Kamala Harris is the current United States Vice President, serving under President Joe Biden. Born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, Harris is the daughter of immigrants. Her mother was a cancer researcher from India, and her father was an economics professor from Jamaica.
Harris was raised in a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Berkeley, California. He attended Howard University, a historically black college in Washington, D.C. She later earned a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law.
Harris began her career as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California, where she specialized in prosecuting child sexual assault cases. She later became the District Attorney of San Francisco and then the California Attorney General. During her time as Attorney General, Harris was known for her work on issues such as criminal justice reform, environmental protection, and consumer protection.
In 2016, Harris was elected to the United States Senate, becoming the second African-American woman and the first South Asian-American senator in history. During her time in the Senate, Harris served on several committees, including the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Intelligence Committee, and the Judiciary Committee.
In 2020, Harris was chosen as the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. The Biden-Harris ticket won the election. Harris was sworn in as Vice President on January 20, 2021, becoming the first woman, African-American woman, and South Asian-American woman to hold the office. As Vice President, Harris has focused on issues such as healthcare, voting rights, and the COVID-19 pandemic. She is widely regarded as a trailblazer and an inspiration to women and people of color across the United States.
10 quotable quotes from Kamala Harris
- “We need to have a president who is not only tough but also compassionate.” – CNN Town Hall, April 22, 2019 (Kamala Harris)
- “We need to fix our broken criminal justice system. We need to invest in education, not incarceration.” – Twitter, July 9, 2019 (Kamala Harris)
- “I’m running for president because I believe we need to restore truth and justice in America.” – ABC News, January 21, 2019 (Kamala Harris)
- “We need to speak truth about our history so we can understand how we got here and bridge the gap between the ideals we hold and the reality we live.” – Twitter, June 19, 2020 (Kamala Harris)
- “There is no vaccine for racism.” – CBS News, May 31, 2020 (Kamala Harris)
- “We need to acknowledge that not everyone has an equal seat at the table.” – Twitter, June 11, 2020 (Kamala Harris)
- “The American dream belongs to all of us.” – Democratic National Convention, August 19, 2020 (Kamala Harris)
- “We must ensure that women have a seat, and a voice, at every table where decisions are made.” – Twitter, March 8, 2021 (Kamala Harris)
- “Our unity is our strength, and diversity is our power.” – CNN Town Hall, April 22, 2019 (Kamala Harris)
- “The status quo has been unjust for far too long, and we must take action to create a more equitable and just society for all.” – Twitter, June 2, 2020 (Kamala Harris)