On February 13, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to the descendants of some of the most significant civil rights activists of the 1950s and 1960s and other important historical figures at a Black History Month event held at the White House. For many families, it was their first time coming together in one space. Attendees included notable celebrities who are considered household names in every black home, such as Emmett Till, Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings, Malcolm X, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Ida B. Wells, and Malcolm X.
According to Harris, the descendants are “extraordinary American heroes” who exemplify the Constitution’s and the country’s promise. “They’ve passed the baton to us,” Harris said during her speech. Executive orders about police accountability and President Joe Biden’s signing of the legislation designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday were among the administration’s actions that White House Office of Public Engagement director Stephen K. Benjamin presented.
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In honor of Black History Month, the group, known as “The Descendants,” came together to pay tribute to their ancestors. According to Joshua Jordison, one of the planners, talks to unite this heterogeneous group started a few years ago. “It was amazing that many of them had never met,” Jordison remarked. Other prominent families were also invited, but a few of them could not attend because of schedule issues and other circumstances. Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington’s descendant Kenneth B. Morris Jr. claim that The Descendants wanted to lead the country in solidarity and cooperation.
“This historic event marks the beginning of coalescing The Descendants’ families and like-minded leaders and organizations to catalyze transformative positive societal change amongst the most significant challenges faced by our country,” Morris explained. In addition to the White House reception, the descendants’ families had a full schedule of events scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington. The program included visits to the Supreme Court, the Lincoln Memorial, the U.S. Capitol, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Dinners and chances for group discussions were also provided.
A great-great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman, Ernestine “Tina” Martin Wyatt, was one of the people who expressed delight at meeting the descendants of other freedom fighters. “It’s an equal collaboration. We are all coming together,” Morris noted. Approximately one hundred attendees attended the luncheon, including officials from the administration and members of the Congressional Black Caucus. During her keynote address, Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) praised the families for their selfless efforts and personal sacrifices made to maintain and safeguard the legacy of their ancestors. “At a time when our fundamental freedoms are once again under attack, we are grateful to President Biden not only for convening this event but for his commitment to furthering the progress that our foremothers and forefathers fought and died to achieve,” Sewell stated.
