CHICAGO — “Alls my life I has to fight!”
Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics reverberated through the electric atmosphere of the United Center in Chicago as California Gov. Gavin Newsom proudly announced California’s 482 delegate votes for Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 22.
Georgia declared its votes to a bass-heavy Lil Jon anthem, where U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock exchanged a triumphant high-five with the rapper, while Maryland’s roll call was punctuated by Aretha Franklin’s classic record, “Respect.”
Delegates from each state pledged their support for Harris to the rhythms of Black music — blues, R&B, soul, and hip-hop. The soundtrack was unmistakable: Black culture and politics were not just intersecting at the DNC — they were becoming inseparable from the convention experience — and not just in the grand setting of the United Center.
Away from the main stage, across Chicago in smaller, more intimate venues ranging from Black history museums to historically Black churches, Black-owned restaurants, and hotel conference rooms, Black people gathered for discourse and to celebrate their shared heritage.
These gatherings outside the spotlight intertwined Black culture with the political moment, offering a place for elected officials, community leaders, and those on the periphery of power to share in the excitement, to discuss, to strategize, and to ensure their voices were part of the larger conversation.
“The convention is great, but all this meeting and talking and collaboration, that’s awesome,” said Indiana state Rep. Ragen Hatcher of Gary.
“There are events where you go with the Congressional Black Caucus or other African American delegations throughout the country, and you find some common ground,” Hatcher added, highlighting the importance of these gatherings in fostering connections and shared purpose.
Take ‘em to church
The church has always been the bedrock of the Black community, an epicenter for decision-making, culture, and politics. The Democratic National Convention was no different. Even before the DNC officially began Monday morning, Black political stakeholders arrived in Chicago on Sunday, where the political discourse had already started from the pulpits of the city’s iconic Black churches.
One such church, Apostolic Faith Church, located in Chicago’s Douglas neighborhood on the South Side, played a pivotal role.
Chicago native Thee Love, who served as a volunteer during the week, described Sunday’s Black Caucus Worship Service at Apostolic Faith as one of the most moving experiences she had ever attended.
“For the younger generation, if they were in the house, if they were there, not only did we have church, but they gave you history so they were able to understand why we do what we do,” Love said.
“I’m sitting there, and I’m ready to work. What are we doing next? I felt that I was blessed to be here.”
Several Black clergy, including the Rev. Jamal Bryant, the Rev. Tisha Dixon-Williams, and the Rev.Michael Eric Dyson, highlighted Sunday evening’s service.
Dyson performed double duty on Sunday.
“We are in a political fight right now,” Dyson said from the pulpit at Trinity Church in Chicago on Sunday morning before commuting to his evening sermon.
“I can’t tell you who to vote for, but I can tell you who not to vote for,” he said. “An autocratic, dictatorial, racist, bigoted, white-supremacist, ignobly unintelligent, proud to be unmolested by enlightenment. If you see him on the ballot, don’t vote for him.”
Dyson concluded his fiery sermon with a pointed challenge to those who question women’s roles in the church, while also extending his support for Kamala Harris.
“It doesn’t have to be ideal or perfect, but don’t you dare be a sexist because you don’t want women preaching to you,” he said. “God is such a feminist — God said she doesn’t have to be in the church; she can run the whole country.”
A space for joy and opportunity
In Chicago’s Washington Park neighborhood, the DuSable Black History Museum became a vibrant space for both reflection and celebration during the DNC Black Caucus Gala. Amid the pageantry of fine dresses and tailored suits, politicians gathered in the museum’s theater, where Virgie M. Rollins, chair of the DNC Black Caucus, spoke about the gala’s purpose.
“We started with church, today we did some education … and tonight, we’re having a little fun,” Rollins said Tuesday evening. “But we have to make sure that when we leave here, we are mobilized, energized, and ready to work towards one goal — Madam President Kamala Harris.”
The DJ set the tone for the evening, starting with LL Cool J’s “Paradise,” an upbeat track that had heads nodding and high heels tapping. As a jazz instrumental of Aaliyah’s “Rock the Boat” played, the first wave of attendees made their way to the cocktail table.
As guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and drinks, they also explored two floors of exhibits that delved into multiple eras of Black history. Though these spaces often serve as a meeting ground for the politically inclined, for some attendees, the event was also a source of respite.
“This is how I take care of my mental health, being around my people and helping my people,” Melba Brown told Capital B Gary.
The Chicago resident has had a rough few months, spending exorbitant amounts on legal fees, nearly losing her home, and complications with insurance companies. As other attendee’s jovial temperaments were on full display in the museum, tears streamed down Brown’s face as she recounted her struggles.
Brown’s presence was emblematic of how these spaces can have multiple meanings in Black lives. Though not extremely active in the political realm, simply being around her people lifted her spirits.
“I got my thing to help people. You have to keep the faith,” she said. “Your health is so important, and this saves my mind and my body.”
While Brown sought solace and healing, Arthur White arrived with a different mission. Having traveled from Detroit to Chicago for the convention week, White briefly wandered into the Black history exhibit, driven by what he called a “historic moment.”
White was acutely aware of the importance he and his fellow Michiganders would play in this year’s presidential election. “It’s a very exciting time, and I just wanted to be here,” said White, dressed in a blue-and-white striped suit with a red tie.
“We’re from a swing state, so it’s really important for us to be here.”
Meanwhile, an entrepreneurial spirit brought Will Harper to the event. With his T-shirt and diamond-encrusted chain, the R&B singer, who goes by the stage name “Low End Smooth,” stood out among the more formally dressed attendees. Harper moved with purpose through the gala, seeking new opportunities for the logistics company he owns and operates.
“I came out to do some good networking, see where the Black dollars at and see how we can get some funding. Just tryna see if I can scale up, even if I can haul printing paper,” Harper said.
New business opportunities aside, Harper was simply fond of the space where the gala was being held. As a South Side Chicago native who recently moved to Dallas, his reverential appreciation for the museum was palpable.
“It’s so historical,” he said.
Power brunch and hip politics
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore took the stage Wednesday morning at the Collective Power Brunch, held at the Swissôtel Downtown, where the atmosphere was charged with purpose and solidarity. As he stepped up, a voice from the crowd broke the silence with a familiar call: “One, Nine!”
Without missing a beat, Moore responded, “O! Six!” — the traditional roll call of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the first African American fraternity, founded in 1906.
The exchange was more than a moment of levity; it was a reminder that in these spaces, Black culture doesn’t just participate in the conversation — it defines it.
At this brunch, politicians, celebrities, and everyday Black folks gathered to discuss strategy and ambitions in an informal setting. No matter how good the pancakes and mimosas were, the core purpose was something much deeper.
“This is our vibe. We want to come, raise money, have fun — but make sure we are building Black political power in the process,” said Quentin James, president of the Collective Political Action Committee.
But the brunch was more than a social affair.
Dressed in a tan suit, R&B star John Legend spoke passionately about his mission to end mass incarceration and invest in Black communities.
“These efforts must go together,” he urged, highlighting the connection of public service and community care.
Moore carried this theme forward. The first Black governor of Maryland and one of three Black elected governors in U.S. history outlined the progress in his state, from expunging 175,000 cannabis convictions to raising the minimum wage.
Yet, even as he discussed policy, Moore acknowledged the weight of his position.
And he was clear about one thing: “Being the first is not the assignment,” he declared. “I pledge to you that this title of being the only Black governor in America is not one I want to hold for very long.” The audience responded with a loud applause.
Actor Michael Ealy, who also spoke at the event, added a touch of humor but with a clear message. “We all know why we’re here — to lift each other up and to lift the country up,” he said. Noticing Moore’s confident grip on the microphone, Ealy quipped, “I noticed, Governor Moore, you hold the mic like an emcee.” The audience laughed.
“I still think Rakim is the GOAT,” he said jokingly.
Further north, Hip Politics — a grassroots organization focused on increasing civic engagement within the hip-hop community — partnered with the National Urban League to take over the upstairs portion of The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant in the city’s South Loop. Here, the vibe was different, yet the mission remained the same: harnessing the power of culture to drive political action.
Their “Content House” featured a full day’s worth of panel discussions on topics ranging from climate justice to a Midwest renaissance.
Elements of Black history were explored as Hatcher spoke on a panel entitled “Greater Gary and the Midwest Renaissance.”
Hatcher’s father, Richard Hatcher, is renowned nationwide as one of the first African American in the United States to win a mayoral election. Joined on the panel by current Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, Hatcher understood the value of being in spaces like these outside the convention hall.
Hatcher highlighted the exchange of ideas as a key benefit of these spaces for lawmakers.
“What I find most in these kinds of events is that you may get good ideas that other communities are putting in place,” she said.
“Someone may say they just launched a huge micro business initiative. And so the idea is figuring out how they did it and how we can replicate that in Gary.”
In a nearby suite, hip-hop legend Melle Mel sat in the front row of the audience for a discussion on climate change, where panelists spoke in detail about the importance of climate justice.
“That’s this moment, not just to elect climate champions, but to ensure the message these industries are killing our people and causing our children and our mothers to have plastic in the placenta,” said the Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., the founder of the Hip Hop Caucus.
“That is our mess right now, to do all we can, to do what we must do to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.”
Black-owned whiskey brand Uncle Nearest old fashioned and sidecar cocktails awaited attendees as they stepped outside the panels to enjoy the views of downtown Chicago from the Firehouse veranda.
“Now, this is worth toasting to,” a woman said, raising her martini glass to her friends.
