Northwestern expert discusses the importance of Black women to Democrats ahead of Harris’s speech at the DNC

CHICAGO --- The Democratic National Convention will culminate a week from today in Chicago with Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the party’s nomination and giving what may be the most important speech of her political career. Black women will be listening closely. 

Northwestern University scholar Sally Nuamah has explored the role of Black women in American politics and the implications policies that fail to recognize them have on the civic participation of a stalwart Democratic voting bloc.

Nuamah, associate professor of political science, human development and social policy at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy, speaks on the importance of Chicago as this year’s host of the convention and why Black women are, and have always been, an important voting bloc for elections.

Your current research focuses on the civic engagement of Black women in this election and elections of the past. Why will Black women be an important voting bloc in this election?

Nuamah: Black women are superlative participators in American democracy. In 2012, 70% of voting eligible Black women voted in the general election for President Obama — a higher percentage than any other group of Americans. Black women have maintained similarly high voting rates in subsequent elections, and we would expect the same if not higher for Vice President Harris as 90% of Black women tend to also vote Democrat. 

General elections are often won with slight margins, for example in the 2016 election. So, the consistent and high participation of Black women is often what helps the Democrats secure close victories making their participation essential. Black women are also critical for organizing members of their own communities, including Black men and other racial groups as we see for example with Stacey Abrams in Georgia.

Is there any significance of the DNC being hosted in Chicago this year, particularly knowing the history of the 1968 DNC in Chicago?

Nuamah: Chicago is rightfully known as an epicenter for policy and activism. With all the renowned firsts it's launched into the political spotlight from President Obama to Carol Moseley Braun, it's fitting that the potential first woman president will have the opportunity to be center stage at the most important event for mobilizing supporters of the Democratic party in an election year. With a Black mayor [Brandon Johnson] at the helm as well, it puts the right momentum in place for an event such as this at this time. 

At the same time, Chicago is a place of spirited grass roots activism, and like 1968, we should expect that on full display next week. In 1968, it was anti-war protests regarding Vietnam, this year it will be protests against funding for Israel and towards Gaza.

Professor Nuamah is available to speak with media. If you’d like to arrange an interview, please reach out to shanice.harris@northwestern.edu.