The funAMEntals of Democracy

By Brandi Effiom, 4th Episcopal District

Truthfully, as the DNC got closer, I started to regret agreeing to attend on behalf of The Christian Recorder. I am not a journalist in the traditional sense of the word. I have never done something like this and was overwhelmed with all the logistics. I also did not understand how all of this press “stuff” works. Although I am a podcaster, that’s much different, or so I thought. I anxiously text the editor, begging him to send me a prompt about what to write and things to pay attention to. He essentially encouraged me to be free and share my perspective. So, here it goes! 

On the first day of the Convention, I was overwhelmed. I am the type of person who feels anxious about going through TSA when I’m flying. So, one can only imagine how stressful going through the security checkpoints at the DNC felt. I have never attended an event as press. Our entrance was different, and we had many passes to keep track of. I’m being a bit dramatic; there were only three, but that was a lot for me. Each security checkpoint required me to show a different pass. After successfully braving the security check-in storm, I made it to the doors to enter the United Center. Life felt good. I had time to catch my breath and collect my thoughts. As I entered the United Center, one of the greeters asked to see my pass. I finally got the hang of things and confidently showed him my pass. He immediately stopped me and told me I could not enter. So, I showed him my pass again, thinking he misread it. He repeated his answer and told me I only had a pass to be on the premises and could only stand outside. I was not permitted to enter the building. Once again, I am a rookie journalist, so I don’t understand what this means. Then, it dawned on me that I received two passes that looked identical. However, they had different meanings. So, I had to call an Uber to travel thirty-five minutes back home to grab the other pass and return to the United Center. When I returned, the line to get in was about two blocks long. If you’ve ever been to Chicago, the blocks are abnormally long. 

Hundreds of angry attendees were trying to figure out why the line was not moving. We were then informed that some protestors had destroyed part of a security fence and tried to get into the DNC. So, they closed some of the other entrances, and we all had to wait as one police officer checked our badges. I was crammed into a crowd of people trying to push past one another. All of this turmoil felt like a sign for me to gracefully exit the line, go home, and try again tomorrow. But, I knew that the victory of getting in would be even sweeter given everything I went through. I quickly became friends with an American man who moved to Japan for love. He and his colleague were VIP attendees and had clearly been veterans in these types of situations. They could tell I was an amateur because I was politely trying to maneuver the crowd. So, they decided to act as my shield and help me push past a number of people in the crowd and get through security faster. Their random act of kindness made me realize that I was in for a huge surprise.

When I finally entered the United Center, my bangs were stuck to my head because I was sweating profusely and I was out of breath. I was certain that I looked as disoriented as I felt. So, I found the nearest bathroom and got myself together. As I roamed the halls looking for where to go, I saw so much joy and excitement. I didn’t mind being lost because I was lost in a space filled with positivity and friendliness. I was in awe and did not think it could get any better than this. My experience in the hallways was enough for me. I was excited to have finally found a sign leading me to the floor. Although the signs pointed me in the right direction, they did not have any disclaimers that would prepare me for a life-changing moment. I did not know what I was about to see and experience something like no other. As soon as I stepped onto the floor of the DNC, I was in awe. I immediately felt a rush of excitement, joy, energy, and other feelings and emotions I cannot articulate. I instantly forget about the hardship I faced to get into that room. 

On Monday evening, I spent the majority of my time on the floor of the Convention. There was nothing standing between me and the stage except for a few secret servicemen. The energy was invigorating! No matter the title or status, each speaker was welcomed with roaring applause. You could see their bodies overcome with fear and nerves as they approached the podium. However, the crowd’s warm welcome calmed their nerves and reminded them why they were there. Each of them had a unique way of telling a story about why they believed it was important for Vice President Kamala Harris to be elected President of the United States. The crowd was engaged the whole time. Each person received the messages in their own way and felt free enough to revel in the passion within the thoughtful words and anecdotes shared by each speaker and in each video. The crowd’s excitement was overwhelming, but I was puzzled. I could not understand how just a portion of the stadium could make up for the entire spirit of the convention center. However, it made sense when I turned around to view the rest of the arena. My jaw dropped when I looked behind me to investigate where the most excitement was coming from. I saw some 50,000 people connecting over their hopes for tomorrow. I was wrong; the floor was not the only lively place, and the liveliness was evenly distributed throughout the arena. It was as if the attendees in the 300 section were high-fiving attendees on the floor. The United Center is approximately 140 feet tall and 960,000 square feet. It was clear that ain’t no mountain high enough could keep the crowd from celebrating the commitment to moving forward. I was paralyzed with excitement, curiosity, nervousness, and confusion. My heart danced to the tune of the crowd chanting, “We won’t go back” and “USA”!

I could feel the genuine belief and conviction behind each chant. This was a magical experience that I could not have ever anticipated. However, I am aware that the core of the most widely attended events’ energy is in the most expensive sections. In my experience, attendees are forced to pay top dollar to sit in sections where all the action happens. These are the sections that cameras focus on and receive all the signs and party favors. The other sections are usually left to find ways to be creative to make themselves feel as engaged as those in the more expensive sections. I expected that to be the case at the DNC, so I committed to experience the convention from different sections in the arena. I was disappointed that I chose the floor for the first night because I was certain this magical feeling only existed on the floor, but boy was I wrong. 

On Tuesday evening, I sat on the 300 level, which some would call the “nosebleeds.” My expectations were superseded. I wanted to see the stark difference between the floor and the level furthest from the stage. The same magical feeling and excitement that I felt on the floor resided in the highest section. My eyes weren’t deceiving me on opening night when I felt the excitement from way up. I sat with the foreign press, and each of them seemed to be in awe and a bit confused by the seemingly light-hearted approach to such heavy topics. One reporter expressed his confusion about the celebratory roll call that took place. Although it did not make sense to some of them, it did to me. What they missed was the historical context, not the kind that you can find in a textbook or provided by an academician; rather, the lived experience of those who put their lives on the line to fight for our freedom and democracy. So yes, excuse us while we dance a little harder and take a moment to bask in our successes, which serve as a constant reminder of what tomorrow can be when we come together. My experience on the 200 level was as invigorating as the other levels. 

Throughout my experience at the DNC, I wanted to get to the root of this new energy that everyone was talking about. I realized that the excitement came from seeing that intersecting identities were finally being embraced and welcomed. As someone who grew up in a Nigerian American household and had a last name that few can pronounce, I struggled to fit into the boxes that society created for people like me. Although I am perceived as a black American, my identity is layered and cannot be summed up by one experience. I do not share the same experiences as my friends who grew up in traditional black households or my friends who come from traditional Nigerian households. But if I’m being honest, no matter what our race or ethnicity is, none of us share the same story. We are not a monolith, and that was something that was being honored and acknowledged at the DNC. Speakers with various intersecting identities were invited to share their experiences in a space where they were not forced to choose. Each perspective was met with respect. Some individuals traditionally voted as Republicans who were welcomed to the stage. No one was forcing Vice President Harris to choose either. Each part of her identity was being celebrated. That is a huge step for the nation as a whole. 

There is a misconception that faith and liberalism cannot coexist. Often, when I mention my faith, it is automatically assumed that I am conservative. There is also a false idea that Democrats are atheists who view Christianity as oppressive. However, none of the speakers shied away from their Christian roots when they shared messages of hope. House Minority Leader, Representation Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) received a standing ovation as he shared a message of hope and faith and quoted Psalm 30: 5 to remind the party and the nation that better is coming. During his speech, he provided a blueprint for keeping the work moving forward and dedicated Thursday to “Thank the Lord, Thursday”. Representative Jeffries’ speech ignited a fire within the room and had the whole arena on its feet. I could not help but smile because despite everyone’s beliefs in the arena they were able to receive such a powerful message. Jeffries showed the world that Democrats can worship God too. Christian values were woven into the artistic and strategic framework of the DNC. Just like not all heroes wear capes, not all clergy wear robes… every day. 

            There was a clear understanding of the faith-based community’s role in enacting change, especially the AME Church. “When the black church leads this country, our community and the congress succeeds, and the AME Church has always been on the frontline pushing the envelope, pushing through the door and busting through the window for change” shared Antjuan Seawright, founder and CEO of Blueprint Strategy, LLC. Mr. Seawright’s words serve as a reminder that the AME Church has always been and must continue to be civically engaged. “Every major social movement in this country has been fueled by young folks, by women, by black folks, the black press, but more importantly, the black church and the AME Church has been the front line front and center object of that change,” said Antjuan. 

From seeing Bishop Green doing the benediction on the second night to seeing Tennessee State Representative and AME Pastor, the Rev. Harold Love’s warm smile as he sat with the Tennessee delegates. Seeing various members throughout the AME Church was a reminder of how the AME Church has been a leader in so many spaces and has helped lead other religions and congregations in civic engagement. Their meaningful engagement at the DNC speaks to the understanding that the AME Church has about servant leadership and not limiting the work being done to benefit the church and the community. “I think I found myself an opportunity to engage my other colleagues in the faith community to enact legislation that is going to benefit the community and the constituents long term,” says Rev. Love. He continued on to say, “As the faith community we have to get past the myth that we are just having to work on the spiritual part of the person. But, I see through the lens of my faith tradition, the need to enact policy”. 

The hope and energy in the room allowed most people in the arena to bask in the excitement of the here and now. The resounding excitement does not mean that anyone has forgotten that a lot of work lies ahead of us; rather, it was a space for our cups to be filled as we prepare for one of the most crucial times in history. It’s time to get to work. Let us not forget about our neighbors who are also suffering at the hands of inequitable policies. Families that cannot afford to take a moment to celebrate in the way others can. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we as the AME Church, leverage our existing resources and relationships to empower and mobilize those in our AME family and communities to make informed decisions. Democracy is threatened when we allow our neighbors to carry the insidious thought that their voices do not matter. No act is too small. We must remember that as the body of Christ, we cannot achieve anything in isolation. Where there is division, there is weakness. Attending the DNC reminded me of how diverse this country is. It was absolutely beautiful to see people from different walks of life and different beliefs coming together. 

As a Nigerian American, I was elated to see that the different nuances of each person’s unique identity are finally being embraced. The DNC celebrated every part of Vice President Harris’s identity. She was not boxed into one piece of her identity. It’s important that we remember that no community is a monolith and it is essential to honor our differences. Those very differences are what help inform us in developing and implementing equitable policies. Although I am walking away from this experience feeling inspired, I also understand that we have a lot of work to do. It’s important that we remember that the work does not stop here. Hope cannot exist only within the perimeter of the DNC. It’s important that we remember that while this is a moment of excitement, we also have more work to do beyond the walls of the DNC and our offices. Trust needs to be rebuilt.  It is important that we all do our parts to let hope and freedom ring in every neighborhood across the country.  We have trust to build among in our communities, and the AME Church is an integral part in helping foster the deepening of trust and relationships within the local and broader community.