Why We Brunch: Kamala Harris Joins Black Women Nationwide to Flex Our Collective Political Power

By Glynda C. Carr

There is something powerful about Black women gathering around a table.

For generations, our tables have been places where we share stories, exchange wisdom, celebrate victories, and make plans for what comes next. Whether around a kitchen table, after Sunday church service, or over brunch with our girlfriends, Black women have always understood the power of coming together.

And those gatherings have a way of turning conversations into action.

I often say, “When you fire up a Black woman, she doesn’t go to the polls alone. She brings her house, her block, her church and her sorority and her union.”

That is the power of Black women in our democracy. We don’t just show up for ourselves. We bring our communities with us.

And that is exactly why we brunch.

At Higher Heights, we recognize that civic engagement doesn’t begin at the ballot box. It begins in our communities, through conversations with people we know and trust.

It happens when girlfriends remind one another to check their voter registration, when mothers talk to their daughters about making a voting plan, and when someone makes sure everyone in the group chat has a plan to cast their ballot.

Sometimes, it happens over a plate of shrimp and grits or chicken and waffles.

Black women have long been a driving force in American democracy. We have organized our communities, fought for voting rights, and helped shape the direction of this country.

According to our biennial report with the Center for American Women and Politics, nearly two-thirds of eligible Black women voted in the 2024 presidential election, representing the third-highest turnout rate of any racial and gender group.

And that commitment to making our voices heard remains strong. A recent national poll conducted by The Highland Project and Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies surveyed 700 Black women voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and found that 77% are highly motivated to vote, driven by a sense of urgency and a desire to protect their communities.

Our political power is not accidental. It is the result of generations of leadership, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to making our voices heard.

And with another Election Day approaching, we have an opportunity to flex that collective power once again.

That starts with being prepared. Know what’s on your ballot. Understand your voting options. Check important deadlines. Make a plan to vote, whether early, by mail, or on Election Day.

Then reach beyond yourself. Make sure your family, friends, neighbors, and everyone in your circle has the information they need to participate.

Because our greatest strength isn’t simply in the individual votes we cast. It’s in the collective power we activate when we bring others along.

That is the spirit behind Higher Heights for America’s National Day of Sunday Brunch.

We believe joy and civic engagement belong together. There is room for good food, music, laughter, and fellowship alongside meaningful conversations about our communities and our future.

And there’s always room for one more at our table.

So gather your girlfriends. Invite your sorority sisters. Bring your family and neighbors. Talk about what’s at stake, make your voting plan, and help someone else make theirs.

Because when Black women come together, we don’t just fill tables. We build community, inspire action, and move our democracy forward.

That’s why we brunch.

On Sunday, October 25, 2026, Black women across the country will come together for Higher Heights for America’s National Day of Sunday Brunch, from 2 to 4 p.m.

ET, to celebrate our sisterhood, strengthen our connections, and prepare to make our voices heard on Election Day, November 3.

And we have some extraordinary women joining us at the table. Our special guests include Vice President Kamala Harris, award-winning actress Kerry Washington, actress Karla Mosley, the national presidents of the Divine Nine sororities, and other national leaders who understand the power of Black women’s voices and collective action.

This national gathering is made possible through the collective commitment of organizations that have long championed Black women’s leadership, civic engagement, and community empowerment. We are proud to stand alongside our partners, and I want to extend a special thank-you to the Black Women’s Leadership Collective, ower Rising, Win With Black Women, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), Black Women’s Roundtable, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Sister Leads Sister Vote and GirlTrek

Together, we are demonstrating what is possible when Black women and our organizations come together with a shared purpose. Our collective power is our greatest strength, and our communities are stronger because of it.

Whether you’re hosting a gathering or joining virtually, there’s a place for you at the table.

Join us on October 25 and help us turn our collective power into action at the ballot box. Learn how to participate at hhfa.us/day-of-brunch.

Glynda C. Carr is President and CEO of Higher Heights for America, the political home for Black women. www.higherheightsforamerica.org.