In the wake of Kamala Harris’s defeat in the presidential election, many Black women across the United States are grappling with the painful realization that, despite her qualifications, experience, and widespread support, voters failed to fully show up for her.

On election night, as the results poured in, Jai Marcus joined a sea of hopeful faces at an election watch party in Washington, D.C. The night was supposed to mark a historic moment for the country—Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to run for president, had been endorsed by Joe Biden after he stepped down from the race. What followed, however, was a profound disappointment.

The energy surrounding Harris’s campaign had been electric. More than 40,000 Black women in politics, business, and entertainment had rallied behind the vice president in a national organizing effort. Glynda C. Carr, president of Higher Heights, an organization dedicated to supporting Black women in political office, was one of the leaders of that mobilization. “We went from that call to organizing our house, our block, our church, our sorority, and our unions,” Carr said. “Black women used our organizing power around a woman that we knew was qualified, that had a lived experience.”

For many, Harris’s candidacy represented a watershed moment in American history. A graduate of Howard University and a member of the nation’s oldest Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Harris had already made history as the first Black female vice president after a distinguished career as a prosecutor, California’s attorney general, and U.S. senator. She seemed poised to break the ultimate glass ceiling and become the first Black woman president of the United States, offering a stark contrast to the embattled former president Donald Trump.

“This gave so much hope,” said Christian F. Nunes, president of the National Organization for Women (NOW). “It was like the opportunity and manifestation of our ancestors’ wildest dreams. If she is elected, this is what our ancestors have dreamt about, and women, and Black women have dreamt about our entire lives.”

Yet, despite the historical significance of Harris’s candidacy and the fervent backing from both Democratic leadership and grassroots organizations, her run fell short. Trump, with his combative and disruptive approach, was able to galvanize a voting base, particularly among Black and Latino voters, despite facing numerous legal battles and controversies.

According to exit polls, Trump received a surprising level of support from voters frustrated with the economy and who prioritized more stringent immigration policies. Meanwhile, Harris’s campaign—focused on unity, democracy, and freedom—struggled to reach enough of those voters.

“Harris’s candidacy was working for unity and democracy and protecting freedom,” said Nunes. “Then we had another candidate who basically ran on a campaign to take away freedoms. I felt that this loss was not a reflection of her ability to lead. I felt like it was a reflection of voters who said that they would show up for her but failed to show up for her. And also, people’s inability to trust women and stand up for women—particularly, especially a Black woman. And I feel like this continuously resonates and shows up in so many spaces and I think that’s the part that was hurtful.”

For many of Harris’s supporters, the loss is a bitter reminder of the deep-seated challenges women—particularly women of color—continue to face in American politics. Shavon Arline-Bradley, president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women, said that Harris’s inclusive campaign was unable to overcome the “wall of white nationalism, racism, classism, and sexism.” She noted that “this idea of womanhood in leadership still becomes unfathomable for many.”

However, not all is lost, according to Carr, who sees the legacy of Harris’s candidacy as part of a larger movement that is paving the way for future Black women leaders. Reflecting on the inspiration Harris’s campaign generated, Carr said, “What we got out of the Chisholm effect was the possibility that existed for a bold Black woman in 1972 to have the audacity to run for president all the way to the convention. And the direct byproduct of that Chisholm effect was a Barbara Lee—Congresswoman Barbara Lee. There are one or two or many that will be inspired by a Kamala Harris and it can’t be lost. I look forward to the Kamala effect.”

Indeed, while Harris’s bid for the presidency may have ended in defeat, her impact is far from over. Many believe the ripples of her candidacy will inspire a new generation of leaders and activists—those who will continue to challenge the barriers of race, gender, and class that remain entrenched in the American political landscape. For now, though, the loss is a stark reminder of the complex and often exclusionary nature of U.S. politics.