Kamala Harris: A Trailblazing Journey of Leadership and Service
Kamala Devi Harris has etched her name in history as a pioneering figure in American politics. From her formative years at Howard University to her rise as a prosecutor, senator, and ultimately, vice president, Harris has consistently broken barriers and challenged expectations. Her journey is a testament to the power of education, perseverance, and a deep commitment to justice and equality.
Early Life and Education: A Foundation of Activism and Identity
Born in Oakland, California, in 1964, Kamala Harris is the daughter of Shyamala Gopalan Harris, an Indian immigrant and cancer researcher, and Donald Jasper Harris, an Afro-Jamaican immigrant and economist. Her parents met as students at the University of California, Berkeley, where they were active in the civil rights movement. This upbringing instilled in Harris a strong sense of social justice and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities.
Harris's parents separated when she was five years old, and she was primarily raised by her mother. Shyamala Gopalan Harris ensured that her daughters maintained close ties to their Indian heritage, frequently traveling to Chennai, India, to visit family. She instilled in Kamala and her sister, Maya, a strong sense of identity as Black women. As Harris said, "My mother understood she was raising two black children to be black women".
After high school in Montreal, Kamala Harris chose to attend Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington, D.C. This decision was deeply influenced by her desire to immerse herself in Black culture and to follow in the footsteps of Thurgood Marshall, one of the nation's most iconic attorneys and civil rights leaders. Harris has often referred to her time at Howard as her “formative years,” where she first was introduced to her love of politics.
Howard University: A Crucible of Activism and Leadership
Howard University played a pivotal role in shaping Harris's political identity and her commitment to public service. The university's rich history and vibrant campus culture provided her with a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment. As Alvin Thornton, a longtime Howard political science professor, noted, "These young people come into a culturally and academically reinforcing environment that enables them culturally. They can feel comfortable. They don’t have to question their identity, only grow into it."
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At Howard, Harris majored in political science and economics, honing her critical thinking and analytical skills. She became involved in student government, serving on the Liberal Arts Student Council and chairing the Economics Society. She also excelled on the university's speech and debate team, developing the rhetorical skills that would serve her well in her legal and political careers.
Beyond academics, Howard exposed Harris to a vibrant culture of activism and black pride. She pledged to the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, one of the "Divine Nine" sororities and fraternities founded by Black students, and participated in anti-apartheid protests at the National Mall and the South African embassy. As Harris recalled, "When you’re at an HBCU, and especially one with the size and with the history of Howard University…it just becomes about you understanding that there is a whole world of people who are like you".
The campus during her time was a cauldron of activism and black pride at a moment in history, like now, when most black Americans were feeling alienated and unrepresented by the White House. Running for student office “was hard core,” said Sonya Lockett, a college friend of Harris. “It was not like, ‘If I win, we’re going to get a water fountain for the student center.’"
Early Career: From Prosecutor to Attorney General
After graduating from Howard in 1986, Harris earned a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1989. She began her legal career in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, where she prosecuted cases of gang violence, drug trafficking, and sexual abuse. In 1998, she joined the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, eventually becoming the chief of the Career Criminal Division.
In 2003, Harris made history when she was elected District Attorney of the City and County of San Francisco, becoming the first African-American woman to hold the position. As district attorney, she focused on reducing crime rates and implementing innovative programs to address issues such as truancy and hate crimes. She created a Hate Crimes Unit, focusing on hate crimes against LGBT children and teens in schools. True to her philosophy of not accepting false choices, Harris focused on aggressively prosecuting criminals but also creating paths to rehabilitation.
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Having completed two terms as the District Attorney of San Francisco, Kamala was elected as the first African-American and first woman to serve as California's Attorney General. In this role, she worked tirelessly to hold corporations accountable and protect the state’s most vulnerable people. In 2010, Harris was narrowly elected attorney general of California, becoming the first woman and the first Black American to hold the post. As attorney general, she demonstrated political independence, rejecting pressure from the Obama administration to settle a nationwide lawsuit against mortgage lenders for unfair practices. Instead, she pressed California’s case and in 2012 won a judgment five times higher than that originally offered.
United States Senator: A Voice for Justice and Equality
In 2017, Harris was sworn in as a United States Senator for California, the second African-American woman and first South Asian-American senator in history. In the Senate, Harris quickly established herself as a vocal advocate for progressive causes, including stricter gun control laws, the DREAM Act, federal legalization of cannabis, and reforms to healthcare and taxation.
Harris served on several key committees, including the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on the Budget. She became known for her sharp questioning of witnesses during hearings, often drawing on her background as a prosecutor. She gained national attention for her questioning of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
She became known for her prosecutorial style of addressing witnesses during hearings, which provoked criticism-and occasional interruptions-from Republican senators. Another notable exchange came during the 2018 confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in which she asked him about his position on Roe v. Wade, the ruling that granted women the right to have an abortion.
2020 Presidential Campaign and Historic Vice Presidency
On January 21, 2019, Harris formally announced her run for president and hosted her first press conference at her alma mater, Howard University. While her campaign ultimately did not succeed, she gained valuable experience and further raised her national profile.
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In August 2020, Joe Biden selected Harris as his running mate, making her the first Black woman and the first Asian-American to run for vice president on a major party ticket in the United States. This historic selection was a milestone opportunity for our democracy to acknowledge the leadership Black women have always exhibited, but has too often been ignored.
In November 2020, Harris and Biden defeated the incumbent president and vice president, Donald Trump and Mike Pence, making Harris the first female, first African American, and first Asian American vice president of the United States.
Throughout her political career, Harris has paid tribute to Black women who have paved the way for her success. She has frequently highlighted the career of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first Black candidate to seek a major party nomination for president, which Chisholm did in 1972.
As vice president, Harris has taken on a wide range of responsibilities, including addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, promoting national legislation to protect voting rights, and preserving women’s access to abortion. She has also been a vocal advocate for expanding the resources and opportunities available to HBCUs.
The 2024 Presidential Election
In April 2023, President Biden initially announced his reelection campaign, with Harris widely expected to remain his running mate. After the Democratic primaries, the pair became the party's presumptive nominees in the 2024 presidential election. On July 21, 2024, Biden suspended his reelection campaign and immediately endorsed Harris to replace him as the party's presidential nominee. Harris lost the 2024 United States presidential election to Trump on November 5, 2024. She conceded the race the next day in a speech at her alma mater, Howard University.
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