Today, many recognize Kamala Harris as the first female Vice President of the United States. But what’s the tale behind her rise? 

By Heath Woollard – 10th grade.

‘’My Mother had a saying. Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you’re not the last.’’ These were the words that came from the mouth of Shyamala Gopalan, mother of the one and only Kamala Harris. Kamala is often most commonly recognized as the 49th Vice President of the United States of America. However, very few people have shined light on what has led up to her present position. Her ideals, journey and family are glossed over in favour of her attachments to more controversial figures. Nonetheless, it’s her past that offers the most insight towards her character. Her advocating for African-American Rights, her occupations as Attorney General and Senator, and a childhood that lit the flame for her entire political identity. 

It all started with two bright people in the 1960’s. Harris was an economics doctoral student from Jamaica; Gopalan came from India to study nutrition and endocrinology. They met as students at U.C.. Berkeley, and became highly invested with the ongoing Civil Rights Movement at the time. They married in 1963, and on October 20th, 1964, Kamala Harris was brought into the world. Shortly after her birth however, her parents separated, with Kamala and her newly born sister Maya staying with their mother. Due to this, Kamala became immersed with her Indian heritage and her African American roots. To quote Harris herself: ‘’My mother understood very well that she was raising two black daughters…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.” (National Women’s History Museum). Throughout her entire childhood, her mother played a crucial role developing who she would become later in life, which would blossom into her path of Law and Debate.

Once she graduated from high school, Kamala would enroll at Howard University in Washington D.C, a predominantly black college. There, she would go on to study political science and economics, as well as being on the debate team. Once she received her degree in 1986, ‘’Harris earned a law degree (1989) from the University of California College of the Law.’’ Once she received her degree, she would return back to her roots in the Bay Area to pursue a career as an assistant district attorney. There, she would prosecute several cases of wide varieties, including sexual misconduct, drug trafficking, and systemic issues. The last point in particular being the leading goal behind her vision of Progressive Prosecution. According to Stanford Law School, Progressive Prosecution is defined as ‘’the model of prosecution committed to truth-telling about systemic racism, shrinking mass criminalization, addressing root causes of crime, and bringing the criminal legal system in line with basic notions of justice and humanity.’’

Given how Kamala was a woman of both African and Asian descent, she made it her mission to address racial issues as a key part of her judicial and political identity. Ultimately, on January 20th, 2021 she was inaugurated into office as the first female Vice President. Despite her loss to President Donald Trump in the 2024 Presidential Race, she has been adamant about staying “in the fight’”. Experts say that this statement implies two outcomes; either she runs for Governor of California in 2026, or runs for president in 2028. Regardless, Kamala Harris’s presence in the American political scene will still remain a vigorous and passionate leader, paving the way for several new milestones for years to come.