“When They Go Low: Black Women Are Soaring in a Different Direction”
By Adriane
For years, Black women have been the backbone of American democracy, communities, and movements for change. But in the wake of Kamala Harris’s loss—a moment that represented so much hope for us—it is time to reckon with the mood that is shifting among us. The days of constantly going high when others go low? Those days are over. Like Icarus, who flew too close to the sun, there is a lesson in watching others burn from their own arrogance, heedlessness, and hubris. This moment is one of resolve, clarity, and self-preservation for Black women.
The Icarus Lesson and the Harris Loss
Kamala Harris’s loss hits different. It wasn’t just about her. Her victory symbolized a chance to break ceilings that have held us all down for far too long. It represented the audacity to hope for a country that values competence over chaos, vision over vindictiveness.
But much like the myth of Icarus, we watched as the promise of a collective, unified elevation was met with sabotage. The wings of progress—crafted with sweat, blood, and tears—were melted by the sun of racism and misogyny. America, in many ways, chose to ignore its better angels, consumed instead by the fire of its own hate. Black women have long warned this country about the dangers of flying too close to the flames of division and lies.
We told them. He told them. And still, they didn’t listen.
“MAGA, Y’all Played Yourselves”
For all the fervor and fanaticism of the MAGA movement, even they are starting to realize the truth. They feel duped, and they should. They ignored the signs, warnings, and receipts laid bare before them because racism and misogyny felt like comfortable tools to hold onto power. They let their disdain for Black women, women in general, and progress at large cloud their judgment.
And now? They are left with broken promises, empty slogans, and a leader who has consistently shown them who he is. But this time, we are not here to offer olive branches or serve as the nation’s moral compass. Their house is burning, and instead of running in to save it, we are standing firm, tending to our own.
“Tend to Your House, and Let Us Tend to Ours”
Black women are in a new era of boundaries. We are no longer here to pick up the pieces of a fractured democracy while enduring insults, dismissal, and disregard. We are focused on building our own legacies, reclaiming our narratives, and creating spaces that center our joy, health, and prosperity.
When Michelle Obama famously said, “When they go low, we go high,” it was a rallying cry for grace in the face of adversity. But even grace has limits. The mood now isn’t about pettiness or revenge—it’s about accountability. It’s about allowing those who have perpetuated harm to deal with the consequences of their actions without demanding that we save them from themselves.
A Thank You to Our Brothers and Allies
To the Black men who stood with us and supported Kamala Harris with their votes: thank you. We see you, we honor your solidarity, and we stand with you as we continue this fight together. Your votes were not just numbers—they were affirmations of shared struggle, resilience, and the desire for a better future.
To those outside of the Black community who voted for Harris: we thank you for standing with us. But this is where your real work begins. Blue bracelets and yard signs are not enough. You have two years to look around your own families, friend circles, and communities to get to the root of why so many chose division and hatred over hope and progress. Your vote was and is appreciated, but it must be the first of many actions. Tending to your house is a responsibility only you can fulfill.
Soaring Forward: Our Wings Are Strong
The story of Icarus serves as a reminder that ambition without self-awareness is dangerous. But Black women are not Icarus. Our wings are stronger because they are built not of wax, but of resilience, community, and truth. Kamala Harris’s loss is not the end of our story—it is a chapter in the ongoing narrative of how Black women continue to rise, even in the face of systemic attempts to hold us down.
We are no longer carrying the burden of this nation’s moral failures. Instead, we are focused on creating futures for ourselves and those who truly believe in justice. MAGA can deal with its own mess. We told them. Now they must face it.
And us? We will keep soaring—not to the sun, but toward the bright futures we have always deserved.
#TheAdrianePerspective