10:47 p.m. ET, January 19, 2021
Harris tells girls and boys to see themselves as future leaders at event honoring Black community
From CNN's Keith Allen
In this screengrab, Vice Presient-Elect Kamala Harris speaks during the "We Are One" celebration hosted by the Biden Inaugural Committee on January 19.
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Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Sen.-elect Raphael Warnock and Stacey Abrams were among the speakers at tonight’s Presidential Inaugural Committee virtual inaugural ball honoring the Black community.
In her closing remarks in tonight’s "We Are One" event, Harris thanked her fellow alumni from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and spoke specifically to Black children who may be tuning into the virtual event.
“I especially want to thank my HBCU brothers and sisters, my beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha, and our divine nine family. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for all of you and those who came before us. We are family. And though we cannot gather in person tonight, know that I carry each of you with me as I embark on this journey,” Harris said.
“Let me also say something directly to every little girl and boy who should also see themselves in this moment. I may be the first woman, I may be the first black person to hold this office, but I will not be the last,” Harris continued. “So, dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourselves as future leaders and as the very best of our country because that's who you are.”
Abrams, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate and Fair Fight founder, also spoke about her state’s role in putting Joe Biden and Harris over the top in November, and her state’s historic runoff election that altered the balance of power in the US Senate.
“And what we are seeing happen in this nation today, what we saw happen in Georgia, first in November and again in January, is the compulsion to come together, the commitment to be one, to have a nation that sees us all that serves us all,” Abrams said. “And, so it was with incredible delight and pride that we delivered 16 electoral college votes from the great state of Georgia to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, it was with extraordinary joy and deep personal pride that we are sending you Senator-elect Raphael Warnock who will be sworn in tomorrow, along with Senator Jon Ossoff,” Abrams continued.
“It is with extraordinary gratitude that we say thank you to an administration that has already started to show us what leadership looks like again," she added.
Warnock, one of Georgia's new senators-elect, opened the event with a prayer.