Beyoncé may not have been a surprise guest at the DNC last night, but the celebrity power was on full display throughout the four-day event. Guest hosts such as Tony Goldwyn, Mindy Kaling and Kerry Washington introduced speakers each night, and comedians such as Kenan Thompson and DL Hughley offered their services to provide laughs at the lavish event. But the real star of the convention was undoubtedly the Vice President herself, Kamala Harris. A Californian with deep ties to Hollywood, she has pulled out all the stops to use those relationships to sell herself and her story to the American people. For example, she had acclaimed filmmaker and friend Reginald Hudlin (“House Party,” “Boomerang”) make a short documentary about her life and career.
As Harris’ husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, previously revealed on X (formerly known as Twitter), Hudlin and his wife Chrisette were instrumental in setting the couple up.
Narrated by none other than God himself, Morgan Freeman, Hudlin’s video began with various clips of Harris singing Lizzo’s “About Damn Time.” As the song continued, Freeman commented, “She is a fighter for the American people, committed to our values - our hopes – our dreams and bringing joy back to our country. Where did this strength and passion come from from this middle-class daughter of Oakland?”
As the tone of the short film shifted from celebratory to reflective, Freeman walked us through Harris’ personal story, telling viewers about her immigrant parents, a South Asian academic and a Jamaican economist, and how they inspired her to “pursue her dreams.” Freeman also spoke about her parents’ divorce and how Harris and her sister were raised by their mother, but also by the people in their community. The focus in this section of the video was on Harris’ middle-class roots and how those beginnings drove her to fight for things that mattered, especially the rights of others.
One particular event that is mentioned and that Harris talks about in the video herself is when she found out that one of her best friends from high school was being sexually harassed by her father and insisted that she move in with her family. Her friend Wanda Kagan is also featured in the video. In recalling this experience, she said, “As you get older, you really, really think about how crucial that intervention was at that pivotal point in my life.”
That intervention was also instrumental in Harris’ decision to become a district attorney. While showing past news clips of Kamala’s tenure as district attorney, Freeman listed all that she was able to accomplish during that time, including putting criminals and sex offenders behind bars and developing programs to prevent recidivism among nonviolent offenders. As California Attorney General, Harris was also responsible for dismantling transnational gangs and helping to get drugs and guns off the streets. In addition, Freeman pointed out how she targeted the country’s five largest mortgage lenders during the 2010 financial crisis by robbing homeowners and secured a landmark $20 billion settlement.
As the video turns to Harris’ career in the Senate, Freeman reminds viewers of her unwavering presence on the Judiciary and Intelligence committees. The video highlights her impeachments of Trump’s attorneys general Jeff Sessions and William Barr, as well as future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. It was that presence in the Senate that gave Joe Biden the confidence to select Harris for the vice presidency. In archival audio heard in this section of the short, Biden said, “I wanted someone who was strong and ready to be president from day one.”
Freeman and union members showcase Harris’ accomplishments as vice president, tackling issues such as limiting drug costs and creating 16 million jobs. The video also highlights her accomplishments in preventing gun violence, strengthening international security and leadership, and her fight to protect women’s health, including abortion rights.
“I think she is well prepared to be our next president,” Second Gentleman Emhoff said of his wife in a farewell video message. “That love that she has for her family – being there for all of us – that’s how she’s going to lead this country. Being there for everyone.”
Watch the full video below.
