the city and state to volunteer for the campaign.
Although many callers had never ever experienced the process of electing a US official, many expressed optimism of electing the first Black female to the top leadership position.
“And it is not because her father Donald was Jamaican or that she is rooted here, it is because she is the best of the two candidates.”
“Donald Trump has divided the nation, he denied the legitimacy of his loss during the last election and he caused people to die, he should not be considered.”
“If my life depended on it I could never vote for him.”
Similar sentiments were shared by Euphema Daley who resides in the downtown area.
The Kingstonian who moved to the Midwestern city to join her mother more than three decades ago said “anyone is better than Donald Trump.”
The fact the former president referred to a number of African nations in a derogatory manner highlights a list of rejections she compiled for disqualification.
Daley said along with others intend to promote a telephone campaign where 10 people would call another 10 in order to extend activism.
Reportedly, Jamaicans in the Windy City encouraged watch parties.
At a local restaurant cheers erupted when the vice president talked about her roots as the offspring of a South Asian mother and Jamaican father.
Annette Henry who works at Jerk Villa said she was ecstatic, the happiest she had ever been throughout the 20 years she prepared food since migrating to Chicago.
The Thursday VP Harris addressed her party membership, Henry took off from her job in order to focus on the history-making convention.
She cheered heartily when the nominee talked about her youth.
“When I would go to the park my mother would say ‘stay close,’ but my father would say ‘don’t be afraid run Kamala run’…he taught me to be fearless.”
After the 38-minute acceptance speech Henry committed to follow the admonition from former first lady Michelle Obama to “do something.”
Martin has already established a donation portal to further boost the $500 million campaign surge which started on July 21 when President Joe Biden opted out of re-election by naming the vice president his best choice to represent the Democratic party.
“We urge the Jamaican/Caribbean and African citizens of America to say yes! VP Kamala Harris For President” by donating to elect the trailblazer.
Here in New York, a groundswell of activism seems pervasive throughout the city.
Energized by the momentum from the younger, more joyful, female, former prosecutor, senator and first female vice president, patrons to last Saturday’s Charlie Parker Jazz Festival at Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park were greeted by volunteer Daria who erected a tent enhanced by a life-sized, cardboard image of the DNC nominee. She handed out stickers, sold buttons, and encouraged voter registration.
When asked about how she had acquired the campaign promotional items, she said she heard the message from Oprah Winfrey and the former first lady and got busy. Daria said she set up her own headquarters in her apartment; ordered products online and repeated the process she volunteered when Sen. Barack Obama said ‘yes we can.”
The following day, she took her tent to Tompkins Square Park where crowds formed lines to register in order to vote on Nov. 5.
“I did this when the first Black president campaigned I can do it for the first female. My next stop is the US Tennis Open.”
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