Jacquelyn Brittany was an unlikely choice to deliver the first formal nomination of former Vice President Joe Biden for president. But the presence of the modest security guard at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night became a moment of showcase – and allowed the Democratic Party to effectively present its favorite populist narrative about itself.
Jacquelyn Brittany, 31 – who asked to be identified only by her first and middle names – appeared in a short but compelling video in which she nominated Biden for the ticket. And her appearance as a Black woman in a shirt and tie subtly conveyed a message that Biden has been trying to capitalize on since the beginning of his campaign: that he is truly a man of all people, and thus an effective opponent of excluding Trump brand populism.
Packed in Jacquelyn’s 40-second video was a dramatic metaphor: The idea of an elevator as both an equalizer – a place where common and powerful people meet and gather – and, well, as an ordinary person’s elevator . “I bring the very powerful people on my elevator,” she said. “Me? I’m just going back to the lobby.”
Except this time not – Biden, positioned as a shy unitary of classes, took Jacquelyn with him all the way to the top.
Jacquelyn’s trajectory eventually played out like a classic fairy tale – beginning, as such stories do, with a chance encounter. As a security guard for the New York Times, she often accompanies prominent guests through the elevator. In January, Joe Biden visited the building, and was lucky enough to find him in Jacquelyn’s elevator. During the ride, a movie crew for the TV show The weekly, a joint production between the Times and FX, captivated a wide-eyed Jacquelyn told Biden, ‘I love you. … you’re like my favorite. ”
The moment, followed by a selfie with the former vice president, went viral after Biden declared himself “honored” to have met Jacquelyn.
Spotlighting Jacquelyn sent the Democratic Party a powerful message
What was perhaps much more telling than the moment itself was the way Biden incorporated it into his campaign. He had met that day with the editors of the Times, and although he did not get the approval of the paper, he took the opportunity to promote the meeting of thoughts in the elevator. Ten days later, at a campaign stunt in Waukee, Iowa, he specifically framed Jacquelyn’s camera moment as worth the trip to the Times. According to the Washington Post, he told the crowd, “I have something better” than the Times’ approval: “I had to meet Jacquelyn.”
The statement, with its ring of both populism and anti-intellectualism, might have backfired on another political climate, one in which he did not position himself against an anti-intellectual sitting president. But instead, it sent Jacquelyn into the spotlight Tuesday night. It was all part of the fairy tale’s natural progression: the star-struck fanatic to become friends and travel with Biden all the way to the White House. “I never thought I would be able to do this,” she told the Post. “I never thought I was worthy enough to do this.”
Yet Jacquelyn was one of the most discussed faces of the evening. Their distinction received positive reactions on social media, with many people seeing it – and broadening the roles of the DNC – as a symbol of the Democratic Party’s ability to unite people across the political and socio-economic spectrum. , and as a strong reminder of the popular policies of all parties effect.
Joe Biden was just formally nominated not by a luminaire but by a security guard he met in an elevator and it was the most moving speech I’ve seen in a long time
– Andrew Wright MD (@andrewswright) August 19, 2020
But while Jacquelyn’s DNC appearance may have felt like a figurative Cinderella moment, it was also the culmination of Biden’s recognition of the opportunity Jacquelyn gave him. Biden has previously struggled, often in the midst of harsh criticism, to present himself as a populist candidate, and although he won the Democratic primary on the backs of Blacks, he struggled during many of those contests with making inroads with young Black voters – some of whom may see themselves in Jacquelyn.
Despite what the moment has brought Biden, Jacquelyn’s video clearly showed the world that she had chosen him; and in it she articulated movingly why. Many have embraced Jacquelyn just as clearly now – and for the moment embraced the intricate populist story of the Democratic Party itself.
Will you become our 20,000th supporter? When the economy took a downturn in the spring and we started asking readers for financial contributions, we were not sure how it would go. Today, we are afraid to say that nearly 20,000 people have chipped. The reason is both lovely and surprising: Readers told us that they both contribute because they appreciate statement and because they appreciate it other people can also access it. We have always believed that explanatory journalism is essential for a functioning democracy. That has never been more important than today, during a public health crisis, racial justice protests, a recession, and a presidential election. But our distinctive explanatory journalism is expensive, and advertising alone does not allow us to continue to create the quality and volume that this moment demands. Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation, but it will help keep Vox free for all. Earn today from as little as $ 3.
