Kamala Harris's 2020 Democratic National Convention Speech
Kamala Harris Says We've Gotta Work For Equal Justice, 'Cause "There Is No Vaccine For Racism"
On the third night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Sen. Kamala Harris delivered a deeply poignant speech centreed around her family values, particularly the pride and strength her late mother instilled in her, as well as the desperate need for America to end structural racism.
Harris, who is the daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father, devoted much of her speech defining what family means to her, and how she and presidential candidate Joe Biden are committed to the same vision instilled by her family: "A vision of our nation as a beloved community, where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love," she said.
"Let's be clear — there is no vaccine for racism."
As the senator of many firsts officially accepted her vice presidential nomination, she also emphasised the realities of systemic racism in America, and how we must do the work to dismantle the structures. "This virus has no eyes, and yet it knows exactly how we see each other and how we treat each other," Harris said in a powerful moment. "And let's be clear — there is no vaccine for racism."
"We've gotta do the work to fulfil that promise of equal justice under law," the senator continued. "Because, none of us are free until all of us are free." Harris ended her moving speech asking Americans to work with her and Biden to build "an America we know is possible." "We will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us," she said. Watch Harris's speech in full above.
