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Opinion: Kamala’s Duende Express and the Grassroots Coalition of the New America

Remember Oakland five years ago when Kamala Harris invoked her Asian mother and announced a run for the presidency. And then came Iowa. She wasn’t ready. She’s ready now. On Monday, Joe Biden, still isolated with Covid, spoke via speaker phone to his campaign staff that early evening to tell them the truth behind his decision.

Published

10 months ago

August 8, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Emil Guillermo

Remember Oakland five years ago when Kamala Harris invoked her Asian mother and announced a run for the presidency.

And then came Iowa. She wasn’t ready.

She’s ready now.

On Monday, Joe Biden, still isolated with Covid, spoke via speaker phone to his campaign staff that early evening to tell them the truth behind his decision.

“I know it’s hard because you’ve poured your heart and soul into me,” Biden told the campaigners who won him the nomination and then the presidency in 2020. But it wasn’t to be in 2024. “I think we made the right decision,” the president said.

The decision to withdraw came Sunday when Biden released a letter on social media with the shocking and historical news.

“The name has changed at the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn’t changed at all,” the president said.

That was essentially the passing of the torch, the flame. Or the passing of “duende”? That’s what Boston Globe columnist George Frazier, one of those who inspired the column form in me, might have called it.

Duende is that charismatic allure that a world class performer has, that makes you constantly want to watch their every move. For a politician to possess it is pure gold.

Biden had it throughout his long political and legislative career. And now, as he steps aside, and allows Harris, his Veep, to step forward, it was clear. She had it too. Duende. And much more of it than anyone ever thought.

Harris addressed the cheering crowd, but was still aware of Biden’s presence. “We love Joe and Jill, we really do,” said Harris.

“It’s mutual,” said Biden cutting in via speaker phone, almost like the Asian Filipino meaning of “duende,” which I’ve known as a spirit in the house, sometimes a helpful, loving one.

“I knew you were still there,” Harris said looking up with a laugh. “You’re not going anywhere, Joe.”

“I’m watching you kid, I love you,” Biden said.

“I love you too,” Harris said, as the crowd cheered and clapped.

That made it official. The torch had been passed.

GOP’S RESPONSE

For the most part Republicans heads’ are still spinning by Harris “duende express.” Some continue to “other” her by mispronouncing her name. It’s KAH-ma-la. Not kah-MAH-la.

Or they’ve just relied on GOP racist rhetoric. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn) called her a “100 percent DEI hire,” a phrase intended to damn “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” But Harris who has distinguished herself as a local district attorney, a state attorney general, a U.S. Senator and a U.S. vice president, has the resume any White male could envy.

A more subtle approach was used by Sen. Tom Cotton (R.-Ark) Tuesday, who, in a TV interview, kept referring to Harris as a “San Francisco liberal.”

Correction. She’s really more of an Oakland liberal.

I’m in exile now, but I’ve been writing columns as a “San Francisco liberal” for decades. One of my topics was District Attorney Kamala Harris. I always chided her for not going after White attacks on Asian Americans back in the day.

I never spoke with Harris directly. But once at a fund-raiser our eyes met. We chose the diplomatic option and walked the other way.

Now she’s on the verge of history and the duende is palpable.

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Tiguan’s AI Touchscreen & Gear Shift: VW Just Changed the Game! #2

Explore the Tiguan’s cutting-edge 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control, and a new AI assistant. See how VW innovatively moved the gear shifter to the steering column, enhancing the center console and navigation system! #AutoNetwork #Tiguan #Infotainment #AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto #AISystem #NavigationSystem #CarTech #TechReview #CarInnovation #Automotive

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June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

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IN MEMORIAM: Legendary Funk Pioneer Sly Stone Dies at 82

Sly Stone’s musical approach radically reshaped popular music. He transcended genre boundaries and empowered a new generation of artists. The band’s socially conscious message and infectious rhythms sparked a wave of influence, reaching artists as diverse as Miles Davis, George Clinton, Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Roots.

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23 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Sly and the Family Stone play the Opera House in Bournemouth. Mojo review. Photo by Simon Fernandez.

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire

Sylvester “Sly” Stewart—known to the world as Sly Stone, frontman of the groundbreaking band Sly and the Family Stone—has died at the age of 82.

His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home surrounded by loved ones, after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health complications.

Born March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas, Stone moved with his family to Vallejo, California, as a child. He began recording gospel music at age 8 with his siblings in a group called the Stewart Four. By his teenage years, he had mastered multiple instruments and was already pioneering racial integration in music—an ethos that would define his career.

In 1966, Sly and his brother Freddie merged their bands to form Sly and the Family Stone, complete with a revolutionary interracial, mixed-gender lineup.

The band quickly became a commercial and cultural force with hits such as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—all penned by Stone himself.

Their album “Stand!” (1969) and live performances—most notably at Woodstock—cemented their reputation, blending soul, funk, rock, gospel, and psychedelia to reflect the optimism and turmoil of their era.

As the 1970s progressed, Stone confronted personal demons. His desire to use music as a response to war, racism, and societal change culminated in the intense album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” (1971). But drug dependency began to undermine both his health and professional life, leading to erratic behavior and band decline through the early 1980s.

Withdrawn from the public eye for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Stone staged occasional comebacks. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2017, and captured public attention following the 2023 release of his memoir “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—published under Questlove’s imprint. He also completed a biographical screenplay and was featured in Questlove’s documentary “Sly Lives!” earlier this year.

His influence endured across generations. Critics and historians repeatedly credit him with perfecting funk and creating a “progressive soul,” shaping a path for racial integration both onstage and in the broader culture.

“Rest in beats Sly Stone,” legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D posted on social media with an illustrative drawing of the artist. “We should thank Questlove of the Roots for keeping his fire blazing in this century.”

Emmy-winning entertainment publicist Danny Deraney also paid homage. “Rest easy Sly Stone,” Deraney posted. “You changed music (and me) forever. The time he won over Ed Sullivan’s audience in 1968. Simply magical. Freelance music publicist and Sirius XM host Eric Alper also offered a tribute.

“The funk pioneer who made the world dance, think, and get higher,” Alper wrote of Sly Stone. “His music changed everything—and it still does.”

Sly Stone is survived by three children.

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Activism

Congress Says Yes to Rep. Simon’s Disability Hiring and Small Biz Support Bill

“As the first congenitally blind person to serve in Congress, I am incredibly honored to lead and excited to celebrate the House passage of the ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act,’” said Simon.

Published

23 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12). File photo.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

The House of Representatives unanimously passed the “ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act” on June 3, marking a major win for U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) and co-sponsor Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) in their bipartisan effort to promote inclusive hiring and boost small business accessibility.

The legislation establishes a federal partnership between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the National Council on Disability to help small businesses across the U.S. hire more individuals with disabilities and provide resources for disabled entrepreneurs.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of cities, making them accessible for all will maximize local economic activity and broaden the job market to everyone who is seeking to contribute to their communities,” she continued. “Investments in business and talent in our communities shouldn’t be limited to just those who are not disabled. Full stop, period.”

Since taking office in January 2025, Simon has introduced six bills. The House has approved two of them: this measure and the “Assisting Small Businesses, Not Fraudsters Act.”

Simon, a lifelong disability rights advocate and former BART board member, has focused her career on improving access, from public transit to the job market.