Students, alumni, and D.C. locals flooded the Yard at Howard University on Election Night in anticipation of watching Vice-President Kamala Harris make history on her alma mater’s soil. The Alpha Kappa Alpha soror would have been the first HBCU graduate to sit in the Oval Office if elected. Excitement was in the air as the crowd danced, sang, and played games. But as the evening progressed and Harris’s path to victory in the Blue Wall states narrowed, the mood shifted. No victory speech would be forthcoming.
We asked photographers with Howard’s student newspaper, The Hilltop, to capture the evening through their lenses. Below, they share what they saw and what this historic Election Day meant to them.
Howard isn’t just a school — it’s a place that shapes lives and leaves a mark on the world. Seeing this mother and daughter together made me think about how HBCUs inspire young people to dream bigger, showing them that they have a powerful place in history. Howard gives our youth role models who look like them, and that sense of belonging and pride runs deep.
A powerful moment of unity during a meditation and prayer session held by the School of Communications before students embarked on election coverage.
These photos reveal a side of our community that often goes unseen: people of diverse backgrounds, some familiar with one another, some strangers, joining hands in a shared moment of silence. This gathering shows that regardless of individual differences, we come together under one common mission — to tell our own story in our own voices. In an era of divided perspectives, this moment reflects our collective commitment to truth and representation.
I took these photos on Georgia Avenue, where the street was alive with students, community members, and reporters from various outlets. Amid the chaos, two signs caught my eye. As a person of substance and a man of statement, I was drawn to their boldness, knowing they might spark conversation or even controversy.
One of the signs was attached to a man in a wheelchair as he rolled down the street. In times marked by political, racial, and religious divides, seeing a message urging us to dismantle these walls felt refreshing and deeply impactful.
Members of the Drew and Quad Dormitory Stroll teams cheer on their friends as they participate in student-led games at the watch party. This image captures the vibrant energy and spirit of Howard students as well as the responsibility we feel to uplift one another in this historic moment when one of our alumni ran for president. It’s a powerful reminder that our voices and presence matter.
Howard University is deeply connected with the surrounding community, and people from around the area came to campus in support of our esteemed alumna. Seeing the words Madam President served as a reminder that we, as HBCU students, are rising to accomplish historic milestones. Our influence extends beyond our university into the community we live in. Harris’s candidacy not only shapes how Howard students and alumni view themselves but also alters the perception of HBCU students across the country, empowering them to believe in their own potential.
I usually spend Election Night with my mother at our local polling station. Having cast my first presidential ballot days prior, I was in search of an environment that would cure my homesickness. I got just that: a yard full of familiar and new faces doing the electric slide, the wobble, and dancing to Cameo’s “Candy.”
I am a street photographer at heart. While walking through a busy crowd, I had a feeling to look up. Here, two men sit symmetrically, but aside from the aesthetics, the photo has a deeper meaning for me: Two men from completely different lives have crossed paths only for the election. The light post is a literal divider between them. One chooses to sleep with a flag in his hand, while the other is in deep thought.
I was shocked to watch so many people throw away the American flag — to go from waving them around and cheering during the event to tossing them on the way out. Though the election results were not in our favor, there was still this ironic unity.
Howard isn’t just a school — it’s a place that shapes lives and leaves a mark on the world. Seeing this mother and daughter together made me think about how HBCUs inspire young people to dream bigger, showing them that they have a powerful place in history. Howard gives our youth role models who look like them, and that sense of belonging and pride runs deep.
A powerful moment of unity during a meditation and prayer session held by the School of Communications before students embarked on election coverage.
These photos reveal a side of our community that often goes unseen: people of diverse backgrounds, some familiar with one another, some strangers, joining hands in a shared moment of silence. This gathering shows that regardless of individual differences, we come together under one common mission — to tell our own story in our own voices. In an era of divided perspectives, this moment reflects our collective commitment to truth and representation.
I took these photos on Georgia Avenue, where the street was alive with students, community members, and reporters from various outlets. Amid the chaos, two signs caught my eye. As a person of substance and a man of statement, I was drawn to their boldness, knowing they might spark conversation or even controversy.
One of the signs was attached to a man in a wheelchair as he rolled down the street. In times marked by political, racial, and religious divides, seeing a message urging us to dismantle these walls felt refreshing and deeply impactful.
Members of the Drew and Quad Dormitory Stroll teams cheer on their friends as they participate in student-led games at the watch party. This image captures the vibrant energy and spirit of Howard students as well as the responsibility we feel to uplift one another in this historic moment when one of our alumni ran for president. It’s a powerful reminder that our voices and presence matter.
Howard University is deeply connected with the surrounding community, and people from around the area came to campus in support of our esteemed alumna. Seeing the words Madam President served as a reminder that we, as HBCU students, are rising to accomplish historic milestones. Our influence extends beyond our university into the community we live in. Harris’s candidacy not only shapes how Howard students and alumni view themselves but also alters the perception of HBCU students across the country, empowering them to believe in their own potential.
I usually spend Election Night with my mother at our local polling station. Having cast my first presidential ballot days prior, I was in search of an environment that would cure my homesickness. I got just that: a yard full of familiar and new faces doing the electric slide, the wobble, and dancing to Cameo’s “Candy.”
I am a street photographer at heart. While walking through a busy crowd, I had a feeling to look up. Here, two men sit symmetrically, but aside from the aesthetics, the photo has a deeper meaning for me: Two men from completely different lives have crossed paths only for the election. The light post is a literal divider between them. One chooses to sleep with a flag in his hand, while the other is in deep thought.
I was shocked to watch so many people throw away the American flag — to go from waving them around and cheering during the event to tossing them on the way out. Though the election results were not in our favor, there was still this ironic unity.