On Sunday, during a leisurely brunch gathering near Seattle, April Berg and her friends experienced a dramatic moment when their cellphones simultaneously began to ping with urgent news alerts. “We thought somebody had died,” Berg recounted, only to discover that President Joe Biden had abruptly decided to withdraw from the presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor for the Democratic nomination. The unexpected turn of events transformed their routine 90-minute brunch into an extended four-hour conversation, marked by animated discussion and intense debate.

Berg, a Black Democrat and Washington state House representative, was a key figure in Biden’s 2020 victory. Black voters, particularly in pivotal swing states such as Georgia, played a crucial role in securing Biden's win. In his victory speech, Biden had expressed profound gratitude to Black voters and pledged to address their concerns. Throughout his presidency, Biden highlighted significant achievements such as reducing child poverty—a major issue for many Black families—and appointing Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.

Despite these accomplishments, Biden’s support among Black voters had waned over time. With Biden now stepping aside, reactions from Black individuals across the nation varied from elation to disappointment and ambivalence. However, there was a general consensus that while Biden had made noteworthy contributions, Kamala Harris was a suitable choice to continue his legacy.

Berg and her brunch companions viewed Biden’s decision as a strategic maneuver aimed at overcoming Republican nominee Donald Trump. Reflecting on Biden’s presidency, Berg noted that he was “the right man at the right moment” during the tumultuous periods of the pandemic and the racial justice protests of 2020. She also commended Biden for selecting Kamala Harris as his running mate, highlighting her entrance to Mary J. Blige’s song “Working” as a significant moment when Black women, including herself, felt genuinely recognized and valued.

Though Berg and her friends were content with Biden’s withdrawal, their satisfaction was not solely a result of his underwhelming debate performance on June 27. “I don’t know that I could point to one specific thing that I would say, ‘Oh, he needed to get out.’ I just think overall, things had just changed after that night,” Berg explained.

Leslie Neland, an entrepreneur from Atlanta, emphasized the heightened urgency of defeating Trump, especially after her 23-year-old son expressed deep-seated fears during Trump’s presidency. “I deal with racism and move on. But when it impacts my son, it heightened for me the fact that this man cannot be president again,” Neland said. She praised Biden for his significant achievements, including the Child Tax Credit—which notably reduced Black child poverty—and his historic appointment of Black women to federal judgeships, including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. “Joe Biden has done a wonderful job for the country,” she affirmed, underscoring her appreciation for his support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and his management of the COVID-19 crisis.

Maurice Hawkins, a political volunteer from Norfolk, Virginia, noted that some Black voters had become disenchanted with Biden due to ongoing exhaustion from systemic racism. “No one man can change hearts and minds. But Biden changed policies that benefit Black folks and set us on a promising path,” Hawkins remarked. He also highlighted Biden’s diverse Cabinet appointments, including Linda Thomas-Greenfield as UN Ambassador and Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense, as significant achievements. Despite his sadness over Biden’s exit, Hawkins felt a renewed sense of optimism upon learning of Harris’s endorsement. “That uncertainty I had moved toward certainty and then excitement for the possibility of our country electing our first woman president, first African American woman president, first woman of Southeast Asian descent,” he said. “So, you can’t be happy to see someone like him go away, but Kamala Harris is the next best thing.”

Neland echoed this sentiment, expressing support for Biden’s decision to endorse Harris, primarily because of the imperative to defeat Trump. “Kamala can beat Trump and that’s the No. 1 goal — not letting him back in power,” she said, conveying confidence in Harris’s capability and her potential to assemble a competent team.

Christine Beatty, a nonprofit political consultant in Detroit and a Howard University alumna like Harris, argued that Harris was the logical choice to continue Biden’s work. She cautioned against introducing another candidate at this late stage, which could exacerbate divisions within the Democratic Party. “You overstep the Black VP? You’re going to have to make a case, and I don’t think there’s a case to be made,” Beatty said, emphasizing the crucial role of Black women in mobilizing Democratic votes.

William Ratcliff, a retired project manager in suburban Phoenix, also supported Harris as the next best choice, despite his dissatisfaction with how Biden was seemingly pressured out of the race. “Kamala is younger, a fighter, smart and can energize the base, which, if we’re being honest, was pretty blah before now,” Ratcliff stated. He underscored the importance of Harris’s energy in countering Trump’s threat to democracy. “Joe Biden did his job and did it well. Now it’s up to the Democratic Party to throw their support behind Vice President Harris. If we finally come together as a party, we will be celebrating in November — and not crying.”

As the Democratic Party shifts its focus to Harris, the collective sentiment reflects a blend of respect for Biden’s accomplishments and a hopeful anticipation for the renewed energy and leadership Harris is expected to bring.