Marlon Hill is still hopeful
Caribbean Americans for Kamala Harris campaign volunteer talks election, staying engaged
Published:Sunday | November 10, 2024 | 12:07 AMAinsworth Morris - Staff Reporter
Jamaican-American attorney and activist Marlon Hill once again played an active role in a Democratic Party campaign during the United States election. Having previously volunteered for Barack Obama, Hill took on the role of national community organiser for Caribbean Americans for Kamala Harris.
Though the campaign did not secure victory for the Democrats, Hill remains hopeful, emphasising the enduring impact on Jamaicans living in the diaspora.
Hill was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in South Miami Heights, where he became the first lawyer in his family. Today, he serves as a partner at Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman in Coral Gables. Despite the loss, Hill expressed both disappointment and resilience when reflecting on the election results.
“It’s disappointing to me because I believe a lot in a person’s character, integrity, and values,” he shared with The Sunday. Gleaner. “Knowing what we know transparently about the former president, the reason why I’m disappointed is that the majority of folks would bypass all of that compared to the other choice of Vice President [Kamala] Harris, and that’s just to me.”
For Hill, this election was more than a race to the White House. It represented a future deeply tied to the interests of Jamaicans, both in the United States and back home.
“This election is important not only to Jamaicans in the diaspora but also Jamaica because it has global consequences on our livelihood and our future,” he emphasised. Hill urged Jamaicans in the diaspora to remain actively involved at every governmental level, adding, “If they want to see the results that they need for their families, their businesses, and the good of Jamaica, they must stay engaged.”
Despite the setback, Hill respects the democratic process and understands the diverse perspectives that shape voters’ choices, but stands firm in his belief in Harris. “When you have someone like Kamala Harris, who has worked in all three branches of government, a black woman, qualified, [of] Jamaican decent, and advocating for issues on wanting to improve the lives of the people that you care about in your community, then the choice is pretty clear in my mind, as it was clear to me when I supported Barack Obama in 2008,” he said.
Hill’s journey began with the influence of his grandmother, his first great teacher at New Providence Primary School in Kingston. Receiving a scholarship to St George’s College before migrating to the United States at 14, he carried with him values instilled in him from his Jamaican roots. Over the past 29 years, he has built a distinguished career as a corporate, intellectual property, and government transactions lawyer, representing diverse clients from artistes to governments.
His accolades include recognition from the Daily Business Review as an outstanding South Florida leader and awards from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and the Miami Foundation. Hill also served as a president of the Caribbean Bar Association and remains deeply involved in organisations such as the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Orange Bowl Committee, and BMe Community.
Beyond the boardroom, Hill champions causes such as voter education, youth mentorship, and breast cancer awareness.