I think many of us can agree that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s win of the presidency and vice-presidency was historic, to say the least. Listening to their acceptance speeches, I couldn’t help but marvel in the history that was being made that night, and be hopeful for the generations ahead of us.
One part of Kamala’s speech really resonated with me, and that was when she spoke of the hardships, mobility and achievements of the women who came before her. She wouldn’t be where she is today without the hard work of countless women who fought for a woman’s right to be in that office, to hold the second-highest elected position in the land. As a woman myself, I have so much respect and admiration for the strength and vision of those before me, and I know Kamala does too. They have lifted Kamala up, and she stands on their shoulders.
That image resonated with me so deeply, I needed to create it. The women I chose to depict in this poster are holding themselves in a strong stance with their hands on their hips, as a way of saying, We’re holding Kamala up and we won’t let her fall. We’ve fought too hard for that to happen. It’s because of their bravery and strength that we as a country have a better future ahead of us, and I wanted to portray that in a poster that would shed light on the accomplishments of these women.
Showcasing a diverse group of women of all ethnicities was important to me, because it’s not just white women who have fought for our right to be heard. As Kamala so eloquently stated, many generations of women of all backgrounds have fought hard for her success, and for the success of future generations to come.
“I am thinking about the generations of women – Black women, Asian, White, Latina, Native American women – who, throughout our nation's history, have paved the way for this moment. Tonight, I reflect on their struggle, their determination and the strength of their vision to see what can be, unburdened by what has been. And I stand on their shoulders.” – Kamala Harris