(New York) When Wanda Kagan left Kamala Harris’s headquarters last Tuesday evening, she had not yet given up hope of seeing her best friend from her youth break the ultimate glass ceiling. Certainly, the possibility of defeat could not be ignored, but nothing was set in stone yet.
Posted at 1:13 a.m.
Updated at 5:00 a.m.
The next morning, when she woke up, reality hit her like a ton of bricks. The vice president of the United States, with whom she had formed a close friendship when they both attended Westmount High School, had been defeated by Donald Trump.
“I was in shock. It was very emotional,” said the Montrealer during a telephone interview on Saturday.
The days that followed were extremely difficult and painful. I have family in Florida. There are Haitians in my family. I felt it like a blow to the heart.
Wanda Kagan
Four days after the shock, Wanda Kagan did not want to dwell on the political reasons which may have pushed voters to prefer to her friend a convicted criminal considered dangerous, incompetent or fascist by several of her former collaborators.
“I’m not used to venturing into this area,” she said. To me, it was just a sad day for women, and especially black women. Because black women feel it more than white women. Yes, it was a sad day for women. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY WANDA KAGAN
Wanda Kagan, during last Tuesday’s election night
And it was even more so for a Montreal friend who played an important role in Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. The latter in fact highlighted the story of Wanda Kagan to explain to Americans one of the main reasons which pushed her to become a prosecutor.
“When I was in high school, I started to notice something about my best friend, Wanda. She was sad at school and sometimes she didn’t want to go home. One day I asked her if everything was okay and she told me that she was being sexually abused by her stepfather. I immediately told her that she had to come live with us, and that’s what she did,” said the vice-president during her inauguration speech at the Democratic convention in Chicago, where a video evoking the story of her Montreal friend had been presented shortly before.
“That’s one of the reasons I became a prosecutor: to protect people like Wanda, because I believe everyone has the right to safety, dignity and justice. »
“I’m proud”
Wanda Kagan remembers the first impressions Kamala Harris and her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, had of her.
“As you get older, you are exposed to many different, bright, intelligent people. But, at that point in my life, I remember being amazed by Kamala’s mother. I didn’t know she was a world-renowned scientist, an elite medical researcher. I just remember being inspired by this bright, strong woman. So was his daughter. They both exuded confidence, power and strength, which rubbed off on me,” said Wanda Kagan, a healthcare professional who also devotes her time to philanthropy.
PHOTO NASUNA STUART-ULIN, ARCHIVES THE NEW YORK TIMES
Photos showing Wanda Kagan and Kamala Harris together as teenagers in Montreal
She does not regret that her personal ordeal occupied such a place in her friend’s campaign. Nor does she complain about having had to give interviews on this traumatic subject in recent months.
“I’m proud,” she said of her role in Kamala Harris’ campaign. I was able to use my voice to tell my story and show the world what an amazing person my friend was. She always told me the influence I had on the path she took. And to think that this path could lead her to the presidency was astonishing. I was deeply honored to be a part of his story. She used her voice when I couldn’t speak. And I was able to use mine to talk about empathy and the beauty of the person she really is. »
On the front “for the people”
Four days after the shock, Wanda Kagan also found consolation in the campaign led by Kamala Harris, which helped restore hope to a demoralized party after Joe Biden’s performance during the presidential debate in Atlanta on June 27.
I am so proud of my friend, of how she came back, of the strength I witnessed in her. For me, this is what keeps me going during this trying time. What she did in 107 days for the American people is nothing short of a miracle in my eyes.
Wanda Kagan
However, she does not dare to venture to say how her best friend from her youth is taking her defeat against Donald Trump.
“I won’t comment on that,” she said. I’m already having a hard time explaining how I react to this defeat. I certainly can’t begin to think for anyone else. »
But she is convinced that Kamala Harris has not said her last word.
“A world of possibilities awaits her. I predict a bright future for her, whatever path she decides to take. But I believe she will always fight for people. That’s what she’s always done. She always fought for people, so I don’t think that passion and compassion will go away. »
