The Importance of Kamala Harris

As seen in our third print issue, available now!

As most people now know, Kamala Harris is the next vice president of the United States. Not only

being the first woman vice president, but also the first Black and South Asian American vice president, shattering both racial and gender barriers throughout the United States and it’s politics.

Kamala Harris grew up in Oakland, California on October 20th, 1964, as the eldest of her siblings. Her name was chosen by her mother in reference to her Indian roots - Kamala means “lotus”, which is another name for the Hindu goddess, Lakshmi, as well as meaning the “empowerment of women.”

Despite what some might say about Harris, esepcially because of her constantly being in the public eye, it’s safe to say that she is creating history and will leave tremendous impact. She symbolizes great opportunity for women and the minority community.

Harris has spent the better part of two decades in public life accomplishing a list of things she was the first to achieve. She was the first Black woman to to be elected district attorney in the history of California, the first woman to be California’s attorney general, the first Indian American senator, and now, as mentioned above, the first Black woman and first Asian American to be chosen as a vice presidential running mate.

Harris is opening up doors and is doing a great job of continuing the conversation of diversity and the future of women in the workplace. Yes, not too many people recieve the honor of becoming vice president of the United States, but anyone in any career has the potential to be inspired. For her to be on the stage that she is on and show such passion for what she brings to the table, it is remarkable and has the ability to further develop a more accepting community in politics. This also includes women in science, women in healthcare, women in fashion, amd more.

“My mother would look at me and she’d say, ‘Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last.’” Harris said during a speech at Spelman College in 2018. “That’s why breaking those barriers is worth it. As much as anything else, it is also to create that path for those who will come after us.”

Kamala Harris is an important figure whom will always be seen as someone who not only fought extremely hard to get to where she is in America, but as someone who has made sure to leave a path for those who come after her.