Lena Waithe reflects on Kamala Harris’ ‘bittersweet’ election win

'The Chi' creator shares her emotions about the Biden-Harris victory

Nov 16, 2020

Black women all over the country have been rejoicing the historic win of Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris. Recently, Hollywood heavy hitter Lena Waithe reflected on what she categorizes as a “bittersweet” victory while pointing out that when it comes to Black representation, we still have a lot of work to do.

Thursday, while taking part in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s annual HBCU Leading in Truth Symposium, which was created to celebrate LGBTQ student leaders of historically Black colleges and universities, Waithe celebrated Harris while warning attendees not to become complacent because of it.

“It’s exciting to be turning a page, to be walking into a new chapter, but until we deal with the chapters before it, this will continue to be cyclical,” she said. “The pendulum will continue to swing back and forth. At some point, we have to get to a place where we aren’t so divided.”

President-Elect Joe Biden Makes Address On Nation's Economy — U.S. President-elect Joe Biden (L) looks on as Vice President-elect Kamala Harris delivers remarks about the U.S. economy during a press briefing at the Queen Theater on November 16, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. Mr. Biden and his advisors continue to work on the long term economic recovery plan his administration will try to put in place when he takes office. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

She noted: “We can’t not celebrate” the achievement, “but we also have to acknowledge where we are and how long this took and in the work that we really have to do. Because as we all know, the inauguration is the wedding. But the marriage is going to take work and time and everybody’s energy.”

The 36-year-old producer also shared how her difficulty finding Black lesbian role models as a child is what motivated her to become one herself.

“What I want to do is just support the black LGBTQIA community however I can and maybe support causes in those communities that mean something to me,” she said. “I want to be able to help them build a space where they can continue to tell stories, which I think is as much a part of revolution as walking down the streets and protesting. Unity may be a long way off, but supporting each other is easy. That we can do today.”

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