Image via Jordan Phillips

 

By: Truth Jackson, Staff Writer 

 

Tuesday, Morehouse College hosted Vice President Kamala Harris on her Fight for Our Freedom tour in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. 

 

Thousands of students across the Atlanta University Center (AUC) packed King’s Chapel to the brim to hear the vice president address critical issues plaguing the nation like gun violence, voting, reproductive rights and book bans.

 

Harris addressed questions directly from several students during the panel. The environment allowed for a cohesive dialogue, leaving the audience with more than a speech. It was a call to action, a reminder of the power of their vote, and a reaffirmation of the ongoing fight for civil rights.

 

The event was far from the typical political rally; the White House team brought an infectious enthusiasm to the proceedings. King’s Chapel was transformed into a house of energy, and the crowd could hardly contain their excitement.

 

The Divine Nine fraternities and sororities performed before the vice president’s arrival, including the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated– of which Harris is a member. 

 

The AUC welcomed remarks from Morehouse alum, Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, Morehouse President David A. Thomas, Ph.D, several AUC student leaders, and more. 

 

Warnock emphasized the administration’s significant investment of $7 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and urged students to engage in civic duty by registering and then voting.

 

The warm reception was not extended to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who received applause with equal amounts of dismay from students. He still faces opposition from many students regarding the city’s planned building of The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, which proponents of the construction dubbed Cop City.

 

The atmosphere was electric as the Morehouse House of Funk performed, setting the tone with “Can You Stand the Rain” by New Edition as the crowd danced and sang along.

 

The Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, noted that he had never seen a crowd as enthusiastic as the AUC, underscoring the importance of HBCUs and the need to prioritize education over banning books. 

 

The energy in the room remained palpable as the band played on. Students expressed their excitement about the event, describing it as a unique and special experience they would cherish. 

 

“This is very entertaining to see, the unification of all the AUC schools united and having fun together,” Taylor Battle said, a junior at Morehouse.

 

“It’s motivating to know that we all can come together with a common goal to create social change,” Tyler Dorsey, a sophomore at Spelman College, said. “It’s always empowering when black students come together for the common good.”

 

Shelah Maple, a freshman at Spelman College, agreed. 

 

“There’s no better place full of black people expressing black joy than at an HBCU,” Maple said.

 

The crowd erupted as vice president Kamala Harris stepped onto the stage. 

 

Harris took a firm stance against the efforts of politicians, especially in Florida, attempting to erase Black Americans’ History. Harris condemned these actions as disrespectful and offensive, emphasizing that Black History is integral to American History and should not be rewritten or erased. 

 

“Black History is America’s History, period,” Harris said. 

 

Harris passionately addressed the power of voting, highlighting how the Biden-Harris administration has made substantial investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), recognizing their pivotal role as centers of academic excellence and drivers of positive change in the nation.

 

“Because you voted, we have now invested over $7 billion in our HBCUs,” she said. 

 

The visit from the vice president left students inspired. She encouraged students to live their best lives, stand up for their rights, and let their voices be heard through the power of the vote. 

 

Morehouse graduate Gerren Keith, managing editor of politics at theGrio, reflected on his unexpected journey from a Morehouse student to a White House correspondent.

 

“I never imagined as a student on this campus that I would end up– you know, in the White House covering this administration– this historic administration and also, more importantly, doing it for Black America,” he said.

 

The AUC will remember this day as one filled with passion, unity, and a renewed commitment to creating positive change in America.

 

Copy Edited by: Auzzy Byrdsell, Editor in Chief