Kamala Harris’ 107 Days Book Tour (Attending author talks/book readings) — Natalie Alexander (Class of 2029) 2 points

On Thursday, January 15, I had the privilege of attending former Vice President Kamala Harris’ book tour for her New York Times Bestseller 107 Days at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis, TN. Her book details the reflections and lessons she learned throughout her campaign for the presidency last year through a very candid and personal account for her journey. 

During the book talk, Vice President Harris spoke on her thoughts regarding the current state of the country from ICE raids to President Trump’s attempts to purchase Greenland. She went on to say that these were the times she warned us of during her campaign. She did not expect things to get as bad as they did as far as the implementation of Project 2025; however, she did see the severe dismantling of the country forthcoming. When asked if she believes that the country can get back on track and if the President will ever be held to the highest standard of respect and class again, she stated that she is unsure if life will ever return to the way it once was, but there were some systems that clearly were not working and this current presidency is a sign that serious reform is needed. 

Something that really resonated with me was the message she gave adults in respect to the younger generations. She went on to say “unfortunately, our society has moved away from the legacy of our ancestors being a worthy enough cause for speaking out against injustices and fighting the system, instead civil disobedience must be introduced to young people as a tradeoff — they must be promised something in return whether that’s assistance with student loans and other generationally appropriate benefits. This is the only way to get the masses within the younger generations to consistently perform their civic duties.” It was disheartening to hear that the legacy of our ancestors is not enough for today’s youth to fight injustices, but as I reflected on previous conversations I have had with my peers, I realized that Vice President Harris’ statement was far from flawed. 

In preparation for the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday that Monday, Vice President Harris spent time at the Lorraine Motel to honor King’s legacy and reflect on the integral role the city played during the Civil Rights Movement. She discussed how being in Memphis, TN during such a commemorative time is so meaningful to her, and she expressed her love and appreciation for the black community within the city in light of all they have endured in the past. 

Prior to attending the book talk, I had not finished reading her book, so now I can finish reading using the signed copy I received from the event. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Vice President Harris speak her truth to power. I look forward to receiving another opportunity to hear her speak, and hopefully she can answer more audience questions next time. 

By Natalie Alexander