Washington D.C. – Vice President-elect Kamala Harris becomes the first female Vice President. Harris once said “Yes, sister, sometimes we may be the only one that looks like us walking in that room. But the thing we all know is we never walk in those rooms alone — we are all in that room together.”
Harris becomes the first woman and person of color to hold the office of Vice President of the United States. This is a milestone for a diverse nation with a history of racial injustice. Besides, the Democrats’ victory in a divided presidential election makes every woman of color who aspires to be successful, proud.
Harris’s Journey of “Firsts”
Formerly San Francisco’s district attorney, Harris was elected as the first Black woman to serve as California’s Attorney General (AG). In 2016, Harris rose to become the second Black female United States senator. Immediately, Harris started making a name for herself in Washington. Harris showcased her rock-solid prosecutorial style during Senate hearings.
But, it was not her political success that distinguished her — it was her personal story. The daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, Harris was drenched in racial justice issues from her younger days. After spending her early years in Oakland and Berkeley, California, Harris moved to Montreal.
In 1986, Harris pursued her undergraduate work at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Howard is a historically Black college and one of America’s most prestigious educational institutions.
Harris returned to San Francisco in 1989. She attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and earned her law degree. Harris’s prosecutorial career involved helping domestic violence and child abuse victims.
Political Challenges
Transitioning from her work as California’s attorney general to a member of Congress had its own unique challenges. The now Senator Harris had to pick her battles.
Harris was roundly criticized for her criminal justice record in California. During her time there, Harris was both for and against the death penalty. However, once she entered Congress, Harris actively advocated for police reforms.
During the recent presidential campaign, there were persistent racial and gender attacks from conservatives. Further, President Trump even refused to pronounce Harris’ first name, Kamala, correctly. Harris had to work extra hard to move up the political ladder.
Critics claim that Harris lacks ideological stability. But, it is in fact this lack of rigidity that makes her suitable as a vice president. Being from California, Harris understands “flow.”
Besides, having Joe Biden’s back, Harris strives to work hard for the nation. She comprehends the challenges of having an immigrant background. More importantly, she knows what it means to be a person of color fighting for racial justice.
With that, her victory speech on Saturday stole the hearts of millions of women. Harris spoke of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who paved the way for this moment. Harris said “while I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”
As Vice President-elect Harris becomes the first female Vice President, Current Affairs Times, a diverse, female-owned and operated publication, congratulates the nation on breaking a barrier to equality. Will Kamala Harris change the face of U.S. politics?
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Afia is a lawyer, journalist, an avid traveler, an avid reader, a foodie, and an amateur singer. She enjoys instrumental music with her glass of wine ?
