From Heels to Hope; From Chucks to Change

Sisters of the soul, please forgive me if tread upon some Chuck Taylored toes, but I’m not getting the same kicks from our kicks that I used to, and I want to tell you why.

I adore and admire Kamala Harris. So do you. She’s beyond smart, both serious and funny, and she’s obviously goal-oriented and willing to put in the hours. Her Converse and Timberland footwear are a visible symbol of her commitment to do the hard work we have always done. They’re utilitarian, unisex, and a world away from the high heels that say, “I can’t run if I can’t run.”

Like millions of other women, no matter their race, I proudly wore my triple strand and first-ever pair of Converse sneakers to acknowledge that a rise for one is a rise for all.

I wore them in hope on Election Day.

I wore them in triumph on Inauguration Day.

As Inauguration Day approached, however, I became uncomfortable with so many pictures and reports of sneaker bling jobs, despite some being truly impressive, or the displays of multiple upon multiple pairs. It seemed to be more and more about commerce and less and less about Kamala.