Source – newyorker
Do you know Kamala Harris is the first black woman to become the Vice President of the United States? Not only this, she is the first black woman to be elected district attorney in California History, the first woman to be California’s attorney general, and the first Indian American Senator. Harris’s achievement encourages young girls and women to pursue their aspirations with confidence. She has nurtured a culture where the capabilities and contributions of women are recognized and respected.
In this article, you will learn about the journey of Kamala Harris, starting from a humble background as a daughter of immigrants to becoming the Vice President of the United States.
Early Life and Education
Born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, Kamala Harris is the daughter of immigrants, Donald J. Harris & Shyamala Gopalan Harris. Her father was born in Jamaica and her mother was born in India. At the age of 7, her parents got divorced. Harris and her younger sister Maya were raised by their mother. She used to go with her mother to civil rights movements for marches. These early experiences inspired her to make it her life’s work to fight against injustice.
While growing up in Oakland, she was immersed in both the cultures – Indian and African American cultures. Her mother took her to spend summers in India with her grandparents but never tried to lose her roots, African American culture.
After high school, Harris completed her matriculation from Howard University, an HBCU in Washington, D.C. She then completed her degree in Law from the University of California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco and began her career as a lawyer in Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. Her political journey began when she was elected as the first African American and the first woman to serve as Attorney General in California.
Political Career
The political Journey of Kamala Harris is divided into four parts – the District Attorney of San Francisco, the Attorney General of California, the US senator from California, and the vice-president of the US. Now have a look at her journey in detail.
1. District Attorney of San Francisco (2004-2011):
This was the first step in her political career. She was the first woman and the first African American to hold the position. She majorly focused on criminal justice reform and reducing re-offending rates.
2. Attorney General of California (2011-2017):
She became the Attorney General of California, again making history as the first African American Woman in the role. Holding this position, she majorly focused on issues like marriage equality and environmental protection.
3. US Senator from California (2017-2021):
Being a Senator, she was known for her strong questioning in Senate hearings and her work on immigration, healthcare, and civil rights.
4. Vice-President of the US (2021-Present):
Influenced by the political career of Kamala Harris in 2020, Joe Biden chose her as his Vice-Presidential candidate. Together, they won the election, and she became the first South Asian American to hold the position of Vice President in the United States.
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Kamala Harris
- She visited India as a child and was heavily influenced by her grandfather, a high-ranking government official who fought for Indian independence, and grandmother, an activist who traveled the countryside teaching poor women about birth control.
- Harris joined the Alameda County prosecutor’s office in Oakland in 1990 as a district attorney focusing on sex crimes.
- In 1994, Harris began dating Willie Brown, who then became the speaker of the state assembly and was 30 years older than Harris. Later on, in 1995, she broke up with Brown because “she concluded there was no permanency in our relationship”.
- Her friendship with Barack Obama dates back to his run for senate in 2004. She was the first California officeholder to endorse him during his 2008 presidential bid.
- She did her second marriage with Doug Emhoff, a corporate lawyer in Los Angeles, in 2014 officiated by her sister Maya. Emhoff has 2 children from his previous they call her “Momala”.
- In 2017, she went viral for her sharp questioning in sessions of the Russia Investigation.
- In 2019, American President Donald Trump called Harris “nasty” for her questioning during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
- She is an enthusiastic cook-lover who has tried almost all the recipes from Alice Waters’ The Art of Simple Food.
- Her go-to travel shoes are Chuck Taylor sneakers.
- Her motto comes from her mom “You may be the first, but make sure you’re not the last”.
5 Major Challenges Faced by Kamala Harris
1. Identity Issues:
It was too hard for Kamala Harris to grow up as a woman of color in a predominantly white and male political landscape. Some people focus on her race and gender rather than her policies or abilities.
2. Political Enemies:
In politics, it’s very common for politicians to face criticism, especially when they have different opinions. Harris has to face more criticism than others because of her color, race, and gender.
3. Lots of Attention:
As vice-president Harris is constantly in the public eye. People analyze everything she does and try to pick out the mistakes. It sometimes affects her work and decision-making. This level of scrutiny is very common when you’re a prominent public figure.
4. Breaking Barriers:
Kamala Harris has made history by becoming the first black person to serve as Vice President of the United States. She is an inspiration to diverse communities dominated by white men.
5. Dealing with other countries:
As Vice President, Kamala Harris plays a role in US foreign policy. This involves working with leaders from other nations and representing US interests abroad. It requires brilliancy in diplomacy, understanding of international issues, and building relationships with leaders around the world.
Conclusion
Kamla Harris is a prime example of resilience and commitment. Her journey is filled with success and struggles. Today, she is an inspiration to women living in a diverse society and tortured for their color, race, and gender. Her leadership shows how diversity can shape and strengthen a nation, leaving an impact on American democracy.
