Reflections from the Chicago convention

Jimmy Woods-Gray returned from Chicago’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) on cloud nine. It was her ninth DNC as a California delegate and she rates it the best ever.
Woods-Gray, 82, explained that becoming a delegate in the convention is open to any Democrat. In April, prospective delegates had to file with the California Democratic Party and indicate their interest in running for a delegate spot in their Congressional district. Gray ran for a spot in the 37th district.
“About a month later, we had an election,” she said. You have to sign up to get a ballot. Then you call people in the neighborhood and ask them ‘will you vote for me?’ It’s all done virtually.”
“People who vote for you have to live in the same Congressional district,” she said. “You have to have a password to get into the ballot to ensure it’s you.
Woods-Gray relies on neighbors, friends, and church buddies in her area to vote and now a lot of them are excited about the campaign to elect Harris as the next president of the United States.
“People who have never donated to any campaign are calling me ‘Oh, we want to donate to her, what’s the land address?’ They’re really excited,” she said, noting that many of her older friends are wary of making contributions on the internet, so they want to mail in their donations. (By the way, the address is Harris Victory Fund P.O. Box 96663 Washington, DC 20077-7085).
“We’ve gotta win the southern states,” Woods-Gray said. Those states that usually vote red for the Republicans, but they actually have enough people in them who would vote Democrat, but just don’t vote.”
Woods-Gray explained that the California delegation is working on making phone calls and sending postcards out to prospective voters. And although a list of people have contacted her asking to get involved in the Harris campaign, party campaign headquarters have not yet been set up in South LA. That site would support local congressional races as well as the Harris campaign.
The seeds of activism
Gray’s interest in politics can be traced back to her mother’s activism years ago. Her family first lived in Tyler, Texas and they talked about politics all the time. Her mother took her along to meetings, plus her high school history teacher piqued her interest in social studies. Woods-Gray became a student council officer and actually led a student walkout at Emmett J. Scott High School when she was in the 11th grade.
“I was learning about things that had happened with my relatives,” she said. “My mother had to pay a poll tax to vote!”
Here in Los Angeles, Gray became a teacher, and continued her interest in politics, while her mother was working with former LA City Councilman Robert Farrell’s office. After she became a member of the National Education Association, they asked her if she would be interested in running for a delegate position. She has been involved ever since.
California’s Delegation
This year, the California delegation to the DNC was the largest, with nearly 500 members.
“We had a California breakfast every morning,” Woods-Gray said, adding that they were assigned to the Hyatt Regency Hotel along with nine other delegations. There were breakfast speakers and multiple caucus, labor, and special interest meetings throughout the day before the delegates went to the United Center for the televised DNC. “
“It was exciting because you’re there with a whole lot of like-minded people,” Woods-Gray said. “Being in the room’s atmosphere, such joy and vibrancy. We were all together.”
She noted that some protesters and Palestinian supporters were in the building and some wore their black-and-white Keffiyeh scarves to indicate their support, but everything was peaceful inside the convention.
“I think that the highlight for me was Monday night and the way that people thanked Joe Biden,” Woods-Gray said. “Every night was so good, though, it’s hard to tell which was the best.”
“The Obamas were just out of this world,” she added. “Michelle just laid it out the way it had to be laid out. Each night I can pick out someone who was excellent. There was the night that had those five people who were in prison. They were standing strong and supporting Kamala. Not giving up on life.”
“And the way Kamala came in and gave her speech,” Woods-Gray said. “She laid it out too. The night that Kamala spoke, it was so quiet. They clapped, but they weren’t talking. There are things that you can’t see on TV.”
One night Jesse Jackson came and sat next to Woods-Gray. “We took a picture,” she said. “I think of Jesse Jackson as one who really led us to where we are.”
Overall, the DNC made quite an impression on the octogenarian.
“Oh, I loved the roll call,” Woods-Gray remembered. “That was the first time we’ve ever done that, with the disc jockey. That was really cool. It was really, really good and got everybody hyped up and ready to go.”
“I believe that if voters understand Project 2025 and its relationship to our Democracy and our freedom, this will drive millions to vote for VP Harris and Governor Walz,” she said. “Voters are happy with the joy versus division.”
Woods-Gray also believes that voter turnout will make the difference in this election and supporters can make calls, send postcards, drive voters to the polls, and help others fill out their absentee ballots before the November election. Action is essential.
“Like Michelle Obama said, just ‘do something.’”