Hillary Clinton closes DNC with message of inclusion

Only a woman can be nominated for the biggest job in this country and turn into a big hug, a love fest.

Hillary Clinton speech focused on inclusion and a vision of America that could bring most women to tears and even some teenagers.

“Now I am going to cry,” my 14-year-old daughter said as a beaming Clinton took the stage.

{mosads}We watched the speech as a family, in the bedroom she shares with her older sister. The entire convention and Clinton’s climatic speech was like taking a warm shower after running a mud race. The Democratic Convention sharply contrasted with the Republican convention a week earlier, which left me feeling marginalized and nervous. As an Afro Latina, I felt under attack, by the millions of Americans who support Trump’s racist agenda. It felt like a million pinpricks on my skin.

Those feelings started in the primaries and as his support swelled, I became more worried about the future. But the sea of diversity that took the stage this week in Philly and Clinton’s inclusive words really touched me. This is my country.

She looked glorious in her white pantsuit. She was beaming, pointing, waving and clapping as she took the stage. She oozed sincerity and pure joy at times. I have never seen her so happy. Clinton has some issues. Her judgment too many times has been suspect. She is no Obama at the podium or even Biden.

But she is our only chance to not rollback time.

And Clinton showed true humility on the stage, a stark contrast to her Republican opponent.

“Through all these years of public service, the ‘service’ part has always come easier to me than the ‘public’ part. I get it that some people just don’t know what to make of me.”

But she tried to fill in the blanks. She told us her personal story and what she believes. She said we have to work together and that she can’t do it alone. She was clear about how historic this moment was for women everywhere.

“When there is no ceiling the sky is the limit,” she said.

Clinton laid out her plan, which included the standard Democrats stable of issues, save our planet, create jobs, supports immigration reform, fight poverty, healthcare access, unfair trade deal, women’s right to choose, equal pay for women, fight for stricter gun laws and more.

As her speech started on the predictable and welcomed Trump attack she grew serious, ” A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man you can trust with nuclear weapons, she said.

The end was glorious and amusing, and included a mic drop moment when quoted Hamilton. 

“Though ‘we may not live to see the glory. Let us gladly join the fight. Let our legacy be about ‘planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.”

That line scored big points with my teens who play the soundtrack relentlessly.

Then she was joined onstage by her choice for vice president, Tim Kaine and her family. Balloons and confetti rained down on them. The big smile returned. She tossed balloons into the crowd and hugged everyone that came near her.

My 17-year-old daughter was “Feeling the Bern” throughout the primaries, but after the confetti fell, she smiled and said, “This is a huge step, this is amazing. She just made history.”

Latty is a journalist, author and documentary filmmaker. She currently journalism at New York University’s Arthur Carter Journalism Institute. Her work has appeared in USA Today, Chicago Sun Times, BET.com, The Washington Post. Her documentary film “Sacred Poison” has been screened worldwide. Follow her on Twitter @yvonnelatty

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