The Politics of Body Language

I have never seen a politician move like this. There are entire courses of study dedicated to the gestures deigned to convey power.

Confidence, aggression, sincerity: the physical stances our elected leaders take are carefully manufactured expressions meant to non-verbally communicate authority.

Come to think of it, you rarely see politicians move.

Stern, stolid, stoic, and soulless is the demeanor we have come to expect of political figures. These subliminal messages are conveyed to us, as if stiffness, rigidity, and inflexibility were qualities to be valued.

But this?
This is joy.
This is resilience.

This is the kinetic manifestation of true self-assuredness.

Subconsciously the image of drab sameness has been bludgeoned into our minds, the association of stoic self-containment and command.

But this? This is unbridled. This is liberty. This is FREEDOM.

To be Black in this country has always meant having to contend with control over our bodies. From stolen labor to posture meant to convey deference, our movement in public spaces has been policed to literal death.

Multiply this by a factor of ten for being a Black woman.

Recognizing the sovereignty of movement usually reserved for Black inner sanctums out in full display by the VP elect is a validation I didn't know I needed.

To see @KamalaHarris unfettered by stereotypical white male heteronormative concepts of physical domination is to experience my own jubilation.

I see her move and I feel seen.
And it feels like a brand new day.