The Labor and The Loss: The Work We Poured In, the Costs We Bore, and the Grief We Carry

The road to the 2024 election was paved with intense, often invisible labor. For Black women, the work was personal, political, and profound. It wasn’t just about casting a vote—it was about organizing, mobilizing, and giving every ounce of energy to ensure our voices were heard. From door-knocking for Kamala Harris, to hosting postcard-writing parties and late-night sessions alone at the kitchen table, we worked tirelessly to spread the message of change. Fundraising, donating campaign contributions, and selling fish dinners to support candidates and causes that spoke to our futures—these acts of labor were as much about community as they were about hope. Voter registration, poll watching, and organizing local, state, and national meetings brought together a network of women who were ready to put in the work, no matter the cost.

But after the months of preparation, anticipation, and sacrifice, the crushing blow came on election night. As Kamala Harris’ numbers dropped in key swing states, the optimism we had built from her candidacy began to evaporate. We watched in disbelief as, despite our collective effort, Harris seemed to lose ground, suspiciously losing swing states—states we had worked so hard to turn. The dream we had carried for so long—that our voices would lead the charge—seemed to be slipping away in real-time. The deflation was palpable. Hope turned to grief as it became clear that the work we had poured in was met with an outcome that felt uncertain and unjust. Despite our best efforts, we had been forced to confront the painful reality that the system was rigged against us, that our labor had not been enough to overcome the deeply entrenched barriers of a flawed system.