Former Vice President, Kamala Harris, received the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) Award on February 22 and urged individuals to stand up for the Black community.
The ceremony is her first public appearance since the 2024 election. In her speech, she reflected on the history of the Award and the mission of the founding members of the NAACP.
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“As everyone here may know, I grew up inspired by the work of the NAACP. Inspired by all those who took up the fight for justice, for equality, and for opportunity….
“Their example is part of the reason I chose a life of public service…Seeking to always live by the words of a distinguished NAACP founder, W.E.B. DuBois.
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“It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year.’ This sense of urgency is what we must have today,” she said.
Ms Harris told viewers and guests at the event to stay vigilant and not become disillusioned about the country’s state.
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“Some look at this moment and rightly feel the weight of history…Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy, and ask, ‘What do we do now?
“But we know exactly what to do because we have done it before, and we will do it again. We use our power. We organize, we mobilize, we educate, and we advocate,” she noted.
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The NAACP Award is given to people who “excel in public service and leverage their unique platforms to ignite and drive meaningful change.”
In choosing Kamala Harris for the Award, the Chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors, Leon W. Russell, noted that Kamala Harris was “more than a leader.”
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“She is a force of change, driven by an unwavering passion to shape a brighter, more equitable future. It is with great honour that we present her with the Chairman’s Award at this year’s NAACP Image Awards, celebrating her relentless dedication to justice, equality, and the betterment of our society,” the organizers noted.
Past honourees of the Chairman’s Award included: Amanda Gorman, Samuel L. Jackson, the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis, Ruby Dee, Danny Glover, Rev. James Lawson, Tyler Perry, then-Senator Barack Obama, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin.
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Before running for President in 2024, Kamala Harris served in various capacities including Senator and Attorney General in California. She became the first woman, Black woman, and South Asian American to hold the office of Vice President.
