Harris and Walz encourage us to Do Something About It...

...with our neighbors, and for our neighbors

By the conclusion of last week’s spectacularly successful DNC in Chicago, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, and the Democrats had not just turned a page on Donald Trump—they had started us on the next volume of our national story. 

A truism repeated over and over throughout the week was that there is so much more that binds us together than divides us. Look at MVP Harris and Governor Walz. Given the stark contrast of their optics and biographies, many have assumed that Harris ultimately chose her running mate either because of his plain-spoken style or because he might bring down the heart-rate of Americans unprepared to vote for a ticket carrying a tough, Black, South Asian woman. 

But in fact, the unlikely pair share a crucial common value that perhaps helped them connect with and instinctively trust each other. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are both grounded in and profoundly committed to the power of community. They’re good neighbors.

In his convention speech on Wednesday, when he officially introduced himself as our vice-presidential nominee, Walz delivered the heartfelt authenticity (and normalcy) that has endeared him to much of the nation. He spoke from the heart about what it meant to grow up in rural Nebraska, and about his love of small-town values:  

“That family down the road, they may not think like you do, they may not pray like you do. They may not love like you do. But they’re your neighbors. And you look out for them. And they look out for you. Everybody belongs. And everybody has a responsibility to contribute.”

Parenthetically, something tells me JD Vance did not get the memo. Perhaps it was this bizarre video of him attempting to…campaign? Or to relate to his fellow humans? Judge for yourself, but from where I sit, you’re not going to get credited with any folksy charm for this behavior:

OK, just so we’re clear. Somewhere along the way, young J.D. lost whatever common touch he might have ever had.

Last night, as our headliner and closer, Kamala Harris walked on stage to officially accept the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. She laughed with delight and ease at the crowd’s deafening roars, gave a loving anniversary nod to Doug, then began speaking about her childhood—a period of her life few Americans know much about. In the process, she revealed how essential her neighbors and tight-knit community of neighbors had been to her and her sister when they were living in Berkeley. 

After their parents split up, she and Maya were primarily raised by their fierce, brilliant mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris. Shyamala held an impressive job in a research lab at UC Berkeley, and her work often kept her there late into the evening. So, she came to rely on the surrounding community. None were blood relatives, but they collectively helped look out for Kamala and Maya throughout their formative years. Harris described this de facto village of neighbors from the “flats” of the East Bay as: 

“A beautiful, working-class neighborhood of firefighters, nurses and construction workers. All who tended their lawns with pride.

My mother, she worked long hours. And like many working parents, she leaned on a trusted circle to help raise us. Mrs. Shelton, who ran the day care below us and became a second mother. Uncle Sherman, Aunt Mary, Uncle Freddie, Auntie Chris — none of them family by blood, and all of them family by love.

Family who taught us how to make gumbo, how to play chess — and sometimes even let us win. Family who loved us, believed in us, and told us we could be anything and do anything.”

This trusted circle was composed of educated, deeply engaged members of the civil rights community. They helped guide and inspire young Kamala, introducing her to eclectic music, cooking, ideas, and ideals. When the time came, they would encourage Kamala to attend law school, then supported her ambitious career trajectory.  

Clearly, she has not forgotten those neighbors, their lasting influence, or how much their support enabled her mother to work and—by extension—for Kamala to reach such heights of achievement. In addition to being mentioned last night as a “second mother,” Mrs. Regina Shelton, the teacher who lived beneath them, was even there in spirit when Harris was sworn in as Vice President.

Kamala delivered her oath of office with two Bibles beneath her: one was the Bible Thurgood Marshall had used for his swearing-in. Marshall, in addition to being the first Black person to serve as a Supreme Court justice, was a fellow Howard University alum.

The other Bible was flown from Berkeley to Washington, D.C. for her and President Biden’s inauguration. It belonged to Mrs. Shelton, the neighbor who had looked out for her and made sure Kamala and Maya always felt they belonged—though different in almost every measurable way, she had been a Tim and Gwen Walz kind of neighbor.    

The buzzwords and phrases shouted over the past week have been inspiring: Joy and Hope, reclaiming Freedom and Patriotism as foundational to all Americans, uniting in our resolve that We’re Not Going Back. These no longer feel like mere slogans or campaign placards. They were the contributing forces to the electricity that pulsed through the United Center for four straight days.

But let’s perhaps add, or embody, ‘be a good Neighbor’ to that list of momentum-generating messages. Better yet, Do Something for your Neighbor. Look after yours, give them a hand if needed, channel the values of respect, kindness, and decency that drew Harris and Walz together.

Oh, and while you’re at it…make sure your neighbors are registered to vote.

Because friends, no matter how joyous and packed with all-star political headliners and clarion calls from Oprah we enjoyed this week, we’ve had all the pep talks we could hope for. It’s time to return to the field. And, as our Coach said, “Everybody has a responsibility to contribute.”

So let’s get to work.