The night is Thursday, and the evening sky crumbles into a harmonious fusion of yellow and crimson. I and many others scurry out of a mansion on the West Side of Chicago, where we watched an intimate candlelight quartet performance, a tribute to Tracy Chapman.
I called a Lyft and smiled to myself as I thought about the wonderful birthday gift I had been given. Though, the thought was short-lived when I noticed the time. It was about to begin soon, and this bubbly feeling--this sense of relaxation--would inevitably dissipate in the presence of my "civic responsibility." My biggest annoyance.
I put on my headphones and climbed into the car that abruptly stopped in front of me. It's June 27. As I take a deep breath, I join the millions of viewers who are displeased, thwarted, and possibly haunted by what November holds and what the next four years could become. We don't want either candidate and after twenty minutes of listening to the first debate of this year's presidential election, I finally feel the sting of its doubled edge. It was a mess. Trump lied the entire time and claimed a yesteryear none of us ever saw. Biden couldn't complete a thought, which confirmed Robert Hur's assessment of him as an "elderly man with a poor memory."
We were--as the kids would say---"cooked."
From there on, every discussion on the election was more dreadful than the last. Every appearance Biden and Trump made was more debilitating than the other. Trump made fun of Biden's age. Biden called Ukraine's president "President Putin" and Trump his VP. Trump was almost assassinated and called it "divine intervention." The Republicans cheered for their "inevitable" win. The Democrats began infighting and called for a redo that many weren't sure they'd ever see. And in the midst of all of this, the American people--myself included--just grew... enervated.
A month had passed, and this indefatigable election barely had an ounce of life left to live, and it continuously asked for more with every news report. At this time, millions of Americans began considering their roles in the upcoming election. Many refused to give it any more energy, which included their vote. They hadn't been listening anyway.
That is, until they did. After years of being starved for another option, a candidate arose from the ashes of her predecessor. And although it wasn't (isn't) pretty, Vice President Kamala Harris' ascent has started looking like the green light at the end of the lake. Instead of enduring weeks of discord and egocentrism, Americans have been urged to come together and cooperate to obtain a shared common goal. Harris arrived on the presidential walkway with her hand held out and many were so broken and bent, it seemed the inevitable option.
Like a call to the chants of former President Barack Obama's 2008 "Yes We Can," Harris has encouraged Americans to find unity in the Divided States of America. This revival has many people displaying a more optimistic outlook towards the 2024 election.
Though the road in the final 100 days won't be easy, Harris has given many people cause for optimism over what the next four years can be. With the chances of her becoming the first female president who is Black and Asian, the country that once began embracing inclusion, diversity, and progression may return.
At an Indianapolis event in late July, Harris spoke to members of the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta, saying, "In this moment, I believe we face a choice between two different visions for our nation: one focused on the past. And I am fighting for the future of our country with your support."
Here's how she plans to do that:
Inspiring the Young Voter
Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks onstage at her campaign rally at the Georgia State Convocation Center on July 30, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Julia Beverly/Getty Images
In 2020, the Biden-Harris campaign was known for inspiring young voters and voters of color. So much so, that young voters and Black voters were seen as the biggest contributors to Biden's presidential win. However, in 2024, this reality had quickly become inverted. Despite the fact that most of his policies catered to young voters, Biden found it difficult to connect with them, and this issue only persisted as the months continued to drag on. Instead of inspiring young voters to run to the polls, his campaign was thought to inspire young voters to "remain on the couch."
Nevertheless, since Harris has taken over the campaign, she has seen a spark in young voters that Biden and Trump have struggled to ignite since announcing their reelection bids. Voter registration has increased immensely since Harris entered the race, and according to the NYT/Siena College poll, Harris leads Trump by nearly 20 points among registered voters under 30.
In Harris' virtual address to the Voters of Tomorrow summit, Harris claimed, “In this election, we know young voters will be key, and we know your vote cannot be taken for granted. It must be earned, and that is exactly what we will do."
Using Meme and Gen Z Culture
Speaking of inspiring the young voter, Harris' campaign seems to focus on Generation Z, specifically. After Biden's withdrawal from the campaign, his TikTok account shifted to Harris, and upon announcing her candidacy, the number of followers rose from 440,000 to 2.7 million. As a result, many young voters have started engaging with the campaign in a more positive manner.
Starting with British pop star Charli XCX, Harris blew up on social media when the icon coined "Kamala IS brat," a reference to her music's carefree nature and being your own authentic self. As a result, the campaign embraced the title and created videos that leaned into a more insouciant, awkward, and exuberant Harris, which has bemused media commentators, yet reinvigorated young voters.
@kamalaharris Thought it was about time to join!
Groups like The Sunrise Movement and NextGen America have noted an increase in volunteers eager to assist with community outreach and an increase in community and campaign communications, respectively. Harris spent two weeks as a viral, internet sensation, showing up on multiple timelines and stories with her coconut tree memes and viral video edits set to Chappell Roan's "Femininomenon" or Beyoncé's "Freedom." Her social media accounts -- including her personal account, which gained 4 million followers--have received 70 million engagements, with nearly 55 million views on TikTok.
Not to mention, Harris has received several endorsements from celebrities and icons like Barack and Michelle Obama, Rosie O'Donnell, Shonda Rhimes, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Barbra Streisand, George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Janelle Monáe, John Legend, Carol King, Kerry Washington, and more, gaining some of their follower support.
Looking Towards the Future
Since 2016, Donald Trump has gained popularity by calling on the grievances of others, who remember the yesteryears fondly. With his slogan "Make America Great Again," he denied the kinder more inclusive vision of the United States, established by Obama's presidential terms. Instead, he welcomed a more divisive and backward-looking motto that purposefully pushed aside the idea of diversity, civility, and progress.
As a result, the nation has regressed in legislation and inclusive thinking, creating more conflict and division among American citizens as the years continue. Nevertheless, Harris' presidential campaign calls for more unity and inclusion among the American people.
Unlike Trump's regressive slogan, Harris looks towards the future and its endless possibilities, should we work together. Claiming determinedly that "we are not going back," Harris challenges the American people to begin working together for the greater good.
In her more inclusive, unifying, and advancing slogan, "Together, we can win this!" Harris encourages us to see the future in a more positive, collaborative light. In focusing on abortion, the economy, consumer debt, health care, climate, police funding, and immigration, Harris challenges the American people to begin to work together to ensure we thrive as a community.
Representing the People
During her campaign rally in Atlanta, GA, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock introduced Vice President Harris as a representative of the American and its infamous reputation of being a melting pot. "Her dad is of Jamaican descent; her mother is of South Asian descent; and then she went to the great Howard University," Warnock says. "Worked in California. Worked in the United States Senate. That is the American story, and she brings all of those strands together. She sees us because, in the real sense, she is all of us. So, we have to send her to the White House."
Since declaring her campaign, Harris' identity has compelled many to discuss the intersectionality and complexities of race and ethnicity in politics, which are sometimes disregarded or overlooked."
Look at my own life, where a daughter of a South Asian mother and a Jamaican father concluded her own interfaith wedding with her husband breaking a glass and everyone yelling, ‘Mazel tov,'" Harris said of her life in a March 2017 speech.As a representative of the people, Harris and her campaign believe that she understands the issues of the American people more than an "other"-especially Trump- because she has experienced many different backgrounds and cultures. In contrast, Trump attempts to place Harris in a box, by seeing her mixed race as duplicitous and deceitful. She continues to defy this perspective by seeing it for what it is: a tool of oppression.
Unlike Trump, "Kamala Harris represents -- demographically -- our current reality: mixed-race individuals, multiracial families, multiracial communities, multiracial friendship groups, multiracial workplaces. That is our current reality," said Ji-Yeon Yuh, an author and professor of history at Northwestern University.
Becoming Multidimensional
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the American Federation of Teachers' 88th National Convention on July 25, 2024 in Houston, Texas. The American Federation of Teachers was the first labor union to endorse Harris for president since announcing her campaign.
Montinique Monroe/Getty Images
"You think you just feel out of a coconut tree."
Upon hearing this quote, Republican opposition researchers believed this comment could damage the way many viewed Vice President Kamala Harris. However, instead of this quote appearing embarrassing, the comment won over many, making Harris appear likable for the first time in a long while.
In her previous presidential campaign, Harris' biggest weakness was her inability to connect to the American people. Though she had a moment here and there, she faded into the background because many voters were unsure of what she stood for and truly represented. She was hard to categorize.
This time around though, Harris uses this to her advantage. This time around, she is gradually presenting herself as multidimensional and can appeal to everyone. She can be a courtroom prosecutor who has seen "perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers, who broke the rules for their own gain."
Or she could be the 'little girl in California' who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools. And she was bused to school every day." The person who "loves Venn Diagrams."
Or as "Hard Fork" describes her, this quote makes her seem like one's relative. "It reminds you of your aunt who has had too many wine and starts giggling and saying random phrases. It had goofy aunt energy." Whatever she chooses to be, she wants the American people to know that she can't be put into the box that Trump and other Republicans so desperately want her to be.
Record-Breaking Millions
In recent months, the Democratic campaign saw its finances take a significant hit under Biden's leadership. After his terrible, alarming performance in the June debate, Biden's donors canceled fundraising events and withheld donations to show their disappointment in the Democratic nominee. However, since Harris has taken over the campaign, donations have increased substantially, surpassing Trump's record-breaking fundraising since May.
In July, Harris' campaign raised $310 million. Let me say that differently: Since July 21, major Democratic donors and small-dollar donors have pledged $150 million to Democratic presidential super PACs. Zoom fundraising coalition calls from HBCU organizations, Black sororities and fraternities, and groups like Black Women for Harris, Black Men for Harris, Latinas for Harris, and White Dudes for Harris, raised more than $20 million. First-time donors, the majority from Gen Z and millennial generations, contributed up to $200 each. With the help of other affiliated committees, the Harris campaign has totaled their funds to $377 million.
This amount is more than double the amount reported by the Trump Campaign after he saw an increase in donations since his assassination attempt. This record-breaking sum shows just how much the new presidential candidate has sparked the interest of voters, who originally believed the election to be a waste of time.
Using People-Powered Campaigns to Close Margins against Trump
According to the latest polls, Vice President Kamala Harris has now erased the lead Trump once held in the presidential race. Now in a deadlock, Harris has managed to revitalize the Democratic party with the assistance of women, young, and Black votes. In relation to the battleground states, Harris and Trump are tied, in most cases, though this outcome is the more optimistic one, considering Biden had been behind Trump in these states by five points.
Since Harris' announcement for the presidency, the proportion of Democrats claiming they will "definitely vote" has increased to an all-time high. In this number, a large portion of Black voters have said they plan to vote today, than they had in July when Biden was still running.
Harris leads in the women's vote at 54% to 45% and in two of the battleground states, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Not only this, she has reduced the percentage of people planning to vote for a third party. Shortening the number from 12% to 5% with 4% of these voters choosing the Democratic party since her nomination.
Fight for Freedom
Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appear on stage together during a campaign event at Girard College on August 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Harris ended weeks of speculation about who her running mate would be, selecting the 60-year-old midwestern governor over other candidates.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Since the year started, this election has been shaped as the "Fight for Democracy." With 34 convictions, Project 2025's regressive and oppressive ideals, Trump's desire to take Voting Rights, Women's Rights, individual rights, political revenge, and his vow to be a dictator starting on his "first day back in office," it is hard to disagree with the Democratic's existential rhetoric. Trump is a threat to democracy.
He tried to overturn the 2020 election and continues to assert lies that the election was rigged. He has mentioned his desire to change how we vote, marriage laws, and education, and has leaned more into authoritarian tendencies. If given the presidency again, he will permanently change the fabric of the country and negatively affect generations to come.
“Ours is a fight for the future — and it is a fight for freedom,” Vice President Kamala Harris said. “Do we wanna live in a country of freedom, compassion, and rule of law? Or a country of chaos, fear, and hate?” she asked.
In Harris' "Fight for Freedom," she challenges voters to choose the "freedom to not only get by, but get ahead. The freedom to be protected from gun violence, [and the] freedom to make decisions about your own body." She encourages voters to "choose a future where no child lives in poverty, where we can all afford health care, and no one is above the law." In Harris' "Fight for Freedom," she uplifts voters to come together, "fueled by love of country," and "fight for the best of who we are."
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Featured image by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
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A Goddard College graduate, who earned an MFA from Pratt Institute and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Marymount Manhattan College, Mahogany offers unapologetic realness with a side of grace and empowerment. "I started touring locally. I started creating chat books so that those poems will go in the hands of the people who were sitting in the rooms," she shared.
"And then I started facilitating poetry workshops, so I used my chat books as curriculum. And that, in turn, allowed me to further invest in my art and show the community and people who were hiring me that it wasn't just a one-off, that it's not just, you know, a fly by night—that I am invested in this art as much as I am invested in your community, in your children's learning, in our growth."
Mahogany has a special way of moving audiences, and her superpower sparks shifts in perspective, post-performance introspection, and strengthening of community bonds, especially among Black women. (One can undeniably recognize her gift for arousal of the spirit and mind merely from her listening to her insights from the other side of a Google Hangout call. I can only imagine the soul-stirring, top-tier sensory encounter when watching her perform in person.)
In this chat with xoNecole, Mahogany reflects on sustaining a creative career, the aftermath of writing a banned book, and using poetry for both healing, community-building, and activism.
Anthony Artis
xoNecole: What are three key things that have laid the foundation for a sustainable creative career for you?
Mahogany L Browne: What has helped me is that I'm willing to go in being an expert at knowing poetry and knowing the way in which art can change the landscape of our lives, not just as a poet, but also as a poetry facilitator. How you move through classes, those things are mastered, right? So when I go into another space that's maybe tech-heavy, I don't mind learning and being, you know, a student of the wonder of how we can make this magic, work together.
Two, you’ve got to know how to pivot. Sometimes we say, ‘Alright, this is what my life is going to be. I'm going to be a New York Times best-selling author. I'm going to, you know, have an album that's Grammy-nominated. And then, say you get dropped from your record label. That doesn't mean you can't make an album anymore. You can also still create an album that can be submitted to the Grammys. So, what does a pivot look like as an artist who doesn't have an institution behind them? Pivot being a student of the wonder.
Relationships also really help. How do I serve the community? And in turn, that tells me how the community can show up. For me, I have long-standing ties with a community that will outlast my one life. So, what does it mean to create space where these relationships can develop, can be nurtured, can be rooted, can be cultivated? Creating space—it happens through relationships.
xoN: With today’s economic challenges, what does your current creative process look like, and what are you working on?
MB: I’m always thinking five years ahead. I just reviewed the pages for two children’s books and recently released a YA novel. I’m drafting an adult fiction manuscript now.
Anything I create is founded with the root of poetry, but it can exist in captions. It can exist in commercials. It can exist as a musical. So that's where I’m at now.
xoN: You started performing "Black Girl Magic" in 2013, had an acclaimed performance of it via PBS and the work went on to viral success shortly after. Talk more about the inspiration. And what do you think about the continued relevance more than a decade later?
MB: I wrote it as a rally cry for the mothers who had been keeping themselves truly in harm's way by, you know, being a part of the community right after the death of their child or their loved one. They are usually mothers of victims of police brutality—and just seeing how they showed up in these community spaces, they are devout to the cause but obviously still grieving.
"I wanted this poem to be just a space of reclamation, of joy and of you, of your light, of your shine, of your brilliance, in any which way in which you fashion. Every room you enter is the room you deserve to be in. What does it mean to have a poem like that that exists?"
And the first time I did the poem, the Weeping that occurred, right? It was like this blood-letting of sorts. The next time I performed it, I'm moved to tears because I'm seeing how it's affecting other women who have just been waiting to hear, ‘You belong. You deserve. You are good. We see you. Thank you, despite everything that they said to make you regret being born in this beautiful brown, dark-skinned, light-skinned, but Black body.’
Black women are the backbone—period. Point blank. And so, that that poem became a necessity, not just to the fortitude of Black women in the community, but like you know, in service of healing the Black women.
xoN: One of your books was banned at a school in Boston, and it was later reinstated due to parental and activist support. What was that experience like?
MB: Well, I think it happened because they were racist. That's it. Point blank. The reversal of it was empowering, right? I realized, oh, I thought we just had to sit here and be on a banned book list. But no, parents are actually the leaders of this charge.
So to see that, the parents said, ‘Nah, we're not gonna let you take this book out of my baby’s school just because it's a Black kid on the front saying, ‘Woke’ and they're talking about being a global citizen. They're talking about accountability. They're talking about accessibility. They're talking about allyship, and you don't want them to have compassion or empathy or have even an understanding, right? So no, we rebuke that, and we want this book here anyway.’ To see that happen in that way. I was, like, reaffirmed. Absolutely.
xoN: You recently organized the Black Girl Magic Ball at the Lincoln Center in New York. Honorees included author and entrepreneur Rachel Cargle and National Black Theater CEO Sade Lythcott. What impact did it have and what expanded legacy do you hope to leave with your creative works?
MB: I was really interested in not celebrating just the book, but celebrating the community that made the book possible. And so I gave out five awards to women doing that thing, like, what does it mean to be a Black girl in this world?
I just thought it was gonna be an amazing time. Everybody's gonna dress up—we're gonna celebrate each other. And boom, I then realized that it responded to like a gaping hole. There was a missing thing for Black girls of all walks of life, all ages, right?
"It's very intergenerational. That was intentional to come together and celebrate just being us."
You have all these instances where just being you is either the butt of a joke or it's diminished and not worthy of a specific title in these larger institutions. So what does it mean to just to be loved up on and celebrated?
It felt like a self-care project at first. You know, for the first couple of years, folks were coming and they were getting that sisterhood. They were getting that tribe work that they were missing in their everyday lives.
I love the Black Girl Magic Ball because we got us. If I go out with a bang, they'll remember that Mahogany worked her a** off to make sure all the Black girls everywhere knew that she was the light. We are the blueprint.
For more information on Mahogany L. Browne, her work, and her future projects, visit her website or follow her on IG @mobrowne.
Featured image by Anthony Artis
During the Los Angeles tour stop, which spanned three dates on May 21, May 23, with the finale on May 24, xoNecole had the opportunity to test out the glosses included in this soft launch, as SZA revealed in a statement that "this is just the start of other lip products, including plans to launch stains, liners, and creams all inspired by SZA's “infamous layered lip combinations.”
Courtesy
So, what is included in the first Not Beauty launch?
The current Not Beauty products available are lip glosses that come in three shades: In the Flesh, Strawberry Jelly, and Quartz.
During my visit to the first LA Not Beauty pop-up activation, I not only had the chance to purchase all three glosses but also took a peek inside the blow-up log tent. Inside, fans got to experience SZA’s love for nature and her fascination with bugs, which are prominently featured in her performances for this tour. At one point, she even had human preying mantis prancing across the stage y'all.
There were blow-up photos of the beauty that is SZA for fans (myself included) to take photos, but in wooden-like tree trunks were a deeper dive into some of the ingredients featured in her products and their benefits.
For example, the glosses feature Hi-Shine Lip Jelly and Shea Butter as key ingredients and some of the listed benefits included are:
- Shea Butter - “A powerhouse ingredient, offering both functional and nourishing benefits.”
- Hi-Shine Lip Jelly (featured in the In the Flesh shade) - “Formula glides on with perfect adhesion to the lips without stickiness).
Courtesy
What are in the products?
Featured in an orange package, with images of a bug and flower on the side, the back of the box reads: “It’s NOT BEAUTY, it just works. Developed by Solána “SZA” Rowe.
As someone who never leaves home without a good lip gloss, I loved how compact the wood panel packaging is. Perfect to slip into my purse, or in the case of the show at SoFi Stadium, into my pocket when I’m not carrying a bag.
Because I’m a sucker for a good black and brown lip liner and clear gloss combo, I decided to wear the Quartz flavor on night one of the Grand National Tour LA stop, and it did not disappoint. I’ll admit, it’s light weight feel made me nervous because it felt like there was nothing on my lips. However, when I checked my lips in my compact mirror several times throughout the night, I was shocked to find that my gloss was still intact. I only reapplied once out of the habit of looking cute and applying my gloss, but not necessity.
Here are some of the ingredients featured, but not limited to, in the Quartz flavor.
- Polyisoubutene
- Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea)Butter
- Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
- Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil
- Tocopherol
Courtesy
Lip prep
I’m a simple girl who loves to stay true to her roots. So ahead of the show, I stopped by a local Inglewood Beauty Supply store and grabbed a Black and Brown shade lip pencil for just under $2 a piece.
Shading the outline of my lips with the black pencil first, I used the brown to lightly fill the inside of my lips before applying my Quartz Not Beauty shade gloss.
How to apply
There’s truly no right or wrong way to apply lip gloss (in my opinion), with this being a brush applicator sort of product, I simply untwisted the top and swiped the gloss around my top and bottom lip generously.
Courtesy
Results
Again, my Not Beauty Quartz product stayed on my lips from the start of the show, which began with a fire DJ set from LA’s very own, Mustard, to the conclusion when Kendrick and SZA reunited on stage to send us home to their duet, “luther,” featured on the rapper's GNX album.
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