Sheryl Lee Ralph believes Kamala Harris “has it in her” to make history and become the next President of the United States.
During an interview at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival this weekend, the Abbott Elementary star spoke with The Hollywood Reporter‘s co-editor in chief Nekesa Mumbi Moody about Vice President Harris’ historic run for president.
Ralph told the crowd she’s believed in Harris since the politician’s first presidential run in 2019. “I believe this woman has it in her to make history and be a great leader,” she said. Acknowledging that the stakes of Harris’ election could seem like a long shot, given Harris’ identity as a woman of color, Ralph cycled through other examples of “long shot” presidents who won their elections in recent history.
“I’m the same person who as a kid believed in a peanut farmer from Georgia,” she said. “I’m the same kid that believed in a governor from Arkansas. I’m the same person that when they said ‘Barack Obama, there are too many vowels in that name.’ I was like, ‘Come on, y’all. You can’t see it.’ They said, ‘It will be a cold day in hell when America elects that man as president.’ And if any of you were there, it was a cold day in hell.”
Ralph then elaborated with her view of Harris’ leadership, saying, “in meeting Kamala and knowing of her work in California, I said, ‘This woman’s got that thing.’”
The actress and Broadway star went on to invoke a prediction once made by Shirley Chisolm, the groundbreaking politician who became the first Black woman elected to congress in 1968 and ran for president in 1972.
“Sometimes people can be prophetic,” Ralph said. “Shirley Chisholm said the way for a woman, especially a Black woman, to [become president] was through the vice presidency.”
Ralph, who is part Jamaican like Harris, also said she and the veep have enjoyed “a lovely friendship” over the years.
“I like Kamala plus, Kamala and I — we could talk about rice and peas,” she said. “And I said to myself, ‘Aside from her being wonderful, smart, brilliant and a strong leader, I think the White House needs a pot of rice and peas in it.”
“This is a woman, a very capable woman,” Ralph continued. “She has shown you who she is. What is your problem with voting for a very capable and ready woman? I had to ask that question.”
To finish her point, Ralph addressed the recent conversation regarding Harris’ mixed race, which surfaced amid comments from Donald Trump asserting that it wasn’t possible for Harris to be both Indian and Black.
“My Scottish grandfather doesn’t show up on me,” Ralph said. “Now we’ve got Kamala, who is — anybody from the islands knows that one of our favorite combinations is Black-Indian. We love a Black-Indian. So nice. They look so good. That’s what she is. We don’t have a problem with it. She doesn’t have a problem with it. Her Jamaican father doesn’t have a problem with it. Her Indian mother didn’t have a problem with it. So why is it [a problem] here in America? We have to say to her, ‘Well, what are you? Are you Black or are you Indian?’ Maybe she is human and ready to take your job. In fact, she’s just going to do her Black job.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Ralph spoke about how her confidence manifested as the child of an immigrant.
“My mother a was a strong Jamaican,” the actress said. “My mother said, ‘Good, better, best, never rest until your good is better and your better [is] best.’”
She added, “I’m a child of the ’60s, and it was difficult and it was hard. And I remember — I was that integration child. There was always one child that had to break the barrier. And I was the one child in Notre Dame Academy for Young Women. It was hell, those nuns put me through it. But my mother would say, ‘Sheryl, if you didn’t belong there, you wouldn’t be there. Hold your head up high, put your shoulders back and lean in.’”
Last month, Ralph earned her third Emmy nomination, following her viral win 2022. During this weekend’s interview, she spoke about how the accolade shifted her perspective.
“I really thought I knew about this industry,” Ralph said. “I really thought I knew something about it, but it’s different now. My representation is different. Sometimes it is easy to be comfortable and stay in one place. Change is very difficult, but sometimes something comes to you and it’s my time, it’s my place. Let me move on up a little higher.”
All three of Ralph’s nominations came for Abbott Elementary, and the actress also took time to pay tribute to show creator and star Quinta Brunson.
“I have two children that I love and adore, and Quinta’s about the same age as my children,” Ralph said. “I always wanted my children to do better than me. They’re doing pretty good. And when I look at Quinta in this industry, writing her show, creating her show, acting in her show, I’m like, ‘Well, thank you, God. Look what the future has brought.’ I am so proud of Quinta.”
