Sheryl Lee Ralph invokes prediction as she says Kamala Harris ‘has it in her’ to become president

MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MASSACHUSETTS: Sheryl Lee Ralph heralded the possibility of Vice President Kamala Harris becoming the next president of the United States, claiming the Democratic presumptive nominee "has it in her to make history".

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter's co-editor-in-chief Nekesa Mumbi Moody at the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival over the weekend, the 'Abbot Elementary' actress touted the chances of Harris' historic win in November.

The VP launched her presidential bid two weeks ago after President Joe Biden exited the 2024 race, endorsing her for the Democratic ticket. Despite initial confusion, she was voted as the presumptive nominee through a virtual roll call ahead of the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Sheryl Lee Ralph believes Kamala Harris 'has it in her' to be a great leader

Addressing the crowd, Sheryl Ralph praised Kamala Harris, saying she believed in her since the former senator's first presidential bid in 2019. The VP launched an unsuccessful Democratic primary against Biden in the 2020 election before she was selected as the running mate, making her the first woman and person of color to be in the position.

"I believe this woman has it in her to make history and be a great leader," the Emmy-winning actress said.

Nevertheless, she admitted that Harris' presidential victory could be considered a longshot due to her racial identity. Indicating a victory was not impossible, Ralph put forth examples of "long shot" candidates who entered the White House in recent years.

"I'm the same person who, as a kid, believed in a peanut farmer from Georgia," the actress said.

"I'm the same kid that believed in a governor from Arkansas. I'm the same person when they said, 'Barack Obama, there are too many vowels in that name.' I was like, 'Come on, y'all. You can't see it.' They said, 'It will be a cold day in hell when America elects that man as president.' And if any of you were there, it was a cold day in hell."

Ralph added that knowing Harris' work in California ensured her that "this woman's got that thing".

Sheryl Lee Ralph invokes prediction by Shirley Chisholm

Sheryl Ralph also referred to a prediction by Shirley Chisholm, who was the first Black woman to launch a presidential bid in 1972 and the first to win a seat in Congress in 1968.

"Sometimes people can be prophetic," Ralph noted. "Shirley Chisholm said the way for a woman, especially a Black woman, to [become president] was through the vice presidency."

Ralph, who has Jamaican heritage just like Harris, said that both cultivated "a lovely friendship" over the years.

"I like Kamala plus, Kamala and I — we could talk about rice and peas," she continued. "And I said to myself, 'Aside from her being wonderful, smart, brilliant, and a strong leader, I think the White House needs a pot of rice and peas in it."

Branding the VP a "very capable woman", the actress challenged what anyone's problem was in voting for her.

Further into the conversation, Ralph also weighed in on Harris' biracial identity, which made headlines after former president Donald Trump's remarks about her Indian and Black heritage.

Expressing her love for the Democrat's Black-Indian identity, the actress added that neither Harris nor she had a problem with that.

"Her Jamaican father doesn't have a problem with it. Her Indian mother didn't have a problem with it. So why is it [a problem] here in America? We have to say to her, 'Well, what are you? Are you Black or are you Indian?' Maybe she is human and ready to take your job. In fact, she's just going to do her Black job."

Ralph, who was born to an immigrant, also shared how her Jamaican mother instilled confidence in her.

"My mother would say, ‘Sheryl, if you didn’t belong there, you wouldn’t be there. Hold your head up high, put your shoulders back and lean in'."