Kamala Harris, the first woman US Vice-President has added several firsts to her name as Joe Biden won the presidential race on Saturday evening defeating incumbent president Donald Trump.
Also known as ‘The female Barack Obama”, Kamala Harris is considered to be close to Barack Obama, the first black American President. Kamala Harris was born to two immigrant parents: a Black father and an Indian mother.
Her father, Donald Harris, was from Jamaica, and her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, a cancer researcher, and civil rights activist from Chennai. She however defines herself simply as ‘American’.
Mother’s deep influence on raising Kamala Harris as a strong & independent daughter
After her parents divorced, Harris was raised primarily by her single mother. While sharing her single mother’s contribution, Kamala shared in her autobiography ‘The Truths We Hold:
“She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as black girls and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud black women.”
Her mother told her growing up, “Don’t sit around and complain about things, do something,” which is what drives Kamala every single day.
An inspiring leader, Kamala Harris has many firsts in her kitty that inspires many young women to smash the patriarchy and turn their dream into reality.
Here are some of Kamma Harris firsts:
1. Kamala Harris is the first female, first Black, first Indian-American, and first Asian vice president-elect of the US.
2. Harris joined Joe Biden as his running mate after she suspended her own presidential dreams. She was only the third woman vice presidential nominee to be selected on a major party ticket.
3. The 56-year-old California senator is one of only three Asian Americans in the Senate and she’s the first Indian-American ever to serve in the chamber.
4. She has been a county district attorney; the district attorney for San Francisco — the first woman and first African-American and Indian-origin to be elected to the position.
5. Also known as ‘The female Barack Obama”, she is considered to be close to Barack Obama, the first black American President, who endorsed her in her various elections including that of the US Senate in 2016. Harris was born to two immigrant parents: a Black father and an Indian mother.
6. After Howard, she went on to earn her law degree at the University of California, Hastings, and began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. She became the top prosecutor for San Francisco in 2003, before being elected the first woman and the first black person to serve as California’s attorney general in 2010, the top lawyer in America’s most populous state.
Many netizens came forward to applaud Kamala Harris and her historic win:
Ruby Bridges, age 6, being escorted into school by U.S. marshals, when she became the first Black student to integrate an elementary school in the South, by Norman Rockwell.
Madam Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris & the silhouette of Ruby Bridges. By Bria Goeller pic.twitter.com/jgpYp1j9a3— The Female Lead (@the_female_lead) November 8, 2020
“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. 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” #KamalaHarris pic.twitter.com/XmH1PwTBbA
— Emily Mahon (@EmilyMahonMBA) November 8, 2020
Drew these gems today in honour of our first female VP elect @KamalaHarris ???? I just know RBG is looking down at you and smiling pic.twitter.com/IY6CQZbyme
— Leena Marie (@leenaa_mariee) November 8, 2020
Love this image go, girl you show those white men in suits how to do it. #KamalaHarris #ForcesOfChangeAreComing pic.twitter.com/k6qAinFKdH
— DAVID SHAUN LARSEN (@Davidsdm787) November 8, 2020
To all the little girls out there… YES YOU CAN. Study hard, Be kind and Never give up✌️.#KamalaHarris #kamala #KamalaHarrisVP pic.twitter.com/CqnguUfU4E
— Dr Ishrat Ashraf (@drishratashraf) November 8, 2020
Celebrating Kamala Harris’ historical win with her powerful quotes!! ????????❤️ #POTUS #KamalaHarris #TrumpTantrum #ByeByeTrump #Biden #CongratulationsJoeBiden #Election2020 #JoeBidenKamalaHarris2020 #USElectionResults2020 #IFORHER https://t.co/Wd7yU2TTS6
— IForHer (@_IForHer) November 8, 2020
Top story: @KamalaHarris: ‘While I may be the first, I won’t be the last. ‘ pic.twitter.com/s4LejkfnP5, see more https://t.co/N8a2CFgq44
— Gaëtan Daviau (@gatedav) November 8, 2020
At IFORHER, we wish Kamala Harris all the best for her future endeavors and hope she will keep inspiring us!