Former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams addressed a crowded room in Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall Wednesday evening, expressing that the Harris-Walz loss in early November would have serious ramifications for generations to come, especially for Howard students.
“This is a non-partisan campus, but I am not non-partisan,” she said to scattered laughter. “The consequences of the next four years are going to affect you all for the next 30-40 years.”
Throughout the post-election talk, students posed questions about various issues such as the future of political organizing. In response, Abrams emphasized the importance of meaningful action, including opposing the dissemination of misinformation in marginalized communities. She also criticized the “myopic focus on elections,” emphasizing that people have to stop waiting for elections to act.
One student questioned Abrams about secularism as it relates to American democracy. Abrams responded that theocracy is spreading in the form of Christian nationalism, and its gaining power must be combated.
“My faith should not be inculcated into government policy,” she said.
Avery Johnson, a freshman history major from Maryland, brought up the GOP’s opposition to Title IX, a federal civil rights law that protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
Abrams asked members of the audience to raise their hands if they knew what Title IX was. Several hands went up, but just as many remained down.
Abrams then described Title IX as “the scourge of conservatives.” She said that conservatives’ intention is to “shut women up by shutting down Title IX.” She tasked listeners with fighting back against Republicans’ attempts to overturn Title IX.
“When you hear or see something, say something, and not just once, but over and over,” Abrams said.
A female student expressed feelings of exhaustion and despair as a Black woman and asked for Abrams’ advice and reassurance. Abrams said that Black women have to stay angry.
“Black women are the most effective fighters because we’re often the most targeted victims,” she stated to murmurs of approval from the audience. “What we cannot do is give them permission to win.”
According to AP News, 89 percent of Black women voted for Kamala Harris, and 83 percent of Black voters voted for her.
Abrams also discussed the viability of forming multiracial coalitions with other marginalized groups. She encouraged listeners to do away with the expectation of complete unity, claiming that members of any coalition will have differing views and opinions. She said the important thing is to not allow them to get in the way of collaboration.
“Purity of coalition and purity of principle is a luxury,” she said. “Meet people where they are. Be authentic but adaptable. Give everyone something that they gain.”
Returning to the topic of Black women, Abrams mentioned her own success in becoming the first Black woman to put her name on the ballot for a major political party for governor.
In response to the loud applause her words received, Abrams said that there was still much work to do. She advised listeners to keep pushing for more Black women in office and on the ballot.
Abrams concluded the discussion with a call to action.
“You have power to execute,” she said to the audience when a student from Minnesota asked her how to best make their voice heard.
She challenged students to choose one thing to commit to working for and speaking out about over the next year and to commit one hour a month to a specific organization.
“You’re here at Howard University because you have been able to leap over so many obstacles that should have stopped you, and you got here anyway. From Minnesota,” she said, eliciting laughter from the audience.
After the talk, students lingered in the room to take pictures and socialize. Many of them described Abrams’ talk as having provided reassurance or inspiration.
“It was very much needed,” Kendall Robinson, a freshman film major and first-time voter said, “I was definitely a bit discouraged by the outcome of the election, but what Stacey Abrams said was very insightful and encouraging.”
Arianna Yanka, a first-year political science major, agreed.
“I would say the biggest takeaway that I have from this event is to continue on with my education and educating others as well, because, as Stacey Abrams emphasizes, it’s a collective effort,” she said. “It takes a village to create change.”
Luke Nelson, a third-year medical student, also reflected positively on the event.
“I think what we did today was ground ourselves in communication, in strategies and ways to project our ideas so that they don’t get distorted,” he said.
Copy edited by Camiryn Stepteau
