‘Let me just be plain.’ Meet North Carolina’s Cozzie Watkins from the DNC Roll Call
As soon as North Carolina’s Cozzie Watkins started speaking Tuesday night as part of the Democratic National Convention’s Roll Call, she instantly became a national treasure.
At least in the eyes of some of the people on social media, who were meeting her for the first time.
Watkins started trending pretty quickly with celebrities and regular folks alike ready to stand at attention and do whatever Watkins asked them to do.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time, so let me just be plain: Black people, especially Black women, are the backbone of this party and if we don’t show up, Democrats don’t get elected,” said Watkins, a 69-year-old Charlotte nurse and Democratic Party activist, as she announced the delegates from North Carolina during the nomination of Joe Biden.
Watkins, a member of the Charlotte Planning Commission, delivered her 30-second speech from Charlotte’s Hidden Valley neighborhood. She officially gave 83 of North Carolina’s votes to Biden and 39 for Bernie Sanders.
“I’m putting on my mask and we’re going to every corner in North Carolina to help organize,” Watkins said. “Because we need to make sure everyone shows up for Joe Biden. He will show up for us.”
Biden was nominated Tuesday night at the virtual Democratic National Convention, originally set for Milwaukee, Wisc. He will give his acceptance speech on Thursday.
Comedian Michelle Collins spoke for many when she tweeted: “New obsession?? Cozzie Watkins!!!”
“North Carolina is the new host of Full Frontal,” tweeted Samantha Bee, host of Comedy Central’s “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.”
Others were ready to start fan clubs for Collins and follow her as she urged people to vote.
Watkins is the Democratic Party chairwoman in the 12th District, which includes Mecklenburg County.
And she was thrilled for the opportunity to be part of the Roll Call, according to an interview with Spectrum News earlier Tuesday. She said she was speechless when she was asked to deliver the delegates, calling it “a historic moment,” Spectrum News reported.
“I can’t tell you how excited this little old lady is,” she told Spectrum News.
She said she wanted to use the few seconds she had to spur people to vote, especially Black women, according to an interview with ABC11, The News & Observer’s newsgathering partner.
“We’ve got to teach our young people the power in this vote and African American women,” she told ABC11. “Each generation has to teach. Each one has to teach one. You can’t just expect everyone to learn just by watching someone else. You have to be intentional to explain the civics and power of the vote.”
Tuesday’s convention highlights included speeches from John Kerry, Colin Powell and Biden’s wife, Jill Biden. The Virtual Roll Call was generally praised on social media for showing the country’s diversity and it scenic beauty.
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California will be nominated for vice president Wednesday. Harris, who is Black, is the first woman of color to be nominated for vice president.
North Carolina is considered a toss-up in the presidential election.
A limited number of Republican delegates will gather in Charlotte on Monday to re-nominate President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for a second term. The entire Republican National Convention was scheduled to be in Charlotte, but the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions on crowd size led Trump and the GOP to move the bulk of the event.
Trump is expected to be in Charlotte on Monday when he is nominated, but he plans to deliver his acceptance speech from Washington, D.C. Trump won the state in 2016.
For more North Carolina government and politics news, listen to the Domecast politics podcast from The News & Observer and the NC Insider. You can find it on Megaphone, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.
This story was originally published August 18, 2020 at 11:11 PM with the headline "‘Let me just be plain.’ Meet North Carolina’s Cozzie Watkins from the DNC Roll Call."
