Early Life and Education
Kamala Harris was born in 1964 in Oakland, California to immigrant parents from Jamaica and India. After earning degrees in political science and economics from Howard University and law from Hastings College, Harris began her career as a prosecutor in 1990.
As only the second Black woman ever elected to the Senate in 2016, Harris was considered a rising star in the Democratic party. Her poise and skilled questioning during Senate hearings raised her national profile.
Joining the Historic Biden Ticket
On August 11, 2020, Joe Biden named Kamala Harris as his running mate for the election – the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent on a major party’s presidential ticket.
Harris brought her sharp legal skills to debate stages and the campaign trail. Though Biden and Harris lost some early contests, their ticket went on to triumph over Donald Trump and Mike Pence in November.
Swearing In As Vice President
On January 20, 2021 before an inauguration audience and millions watching remotely, Kamala Harris officially broke barriers by taking the oath of office as Vice President of the United States.
Flanked by bipartisan women leaders, Harris became the first female, first Black American, and first South Asian American Vice President – but likely not the last trailblazer to carry the mantel and shatter perceptions.
Ongoing Pursuit of Justice
While the historic moment left many Americans feeling hopeful, Vice President Harris continues fighting for reforms and unity. From voting rights to economic recovery to defending reproductive freedom, she works tirelessly for the people.
Nearly six decades after Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, his dream for progress towards equality came closer to fruition thanks to a groundbreaking leader named Kamala.
