It Was Rare, I Was There: Reflecting on the Swifties4Kamala Zoom Call
Based on my demographic characteristics, I could have joined the women, LGBTQ, or Asian American Zoom calls for Kamala Harris, but I didn’t. I was already enthusiastic about the candidate, and I knew how to participate in a campaign, so I didn’t make it a priority to attend. Nonetheless, I wasn’t going to the miss the gathering of Taylor Swift fans of Harris.
The Swifties4Kamala Zoom call did not disappoint. Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand made Taylor Swift lyric references, Carol King sang Shake It Off, and a constant stream of hearts flooded the screen. Donation updates highlighted any number with a 13 or 22, ultimately topping $144,000. The organizers unveiled a brilliant strategy to get Swifties to promote voter registration by tying it to a sweepstakes for Eras Tour tickets. I made KAMALA friendship bracelets while 34,000 Swifties and I watched and chatted on Discord and YouTube.
In the days since, I’ve reflected on being a Swiftie for Kamala…
Make the Friendship Bracelets
Last summer was my introduction to craft of friendship bracelets. In preparation for the Eras Tour, I got to work buying supplies, watching how-to TikToks, and selecting lyrics to feature. Outside the So-Fi stadium, I delighted in trading and gifting 100 bracelets to Swifties of all ages. I felt creative, connected, and joyful.
After the concert, I perused the bracelets others had given me like a kid sorting through their Halloween candy haul. My collection hangs prominently in my home, and when I need a dose of courage, I put one on for a boost of collective support from the Swifties. These bracelets have helped me rise to challenges, including binge writing a book on navigating political division.
Having sent the manuscript to the publisher in January, it would be a long eight months until the book would be released. I needed an activity to take the edge off my impatience. I pulled out the friendship bracelet making supplies, ordered beads that matched the colors of the book cover and bought the letters I needed. By the time the book launched, I had made over 200 bracelets.
A few weeks before the book came out, Joe Biden stepped down from the presidential ticket, and remarkably support coalesced around Kamala Harris. The Sunday this all went down was thrilling — I felt relieved, excited, and inspired. But it wasn’t till the next day, when TikTok informed me that the Swifties were organizing, that I cried. Not only would there be a fantastic candidate, but there would be fun and creativity and connectedness. I immediately crafted a red, white, and blue “HARRIS READY FOR IT” bracelet and then made a video (you can guess the background music). Later that week, I wrote a song for Kamala to the tune of Taylor Swift’s “Florida” and posted it on TikTok. I’m not a great singer, but the Swifties were supportive.
On the Swifties4Kamala Zoom call, we heard from Lexa, the campaign friendship bracelet coordinator. She noted that the line “make the friendship bracelets” is in the song, “You’re On Your Own, Kid.” Calling out the irony, she talked about how friendship bracelets make us feel part of a community, not just on our own, but rather interconnected. She hit the nail on the head. Some people are dismissive of the Swifties and our friendship bracelets, but a generous and joyful community is infectious. If I had the choice of Taylor Swift performing a concert just for me or hearing her in a stadium full of sparkly, scream singing strangers, I’ll take the nosebleed section in a heartbeat. It’s simply more fun to do things with the Swifties than all alone, which is a great quality for political organizing. But it’s not just about bringing this energy to the campaign, it’s about creating a country that vibes like that.
Long Live the Swifties
People are wondering if/when Taylor Swift will endorse Kamala. In the run up to the Democratic National Convention, friends kept asking if I thought Ms. Swift would make an appearance. Even as a political Swiftie, I have no insider knowledge of this sort. What I do know is that, whether or not Taylor endorses, the Swifties will make a difference in this election.
Swifties proved their mettle when Taylor Swift had to cancel her Vienna shows due to safety concerns. In the absence of their iconic leader, they rose into a powerful, creative, joyful collective. Taking to the streets, they sang the entire three and a half hour concert, including the choreographed march. They sang All Too Well in a museum. There were proposals and a wedding and a friendship bracelet tree on Cornelia Street. The people of Vienna opened their hearts and their windows, offering back-up music, water, and applause. I watched all of this from afar via TikTok, marveling at the resilience of the Swifties. They not only understood the assignment, they got extra credit.
On the Swifites4Kamala Zoom call, the group’s founders explained that they weren’t organizers and were just figuring it all out. They reminded me of myself in 2007, when I first got involved in a campaign. I was inspired by hearing Barack Obama speak and by reading his book, The Audacity of Hope. In a two week period, I attended a volunteer meeting, learned to canvass, and started the first local neighborhood team for Obama. Within two months, I was team coordinator for the local primary campaign. The following summer, as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, I witnessed my candidate accept the nomination. My first campaign experience taught me skills and strategy and introduced me to organizers and volunteers who had been hard at work advocating for my values for years. And once I knew how to make a difference, I couldn’t stop.
I love seeing Swifties4Kamala stepping up to create an organization, take on leadership roles, and develop a structure to engage others. I’m reminded of the speech that never fails to inspire me. It’s from the final episode of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. Buffy is facing an evil so powerful she can’t battle it on her own. As the slayer, she is the chosen one, but she needs others to join forces with her. In a rousing call to action, she encourages the potential slayers to rise to their full powers, appealing to them with the question, “are you ready to be strong?” I chose to end my book about navigating political division with Buffy’s speech, with a call for empowerment. And when I look at my book-themed friendship bracelets, each one affirms, “READY 2 B STRONG.”
As we embrace our power, I feel the strength in our bonds, I delight in the commingling of whimsy and warrior, of smart and sparkly. Do not underestimate us. The Swifties are, indeed, ready to be strong.
Dr. Tania Israel is a middle-aged Swiftie, professor, psychologist, and author of Facing the Fracture: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation.