The second night of the Democratic National Convention continued the momentum of Kamala Harris’ historic rise to the top of the ticket with speeches, musical performances, and a call for unity. The evening highlighted the strength and resilience of the Democratic Party as it pushes forward under Harris’ leadership. Harris made history as the first Black woman nominated by a major party for the presidency. With passionate speeches from Barack and Michelle Obama, the night embodied hope and a commitment to a better future for all Americans.

Chicago’s own Common set the tone for the night, performing his 2024 track “Fortunate,” alongside gospel singer Jonathan McReynolds. Common reworked his lyrics to honor Harris, declaring, “I thank God for this moment in time where Kamala Harris will change the world for the better with love, hope, and grace.”

Legendary singer Patti LaBelle also took the stage to a standing ovation, performing her iconic 1978 ballad “You Are My Friend” during the In Memoriam segment. Her emotional performance marked her return to the Democratic National Convention stage 20 years after she first dazzled audiences with a stirring rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” in 2004.

The ceremonial roll call vote to officially nominate Kamala Harris was anything but subdued. DJ Cassidy curated a playlist of iconic tracks for each state’s delegates, with hits ranging from Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down” to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA.” A special surprise came when Lil Jon, hailing from Atlanta, joined Georgia’s delegation for a raucous chant of “We’re not going back.”

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff also took the stage, pulling back the curtain on his life with his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris. His heartfelt speech offered a personal glimpse into their relationship, depicting Harris as a “joyful warrior” who stands up to bullies and fights for justice. “She knows the best way to deal with a coward is to take him head-on because we all know cowards are weak. And Kamala Harris can smell weakness,” Emhoff said, to cheers from the crowd.

The audience responded enthusiastically, holding red signs that read “DOUG” as Emhoff praised his wife’s strength and resilience. His speech reminded the audience of the candidate's human side, further endearing Harris to the American people. 

Michelle Obama delivered one of the most powerful speeches of the night, reflecting on the recent passing of her mother, Marian Robinson, and drawing on her personal experiences growing up in Chicago. Her speech masterfully combined emotion, humor, and sharp political critiques, particularly targeting former President Donald Trump.

“No one has a monopoly on what it means to be an American,” Obama declared, taking a pointed jab at Trump’s exclusionary rhetoric. She didn’t shy away from calling out his privilege, saying, “Most of us will not be afforded the grace of failing forward,” a clear critique of what she referred to as Trump’s “legacy affirmative action.”

Obama’s fiery commentary reached its peak when she delivered one of the night’s most memorable moments: “His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black,” Michelle Obama said of Trump. She added, “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s seeking is one of those ‘Black jobs’?” The crowd erupted in applause. Her speech, arguably one of the best in convention history, balanced personal reflection with a call to action, urging the audience to show up and vote.

Barack Obama followed his wife’s address with a nostalgic and forward-looking speech. He honored his late mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, by reflecting on her strength and resilience, which he compared to that of his grandmother, who raised him. Obama emphasized that, despite their different backgrounds, these two women shared a common outlook on life: strong, smart, and resourceful, laying the foundation for their families to succeed, “​​On the surface, the two of them didn’t have a lot in common – one was a Black woman from Chicago, the other a white woman born in a tiny town called Peru, Kansas.”He continued, “And yet, they shared a basic outlook on life – strong, smart, resourceful women, full of common sense, who, regardless of the barriers they encountered, went about their business without fuss or complaint and provided an unshakable foundation of love for their children and grandchildren."

Obama used this moment to call for a return to the values that unite Americans, praising Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. He asked Democrats to continue working hard over the next 77 days, saying, “If we knock on doors, if we make phone calls, if we talk to our friends, if we listen to our neighbors, if we work like we’ve never worked before, we will elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States and Tim Walz as the next vice president.”

Obama’s speech closed with a call to action: “Together, we too will build a country that is more secure and more just, more equal and more free. So let’s get to work!”

As the Democratic National Convention progresses, the speeches from the Obamas on the second night underscored the significance of Kamala Harris’ historic candidacy. With music, culture, and leadership on full display, day two of the convention set the stage for a pumped-up Democratic Party determined to make history in November.

Clay Cane is a SiriusXM radio host and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans From the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump.