Former Vice President Kamala Harris made her first TV appearance over the weekend since leaving the White House.
Harris, aged 60, was recognized at the 56th NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena, California on Saturday night. The Democrat took the opportunity to speak about the current state of America following the return of President Donald Trump to office.
During the acceptance of the NAACP Chairman’s Award, an honor bestowed upon individuals who excel in public service and use their unique platforms to spark significant change, Harris expressed that many Americans are currently feeling the weight of history bearing down on them.
Clad in an all-black business suit, the former Vice President expressed gratitude towards the audience for their tireless advocacy and years of support. She went on to mention that receiving the award holds a particularly profound significance for her.
Harris said that Americans need to have a ‘sense of urgency’, adding: ‘Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. The price of liberty. To stay alert, to seek the truth, and to actively participate in the fight for America’s future,’ she said as stars, such as Keke Palmer, Cynthia Erivo, Marlon Waynes, and more sat in the audience.
Looking back at how the NAACP came to be, Harris compared the past to the present, adding: ‘Some look at this moment and rightly feel the weight of history.
‘Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy, and ask, “What do we do now?” But we know exactly what to do, because we have done it before, and we will do it again,’ she said as the crowd cheered her on.
‘We use our power, we organize, mobilize, we educate and we advocate. Because, you see, our power has never come from having an easy path. Our strength flows from our faith. Faith in God, faith in each other, and our refusal to surrender to cynicism and destruction.
‘Not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. Not because victory is granted, but because the fight is worth it,’ she continued.
Just before walking off stage, Harris sent one last message, adding: ‘While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter of our American story, this chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office, not by the wealthiest among us.
‘The American story will be written by you, written by us – by we the people,’ she said as she got a standing ovation. ‘Thank you, God bled you, and God bless the United States of America.’
Prior to receiving her award, a video played, revealing Harris’ political involvement, specifically as the first black woman and first South Asian woman to hold office in the United States.
She also served as the attorney general of California and was a U.S. senator before moving on to the White House.
In July, former President Joe Biden, 82, suddenly dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, leaving Harris to take on a 107-day campaign.
On January 20, Trump returned to the White House as the 47th president, leaving Harris and Biden packing.
After her departure, Harris traveled with her husband and former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff to Los Angeles.
While there, the couple attended a Lakers game, surveyed the damage from the brutal LA wildfires, and she even signed with a top Hollywood talent agency.
She signed with Creative Artists Agency, which represents top Hollywood stars including Beyoncé, Morgan Freeman ,Glen Powell and Nicole Kidman. Harris also joins Biden, who signed with the agency last month.
Her agents will focus on getting her speaking gigs and publishing opportunities.
‘CAA will work closely with Harris on her post-White House initiatives, creating strategic opportunities that expand her platform in support of the issues she has championed throughout decades-long career in public service,’ the agency said.
Harris is weighing her next career move, which includes a possible run for governor of California next year.
CAA heads Richard Lovett, Bryan Lourd and Kevin Huvane are prominent Democratic fundraisers.
The agency represented Harris before she became vice president.
CAA helped her land two book deals: 2019’s The Truths We Hold: An American Journey and 2009’s Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safer, which served as a launch pad for a book tour and presidential bid.
For her next career move, Harris also is considering a 2028 White House bid or a role outside of elective office, a person with knowledge of her deliberations told The New York Times.
Just last weekend, Harris and Emhoff were spotted in New York at Studio 54 for a Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical and later at the Majestic Theater for Gypsy.
She was greeted by cheers from the crowd and received a standing ovation, but her backstage speech stirred up quite a bit of controversy online.
‘In times when we’re dealing with so much in the world, um, we have to find those moments that are about joy and, and, and, shining, you know, as we say, shining a light in moments of darkness,’ she told the cast and crew of A Wonderful World.
‘When we think about these moments where we see things that are being taken, but also let’s see it, you know, nature abhors a vacuum.
‘Where there’s a vacancy, let’s fill it. Lets know that reality is that the progress of our nation has been about the expansion of rights, not the restriction of rights.’
Harris continued: ‘We’re seeing a u-turn right now. For those rights to be maintained which means we have to be vigilant. It’s just the nature of it.
‘We have to be clear eyed. And it doesn’t mean we don’t see the beauty in everything. These things all co-exist, but I believe we fight for something not against.’
While the cast and crew nodded along and celebrated her visit, critics on social media expressed confusion about what precisely she was trying to say.
‘The saddest part is hearing the people agreeing with her like they were mesmerized by what she was “saying,”‘ one critic said.
‘The woman is completely incapable of giving a coherent statement. You’d think she’d keep her mouth shut at this point,’ another added.
A third said: ‘No self awareness. No filters. No adjustment. No improvement.’
