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Vice President Kamala Harris at DNC podium accepting nomination
Blog August 23, 2024

Picturing History: Kamala Harris

By Janelle Rucker and Justin D. Knight

Vice President Kamala Harris at DNC podium accepting nomination

"On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination to be President of the United States."

And with that, Vice President Kamala Harris became the first woman of color to receive a major party nomination for the highest office in American politics. Exactly 60 years prior, another Black woman, Fannie Lou Hamer, fought for Black people to have a seat at the political table at the same convention.

Last night, the arena erupted with cheers and waving signs as history was made. Many wore white, a nod to the early 20th century movement for women's voting rights. Others wore custom shirts and hats to mark the moment.

Scroll below to see scenes from around the United Center during the final, historic night of the Democratic National Convention. 

Kamala Harris walks on stage to accept presidential nomination at DNC
Kamala Harris delivering her speech surrounded by signs that say Kamala
A Black woman wears white and civic engagement paraphernalia at Night 4 of the DNC
Black women, members of the Divine Nine sororities, pose in front of the DNC stage
Woman points to a collection of pins with political messaging on her jacket
A Black woman holds her fist in the air
A black woman's nail art says "vote"
View of the arena crowd in front of Kamala Harris
Kerry Washington at podium on DNC Night 4
Rep. Colin Allred
Balloons fall in the United Center behind Kamala signs
Amos Brown at the podium delivering the benediction during the final night of DNC
Kamala Harris walks on stage to accept presidential nomination at DNC
Kamala Harris delivering her speech surrounded by signs that say Kamala
A Black woman wears white and civic engagement paraphernalia at Night 4 of the DNC
Black women, members of the Divine Nine sororities, pose in front of the DNC stage
Woman points to a collection of pins with political messaging on her jacket
A Black woman holds her fist in the air
A black woman's nail art says "vote"
View of the arena crowd in front of Kamala Harris
Kerry Washington at podium on DNC Night 4
Rep. Colin Allred
Balloons fall in the United Center behind Kamala signs
Amos Brown at the podium delivering the benediction during the final night of DNC
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The first woman to serve as Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris walks on stage to accept the Democratic Party's nomination for president - another first.
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"My mother taught us to never complain about injustice, but to do something about it." During her speech, Harris shared stories of her mother's impact on their family and community.
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Many women - onstage and off - wore white for Kamala Harris' acceptance speech, a nod to the fight for a woman's right to vote in the early 20th century.
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Divine Nine and civil rights leaders - including Win With Black Women's Jotaka Eddy and National Council of Negro Women president Shavon Arline-Bradley - represented their sororities on this historic night.
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Attendees put their own spin on "suffragette white" with custom t-shirts, pins, and patriotic nail art.
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Joy, pride, and solidarity were the themes of the night, both in remarks from the stage and symbols in the crowd.
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Many dressed to match the theme of the historic night - down to their nail art.
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Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic Party's nomination to a standing-room-only crowd in the United Center in Chicago, IL.
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Actress Kerry Washington reminded the crowd that they are the superheroes saving democracy with the greatest power in convincing our families to vote.
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"'We' is more powerful than 'me,'" Rep. Colin Allred (TX) reminded the crowd.
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After Harris accepted the party's nomination, attendees chanted and hoisted signs and American flags in the air while balloons fell from the ceiling.
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NAACP Board Member Rev. Amos Brown delivered the benediction, closing out the final, historic night.

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