In American politics, Kamala Harris is a true innovator. She was the first woman to be elected as Vice President of the United States and had previously held the offices of California Attorney General and Senator from California. She made history by being the first woman, first person of color, and first person of South Asian descent in each of these roles in the United States.In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first woman, African American, and South Asian to serve as Vice President of the United States. Her success came after many years of effort and commitment to the public. This article delves into Kamala Harris’s background, professional accomplishments, and influence as Vice President.
Early Life and Education
Kamala Harris was born to Indian and Jamaican parents in 1964 in Oakland, California. Shyamala Gopalan, her mother, and Donald Harris, her father, both worked in the field of economics and cancer research. Harris attended Howard University, a historically black university in Washington, DC, after growing up in a predominately Black area in Berkeley, California. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in political science and economics in 1986, she attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and received her juris doctorate in 1989.
Early Career
Harris began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Alameda County before moving on to lead the Career Criminal Unit for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. She was the first woman, first Black woman, and first South Asian woman to serve as San Francisco’s district attorney when she was elected in 2003. During her time in office, she worked to improve community ties with law enforcement, introduce innovative computer systems, and decrease the number of repeat offenders.
Breaking Barriers as Attorney General
Harris made history when she was elected California attorney general in 2010, becoming the state’s first female, black, and South Asian American attorney general. In her role as attorney general, she advocated for people’s rights, the environment, and consumer safety. She also took steps to minimize the backlog of untested rape kits in the state and battled to preserve the Affordable Care Act.
Making History as Vice President
Harris, who is the second Black woman to serve in the Senate, was elected to that position in 2016. During her service in the Senate, she gained a reputation for interrogating witnesses directly and fiercely, and for championing causes including immigration reform, criminal justice reform, and suffrage. Joe Biden, the Democratic contender for president in 2020, picked her as his running partner. With the victory of their ticket, Harris became the first vice president of the United States who is both female, Black, and South Asian.
Impact as Vice President
Harris’s tenure as president has been marked by several firsts and ground-breaking achievements. She is leading the administration’s efforts to address the underlying reasons of migration from Central America, advocating for voting rights, and attempting to improve maternal health outcomes for Black women, to name a few of her many accomplishments. She has also played a significant role in the administration’s initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide educational opportunity for all students, and confront structural racism in the criminal justice system.
Conclusion
The story of Kamala Harris’s rise from Oakland to the Oval Office is an inspiration to those who believe in the value of dedication, tenacity, and the fight for fairness. She has busted glass ceilings and opened doors for other women, African-Americans, and South Asians throughout her whole career. In her role as Vice President, she is touching the lives of many people and making history.
