I woke up in a panic.
My scheduled Uber would be waiting for me at the Mariott Marquis at 5:30 am. I opened my eyes at 4:58, having only slept for 90 minutes after my last day and a long night at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Hours before, Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian woman to lead a major party ticket in the United States, had accepted her nomination as the Democratic candidate for the next Presidential election.
Exhausted, I raced to throw my convention swag and everything I brought to Chicago into my suitcase. I brushed my teeth and wiped away smeared mascara before hightailing to the lobby. I made it outside just as the black SUV pulled up.
My driver wore a red Chicago Bulls jersey, a baseball cap and dreadlocks.
He was kind and reassured me that I was on track to make my 8 am flight to Montreal. He asked about my convention experience as we followed taxis carrying equally as disheveled convention-mates back to their corners of the world. I was happy to share. But as we talked, I realized we had different political perspectives.
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