madam vice president

madam vice president

words aren't expressing

this feeling 

 watery eyes

shaky smile

long awaited exhale 

the bewilderment of joy 

in recognition 

in representation 

finally 

the bewilderment of pain

that she is the first

that this took 231 years 

too long 

to be seen 

is to unveil 

a history of 

invisibility 

but history is changing 

madam vice president 

walk

and we walk with you

speak 

and we speak with you

take your place 

and we all take it with you

finally 

as we should 

I've received feedback asking how I could possibly celebrate the election of Kamala Harris because of her stance on a number of issues that I disagree with. My response is that despite my many differences, I am simply and deeply grateful that for the first time in American history, a woman is in the White House. I would feel this same feeling - expressed in the poem above - for any woman who had become our first Madam Vice President. When Barack Obama was elected, I was too concerned with my disagreements to celebrate the significance of an African American man being elected President. I celebrate that now, and I celebrate Kamala Harris for those same reasons: I am thankful to see our country moving forward in such an important way by recognizing the equality of women and by showcasing that equality to the next generation of girls who will lead America.