In Dana Point, Kamala Harris chose vulnerability over victory laps. She spoke to Black women leaders not as a distant figurehead, but as someone who knows what it means to be doubted, dismissed, and still walk back onto the stage. Her message centered on a simple but radical idea: leadership is not about ego, but about who is lifted when you rise. She framed courage as a daily decision, especially for those who are first through the door and most likely to be targeted for it.
Tying her words to the work of protecting voting rights, maternal health, and economic equity, Harris portrayed public service as a shared project rather than a solitary climb. She reminded the audience that progress is built in local rooms like this one, long before it’s televised. As the summit closed, what lingered wasn’t applause, but assignment: keep going, together, no matter how heavy the resistance becomes.
