Harris concedes race to a dazed Howard University

As the sun set behind Howard University’s Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall on Wednesday evening, Vice President Kamala Harris emerged—nearly 16 hours after she was expected to make an appearance—to confirm the worst fears of most in attendance. 

“While I concede this election, I don’t concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” she said. “This isn’t a time to throw up our hands. It is a time to roll up our sleeves.” 

After planting her flag at the historically Black university for last night’s election watch party—the first ever held by a campaign on a college campus—Harris didn’t mention Howard in her speech. She did spontaneously erupt into a spirited Howard chant, though, calling out, “HU” to a crowd that eagerly responded, “You know!”

In a stark contrast to Tuesday night’s line dancing, the many Howard students and alumni who returned to campus milled about apprehensively, speaking in hushed tones about the future of the country. There weren’t many tears or displays of indignation on the Yard Wednesday, but there was a lot of hugging. 

“Everybody’s taking small steps,” said one alum, who declined to give his name. “We’re here. We’re alive today. For now, that’s what matters.”

Harris struck a gracious but determined tone in her speech, committing to a peaceful transfer of power and offering words of comfort to the HBCU community in attendance and her supporters watching across the country.

“I know many people feel we’re entering a dark time,” she said. “Please know it’s going to be OK.”

Jamela, a Howard grad student who asked to be identified only by her first name, was in attendance for the watch party Tuesday night. She was surprised and disappointed by the election results; she felt that history was repeating itself against the odds. 

Still, she returned to campus Wednesday afternoon to show support for the vice president and her Howard community—and receive it in turn. 

“It means a lot to be together right now,” she said. “Howard is the Mecca—it produces so many amazing leaders who … She won’t be the last Bison to blaze that trail.”

A doctoral student at Howard’s School of Education, Jamela said she feared for teachers and for education in America more broadly under a Trump presidency. She’s particularly concerned that he may try to abolish the Education Department and take a sledgehammer to what she sees as incremental but meaningful progress toward equity in educational access. 

“This election and what comes after, it’s incredibly important for teachers, for students, schools, colleges and universities,” she said. “I’m prepared to fight … but I am very concerned about what this means for our future.”