Oprah Winfrey urged independent and undecided voters to support Vice President Kamala Harris in this year's presidential election during an impassioned speech at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night.
The media mogul opened her speech by emphasizing that “America is an ongoing project. It requires commitment. It requires openness to the hard work and hard work of democracy, and it requires, from time to time, standing up to the tyrants of life.”
Winfrey then offered an example of “the best of America,” attacking the unpopular remarks of J.D. Vance, Donald Trump’s vice presidential candidate: “When a house burns down, we don’t ask what race or religion the owner of the house is. We don’t ask who their partner is or how they voted — no! We just try to do our best to save them. And if the house is owned by a cat lady who doesn’t have kids, well, we try to get that cat out, too.”
Her virtual story drew cheers from the crowd as Winfrey continued to tell the story of New Orleans civil rights icon Tessie Prevost, who died last month and was born “shortly after the Supreme Court ruled that segregated public schools were unconstitutional.” Winfrey praised Prevost, along with Ruby Bridges, Leona Tate and Jill Etienne, for breaking barriers and showing the young Harris “how to challenge people at the top and empower people at the bottom” and instilling in her “a passion for justice and freedom.”
“Very soon, we will be teaching our daughters and sons how this child of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father — two idealistic, active immigrants — grew up to become the 47th president of the United States,” Winfrey announced to thunderous applause.
Before concluding, the media mogul, a registered independent, addressed her address directly to voters: “I call on all of you independents and all of you who are undecided… Values and character matter in leadership and in life. More than anything else, as you know, decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024.”
“Let’s choose the sweet promise of tomorrow over the bitter return to yesterday. We will not go back. We will not back down, we will not be pressured, we will not back down, we will not be bullied, we will not go back. We will not go back,” she continued. “Let’s choose truth. Let’s choose honor and let’s choose joy! Because that is the best of America.”
