Commentary

Commentary: Kamala’s Convention Is High Energy Show of Unity

“This is going to be a great week,” Vice President Kamala Harris declared in an unexpected early appearance that brought down the house on day one of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. It was already an emotional night after Jesse Jackson in a wheelchair was brought out in front of the crowd to cheers. The man who ran for president twice in the 80’s behind a rainbow coalition, didn’t speak. But his presence was all that was needed to let us know how far we’ve come.

Published

2 years ago

August 27, 2024

Oakland Post

Courtesy of KamalaHarris.com

By Emil Guillermo

It was already an emotional night after Jesse Jackson in a wheelchair was brought out in front of the crowd to cheers. The man who ran for president twice in the 80’s behind a rainbow coalition, didn’t speak. But his presence was all that was needed to let us know how far we’ve come.

Harris, the country’s first Asian and Black woman ever to be vice president, by the end of the week would become the first woman to be nominated as the standard bearer for the Democratic Party.

But she knew she had to honor the man who made it possible. Jackson? No, Joe Biden.

“I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible President Joe Biden,” said Harris, who thanked the president for his leadership and lifetime of service, which includes stepping aside more than four weeks ago.

But first, Harris looked at the diverse crowd and promised them that “this November, we will come together and declare with one voice, as one people, we are moving forward with optimism, hope and faith so guided by our love of country, knowing we have so much more in common than what separates us.”

It was a mini “anti-politics of division” speech, policy be damned, give me joyful rhetoric. It set the tone for the huge convention crowd that responded with the kind of energy we haven’t seen since the Obama years.

And then we waited more than two hours for the Democrats to send out Joe Biden.

BIDEN’S FAREWELL

Was this some left-handed honor?

If political conventions are really TV shows, Joe Biden didn’t even make prime time on his own night. On the west coast maybe, but in the east, he was on after the late news.

It’s the way the last five weeks have gone for Biden, wrestling with the notion he’s past his prime.

Or maybe the lateness was intentional to show everyone, all his detractors, the ones who deftly pushed him to the side, that a Joe Biden “in full” could still go nearly 50 minutes at the top of his game.

After an emotional introduction from his daughter Ashley (“He’s still my best friend,” she said), Biden was wide awake for this moment, setting the record straight about what he’s done and what he’s yet to do.

He saved his ire for Donald Trump, the man who, as Biden said, promised infrastructure, but “never built a damn thing.”

Maybe his own ego?

And all while being the man who would destroy our nation.

“He’ll be a dictator on day one, his words,” Biden said with zeal. “This sucker means it.”

It was an energized Biden, who had a few stumbles, but no one cared. He laughed it off. We all did, unlike the last few months when each word was scrutinized through an ageist filter.

But here he was more than functional and powerful, and about to let it all go.

I’m sure it made some people wonder that if this Biden had appeared at that June 27 debate, we’d be having a totally different convention this week.

“I made a lot of mistakes in my career, but I gave my best to you for 50 years,” Biden confessed. He recollected how he was too young to be in the Senate because he wasn’t 30 yet, but now he was “too old to stay as president.”

That got a little laugh.

“But I hope you know how grateful I am to all of you,” Biden said. “I can honestly say, I’m more optimistic about the future than I was when I was elected as a 29-year-old United States Senator.”

And with that, he made peace with his destiny.

Biden went from being “the” guy, to “the guy who kept the presidential door ajar,” so that Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian woman, could go forward and through.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator on race, media, culture, and politics. See his secret podcast on YouTube.com/@emilamok1. Contact: www.amok.com

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

6 days ago

March 22, 2026

Oakland Post

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC