This column is part of HuffPosts She the People series, stories by Black women exploring Kamala Harris historic candidacy. To read more, visit our hub .

As the president and CEO of Higher Heights for America, an organization that brings together powerful Black women in politics, Kamala Harris presidential candidacy is not only a historic moment; its the culmination of decades of grassroots work. Its the realization of dreams that stretch back to Shirley Chisholms groundbreaking run in 1972.

This moment is about more than symbolism. Its about power, representation and the future of American democracy. As soon as the news became clear that she was likely the Democratic presidential nominee, I wanted to ask the many women in our coalition from Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, to Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action how they felt about this momentous occasion. Here are their responses:

DeNora Getachew, board chair of Higher Heights for America, emphasized the historical significance: Black women have always been the backbone of our democracy, pushing for the wants and needs of our society and humanity. This moment feels validating as a recognition of our role and impact, and it feels incredibly fraught that we will have to openly carry the weight of democracy on our shoulders.

This candidacy doesnt just break the ultimate glass ceiling it redefines what leadership looks like in America. Dr. Khalilah L. Brown-Dean, Wesleyan University Professor, put it powerfully: This is a moment to make real the promises of democracy by advocating for protections of voting rights, reproductive autonomy, economic security and access to education.