‘As good as we make it.’ Black leaders react to Biden drop-out, Harris endorsement

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson’s first words said it all.

“I am not doing good,” Wilson uttered as she answered the phone just minutes after President Joe Biden ended his bid for reelection. “I am just devastated.”

To say that Wilson was surprised would be an understatement. A self-described “Biden defender 100-percent,” she had seen the chatter about Biden potentially dropping out but paid it no mind.

“Of course I’m in the middle of it and aware of the conversations,” Wilson told the Miami Herald, “but I thought after the debate and the different appearances that the president had the opportunity to complete and do so well. I thought this would die down.”

Wilson’s reaction mirrored many elected officials throughout South Florida. That shock, however, soon gave way to optimism at the thought of the potentially historic election of Vice-President Kamala Harris, whom Biden quickly endorsed.

“We all need to rally behind the VP to make sure that we are still united as a party,” State Senator Shevrin Jones said. “I think doing anything outside of Vice-President Harris would be malpractice to the Democratic Party.”

“She’s a very smart lady,” Miami Gardens Mayor Rodney Harris said. “I believe her qualifications speak for themselves.”

If Harris wins the Democratic nominee or the presidential election, she would be the first woman with Jamaican and Indian ancestry to do so. With Miami-Dade County having one of the largest Caribbean-born immigrant populations in the country, the excitement down here was palpable.

Harris’ election “would just be earthshaking and monumental because we all know that Black women themselves carry the nation on its shoulders,” said Wilson, the first Bahamian lawmaker to serve in Congress. Wilson then rattled off a list of issues — from the end of Roe v. Wade to the attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion — that she felt Republicans had spearheaded. “For her to come along to restore those rights at this juncture in the country’s history, that would just be phenomenal.”

Wilson’s great-grandfather migrated to Miami to work on Henry Flagler’s railroad in the late 1800s. He even cast a vote for Miami to become a city, according to Wilson, making him part of the 44-percent of Black men whom supported incorporation.

“This is more of a moment in time that would emanate so much pride in this local community,” Wilson said.

Although Harris lacks presidential experience, many elected officials loved her chances against former President Donald Trump.

“Her vision for our country aligns with our values of justice, equality, and progress,” Miami-Dade County Commissioner Marleine Bastien said in a statement. “She has been a tireless advocate for healthcare reform, criminal justice reform, and economic equity. Her work to address the climate crisis and support families and small businesses shows her dedication to creating a brighter future for all Americans.”

Between Project 2025 and the January 6th insurrection, “those two issues are a win-win for the Democrats,” Wilson added.

“I was there January 6 and I don’t think people understand the devastation that took place that day because the cleaning crew came in too soon,” she continued, pointing to blood that covered the statues in the National Statuary Hall. “That alone would make anyone against Donald Trump.”

With the Democratic National Convention less than a month away, elected officials called for unity among their party. Infighting, according to Jones, is the only way that the Democrats can fail.

“The chances will be as good as we make it,” Jones said. “If we spread a message of ‘can’t,’ ‘can’t’ will come. If we spread a message of ‘can’ and possibilities and we unite as we’re supposed to, Vice-President Harris won’t have a single problem in winning.”