Been reading a lot about Senator Harris, ever since she first announced her bid for the presidency. She and Biden are getting my vote in a few months, but it’s been important to me to research her stances, her platform, her record, and her ethos.

As a prosecutor, and then attorney general, she’s been characterized as a cop. “The feds,” as I’ve called her. I’ve read up on the truancy case, the marijuana prosecutions, and a slew of other blights on her allegedly progressive record. It don’t look good.

I’ve see Senator Harris debate, and I’ve seen her grill people in Congress. She’s tough. And overall, I’d say her heart is in the right place. As a AG & a DA, she used the tools available to her to go about helping her constituents. A noble effort.

But as a prosecutor and a district attorney, her tools were legally-based. Threatening to jail parents whose children missed too many school days, in order to keep kids in school. When really, those families needed social services and economic opportunities.

Senator Harris used the tools at her disposal to help her constituents as best she could, but too often she essentially used a hammer to spackle holes in the wall. A screw driver to level a two by four. A buzz saw to change a lightbulb.

I’m rooting for her, and for all of the democratic names on the ballot this year. I’ve had more than enough of the Cheeto-In-Chief and plan on voting him out. But I am also cautiously critical of Senator Harris and VP Biden, because of their records.

To be honest, as a black male citizen, I have feelings. We’ve spent the last few weeks, months, and years asking for police reform. The cops brutalize us while we march. Other cops are complicit. And now, THE cop is running for VP. And the cop has my vote.

But these are the tough choices. Until there’s a viable third or fourth party candidate to vote for, or we burn everything to the ground and really revolt, this is what we have to do. And while it’s ok to question and critique, it’s more important to act.

My action will take the form of me demonstrating, donating to causes I like, researching, writing my reps, and voting. Every chance I get. If I want things to change for the better, that means voting blue this November. I implore you to do the same. #vote