Whether intentional or not, the Democratic National Convention (DNC) has been steadily revealing over its first two nights that there are far more Black people included with speaking roles and otherwise getting valuable TV time to spread the Party’s message than organizers originally suggested.
And it’s for good measure, too, since Black voter participation fell in the 2016 election compared to the historic levels in which they cast ballots for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. It’s a simple math equation: If more Black people vote Democratic, chances of Joe Biden beating Donald Trump increase exponentially. With the inclusion of a growing number of Black folks, the DNC is surely counting on that to be true.
The DNC’s first incarnation of its official convention schedule only listed 11 Black people, including musical performers, to be featured in the week’s programming. Alongside that scant docket of Black folks were names like Michael Bloomberg — who is infamous for his support of the racist stop-and-frisk policing practice — adding insult to the metaphorical injury sustained at first glance of what seemed to be a diversity-challenged convention schedule.
But since the convention kicked off Monday night, viewers have been treated to a veritable parade of African Americans taking the virtual stage, both renowned in addition to everyday citizens, making their cases for why Biden deserves to be the next president of the United States. Some of those names have included distinguished leaders like Colin Powell and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser as well as Gwen Carr (Eric Garner‘s mother) and the family of George Floyd.
Originally, the DNC’s schedule was conspicuously missing names such as Stacey Abrams, someone who has consistently been both described as a rising star in the Democratic Party and was long rumored to have been courted by Biden to be his vice-presidential running mate. Her apparent inexplicable exclusion came across like a snub of sorts.
When NewsOne reached out last week for comment from Abrams’ anti-voter suppression organization, Fair Fight, it referred all questions about her DNC role to Biden’s campaign. But Biden’s campaign never responded to NewsOne — until Tuesday night, when Abrams helped open up the convention’s second night with an impassioned keynote address standing by Biden and urging Americans to vote for him. She used her speech in part to bring attention to the disproportionate effect that the collision of multiple factors has especially had on Black lives in 2020.
“America faces a triple threat: a public health catastrophe, an economic collapse, and a reckoning with racial justice and inequality,” Abrams said. “So our choice is clear: a steady, experienced public servant who can lead us out of this crisis just like he’s done before, or a man who only knows how to deny and distract; a leader who cares about our families or a president who only cares about himself.”
Her words, as well as her inclusion at the DNC, probably elicited a collective sigh among those who quickly spoke out last week after it appeared that Abrams would not be speaking at the convention.
Abrams was not alone in having the distinction of being a Black person featured at the DNC who was not included in the initial schedule of speakers at this year’s Democratic National Convention. The revelation of more Black people than expected in the first two nights of the DNC suggests that organizers are far from finished on that front.
Of course, this year’s Democratic National Convention has been anything but conventional. And that could explain why DNC organizers released such an anemic list of speakers when it came to Black people featured, perhaps trying to pique viewers’ curiosity and increase viewership.
To be sure, there are still more people that NewsOne expects to be included, such as budding activist LeBron James, established agitator Colin Kaepernick and the founders of the Movement for Black Lives (to name a few). With that said, it’s clear the DNC has made an intentional effort at presenting an image of racial inclusion at a time in the nation’s history when circumstances suggest otherwise.
Keep reading to find some of the Blackest moments at this year’s Democratic National Convention.
This article will be updated.
This Could Be The Blackest Democratic National Convention Ever was originally published on newsone.com
1. Day 2: Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes wears Air Jordans
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The DNC was supposed to take place in Milwaukee before the coronavirus pandemic forced it online because of social distancing guidelines. Perhaps it was because or in spite of that fact that Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes delivered his keynote address Tuesday night while wearing a very clean pair of Air Jordan sneakers. That part may not have been seen by people watching him speak online, but photographers at the Wisconsin Convention Center snapped photos of Barnes walking to the podium in a pair of Jordans, which is a tradition of sorts for the Dairy State’s first Black lieutenant governor.
What’s Blacker than wearing Jordans to the Democratic National Convention? Barnes is also a graduate of Alabama A&M University, a historically Black college (HBCU).
2. U.S. Virgin Islands delegates
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Yes, the DNC and Biden made sure to include voices and representation from the U.S. Virgin Islands, where local Democratic State Chair Cecil Benjamin was joined Tuesday night by other Virgin Islands delegates to help nominate Joe Biden to be the Democratic nominee for president.
3. Louisiana delegates
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Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond was joined by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell Tuesday night to announce pledged delegates for Joe Biden to be the Democratic presidential nominee. Cantrel is the first Black woman elected mayor of The Big Easy.
4. Colin Powell
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Former Secretary of State Colin Powell addresses the virtual convention on August 18, 2020.
5. New York Times security guard Jacquelyn Asbie
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6. Tracee Ellis Ross
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Actress and activist Tracee Ellis Ross addresses the virtual convention on August 18, 2020.
7. South Carolina Senate Candidate Jamie Harrison announces the delegates
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South Carolina Senate Candidate Jamie Harrison announces the delegates during the virtual convention on August 18, 2020.
8. North Carolina delegates
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Democratic activist Cozzie Watkins announces the North Carolina delegates during the virtual convention on August 18, 2020.
9. New York delegates
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Registered nurse Scheena Iyande Tannis announces the New York delegates during the virtual convention on August 18, 2020.
10. Mayor of Washington D.C. Muriel Bowser with delegates
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Mayor of Washington D.C. Muriel Bowser with delegates addresses the virtual convention on August 18, 2020.
11. Rep. Terri Sewell
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Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell addresses the virtual convention on August 18, 2020.
12. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester
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Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester addresses the virtual convention on August 18, 2020. Rochester was one of the Black folks originally scheduled to speak.
13. Barack Obama
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Former President Barack Obama is seen addressing the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston in a video shown during the second day of the Democratic National Convention.
14. Stacey Abrams
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Former candidate for Governor of Georgia Stacey Abrams addresses the virtual convention on August 18, 2020.
15. Day 1: Rep. Bennie Thompson
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Democratic Convention Chairman and Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson officially closes out the first night of the virtual convention on August 17, 2020.
16. Marley Dias
17. Michelle Obama
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Former First Lady Michelle Obama addresses the virtual convention on August 17, 2020.
18. Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond
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Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond won the unofficial award for the best backdrop of the DNC’s opening night by speaking in front of a mural that spelled out the word “love” and included an image of Coretta Scott King. Richmond is also an HBCU graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. also graduated from.
19. Democrats Hold Unprecedented Virtual Convention From Milwaukee
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MILWAUKEE, WI – AUGUST 17: In this screenshot from the DNCC’s livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris speaks in a video recorded montage during the virtual convention on August 17, 2020. The convention, which was once expected to draw 50,000 people to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is now taking place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Handout/DNCC via Getty Images) photography,people,one person,horizontal,usa,looking at camera,headshot,smiling,talking,politics,wisconsin,election,democracy,political rally,milwaukee – wisconsin,filming,democratic party – usa,nominee,united states presidential election,politics and government,kamala harris,presidential election,democratic national convention,live broadcast,infectious disease,video still,live streaming,covid-19,pandemic – illness,virtual event,democratic national convention 2020
20. Democrats Hold Unprecedented Virtual Convention From Milwaukee
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MILWAUKEE, WI – AUGUST 17: In this screenshot from the DNCC’s livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser addresses the virtual convention on August 17, 2020. The convention, which was once expected to draw 50,000 people to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is now taking place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by DNCC via Getty Images) photography,people,one person,horizontal,usa,headshot,smiling,politics,washington dc,wisconsin,election,democracy,speech,political rally,milwaukee – wisconsin,democratic party – usa,politics and government,democratic national convention,live broadcast,infectious disease,video still,muriel bowser,live streaming,covid-19,pandemic – illness,virtual event,democratic national convention 2020
21. Democrats Hold Unprecedented Virtual Convention From Milwaukee
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MILWAUKEE, WI – AUGUST 17: In this screenshot from the DNCC’s livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, The brothers of George Floyd, Rodney Floyd (L) and Philonise Floyd address the virtual convention on August 17, 2020. The convention, which was once expected to draw 50,000 people to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is now taking place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by DNCC via Getty Images) photography,people,horizontal,usa,topix,waist up,males,two people,politics,brother,wisconsin,election,democracy,speech,political rally,milwaukee – wisconsin,democratic party – usa,politics and government,democratic national convention,live broadcast,infectious disease,video still,live streaming,covid-19,pandemic – illness,virtual event,george floyd,philonise floyd,democratic national convention 2020
22. Democrats Hold Unprecedented Virtual Convention From Milwaukee
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MILWAUKEE, WI – AUGUST 17: In this screenshot from the DNCC’s livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) addresses the virtual convention on August 17, 2020. The convention, which was once expected to draw 50,000 people to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is now taking place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by DNCC via Getty Images) photography,people,one person,horizontal,usa,looking at camera,portrait,headshot,politics,wisconsin,election,democracy,speech,political rally,milwaukee – wisconsin,democratic party – usa,politics and government,democratic national convention,live broadcast,infectious disease,video still,james clyburn,live streaming,covid-19,pandemic – illness,virtual event,democratic national convention 2020
23. Democrats Hold Unprecedented Virtual Convention From Milwaukee
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MILWAUKEE, WI – AUGUST 17: In this screenshot from the DNCC’s livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee former Vice President Joe Biden has a conference call with (L-R) Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, President and CEO NAACP Derrick Johnson and Eric Garner’s Mother Gwen Carr during the virtual convention on August 17, 2020. The convention, which was once expected to draw 50,000 people to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is now taking place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by DNCC via Getty Images) photography,people,one person,horizontal,usa,rear view,politics,vice president,chicago – illinois,three quarter length,wisconsin,president,press conference,former,election,democracy,political rally,milwaukee – wisconsin,protest,democratic party – usa,nominee,joseph biden,united states presidential election,politics and government,conference – event,presidential election,democratic national convention,live broadcast,infectious disease,eric garner,gwen carr,video still,black lives matter,protest against excessive police force,social movement,lori lightfoot,live streaming,covid-19,pandemic – illness,virtual event,anti-quarantine protest,social justice – concept,democratic national convention 2020
24. US-POLITICS-VOTE-DEMOCRATS
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Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wisc., places her hand on her heart as the national anthem is played during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, being held virtually amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 17, 2020. – America’s political convention season begins tonight with former first lady Michelle Obama addressing the Democrats’ now-virtual gathering set to anoint Joe Biden, as President Donald Trump defies coronavirus concerns to rally supporters in battleground Wisconsin. (Photo by Morry Gash / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MORRY GASH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) photography,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,adult,women,night,politics,us president,wisconsin,michelle obama,former,election,democracy,speech,political rally,milwaukee – wisconsin,supporter,season,democratic party – usa,voting,joseph biden,opening event,national anthem,hand,politics and government,coronavirus,democratic national convention,infectious disease,donald trump – us president,covid-19,pandemic – illness,democratic national convention 2020,gwen moore
25. Musical Acts Perform For The 2020 Democratic National Convention
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 17: In this screenshot from the DNCC’s livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention and subjected to publicist approval, Billy Porter performs to the virtual convention August 17, 2020. The 2020 Democratic National Convention, which was once expected to draw 50,000 people to Milwaukee, Wisconsin is now taking place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by DNCC via Getty Images) photography,people,full length,one person,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,topix,music,performance,agreement,wisconsin,political rally,milwaukee – wisconsin,democratic party – usa,publicist,democratic national convention,live broadcast,infectious disease,video still,billy porter,live streaming,covid-19,pandemic – illness,virtual event,democratic national convention 2020
26. Musical Acts Perform For The 2020 Democratic National Convention
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 17: In this screenshot from the DNCC’s livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Leon Bridges performs to the virtual convention August 17, 2020. The 2020 Democratic National Convention, which was once expected to draw 50,000 people to Milwaukee, Wisconsin is now taking place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by DNCC via Getty Images) photography,people,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,topix,music,performance,four people,wisconsin,political rally,milwaukee – wisconsin,democratic party – usa,democratic national convention,live broadcast,infectious disease,video still,leon bridges,live streaming,covid-19,pandemic – illness,virtual event,democratic national convention 2020
