Via: Newsweek
Vice President Kamala Harris made headlines on August 6, 2024, when she became the official Democratic Presidential nominee, following President Biden’s decision to drop out of the race due to considerable pressure from the Democratic Party. Biden’s decision to remove himself from the presidential race put Harris in the running to potentially become the first woman President of the United States of America.
However, the unprecedented momentum that the Harris campaign gained since her official nomination at the Democratic National Convention has left some questioning her background and abilities as a leader. Conservatives criticize her record as a prosecutor and vice president.
Harris’ journey to the White House began on October 20th, 1964, in Oakland, California. She was born to immigrant parents Shyamala Gopalan Harris and Donald J. Harris; her mother was a biomedical scientist from India, while her father was an economics and emeritus professor from Jamaica.
From an early age, Harris’ parents taught her to stand up to injustice and be a fearless leader. While giving an interview to CNN, Stacey Johnson-Batiste, a childhood friend of Harris, said that “She’s always been one that will stand up for what she thinks is right.”
Though Harris learned these values early on, they would remain as parts of her core identity, becoming the driving force throughout her academic and political career.
After Harris finished high school, she attended Howard University, a historically black college in Washington D.C., where she graduated in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics.
She then attended law school at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1989; she would also be admitted to the California bar the following year.
Harris’ legal career began in 1990, when she was chosen to serve as the Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County, California.
She then moved up the ranks and was elected District Attorney of San Francisco in 2004, making her the first woman in San Francisco’s history to serve in this position.
During her time as a prosecutor, Harris took on cases that dealt with key issues such as sexual abuse, fraud, and drug trafficking. Though one of her most significant achievements as the DA comes from a program she launched called “Back on Track.”
“Back on Track” is a re-entry program aimed at first time, non-violent offenders, offering a solution to California’s high recidivism rate. Through the program, offenders learned the importance of accountability, obtained diplomas, and received access to job opportunities.
During an interview, California Congressional Candidate, Lateefah Gibson, recounted her time working with Harris on the “Back on Track” program. She told CNN, “What I saw her do with no resources, with an instinctual drive to change the system was amazing.”
In 2010, Harris took on a higher-level position as California Attorney General. Once again, Harris made history as the first African American and South Asian woman to hold the title.
While in office, Harris used her position to target big businesses. Most notably, she negotiated with the country’s largest banks after the mortgage crisis and secured a $20 billion dollar relief settlement for California families.
In 2016, when Sen. Barbara Boxer announced she would be retiring from the U.S Senate, Harris took this opportunity to run for her seat. In a landslide, she defeated her opponent Loretta Sanchez, making her the second African American woman to ever serve in the U.S Senate.
As Senator, Harris worked on numerous committees, including the Senate Intelligence Committee, where she quickly built a reputation for her fierce style of questioning.
Sen. Mark Warner, who worked with Harris on the committee, told Washington publication NOTUS, that “she also was not at all intimidated about asking hard and tough questions.”
In January of 2019, Harris announced that she would be running to be the Democratic nominee for the Presidential race. Sadly, her first attempt at running ended just months later in December, when she withdrew from the race due to a shortage of funds.
Though her campaign ended abruptly, Harris decided to endorse Biden’s campaign in March of 2020. In a shocking turn of events, Biden announced on August 11, 2020, that he would be selecting Harris as his running mate.
Biden and Harris were elected on November 7th, 2020, making Harris the first woman to serve as the Vice President of the United States. As vice president, she has focused on issues such as the climate crisis, healthcare, the economy, women’s rights, and gun safety.
Today, Harris has her eyes set upon a much larger goal, becoming President of the United States.
When asked about Harris’ ability to lead the country Katie Porter, a U.S Rep and former colleague of Harris, told MSNBC, “She won’t go along to get along; she’ll do what’s right for Americans and for a safer, more peaceful world.”
In regards to her campaign, Harris has launched an HBCU Homecoming tour to mobilize young voters in key battleground states. The Harris-Walz campaign has committed to visiting the following institutions: Winston-Salem State University, Lincoln University, Virginia State University, Howard University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College.
While there is no way to determine who will come out on top in the November election, one thing is for certain: Kamala Harris has broken down many barriers throughout her career and has the opportunity to break down her biggest one yet.
Spartan Echo 