K2 summit climb

MADAME VICE PRESIDENT’S IMMEDIATE IMPACT

sara boddie | copy editor

Breaking through several glass ceilings at once, Vice President Kamala Harris has made history as the first Black, South Asian, and female Vice President. The daughter of a Jamacian father and Indian mother, Harris attended high school in Quebec where her mother worked as a professor before enrolling at Howard University for four years of undergraduate studies. She studied and earned degrees in economics and political science.

In an increasingly diverse nation, Harris represents America’s multicultural fabric - an image yet to be reflected in the nation’s second highest ranking executive, until now. Thousands of girls all around the country see their origins and upbringings characterized in Harris. Having role models with traits similar to one’s own has been scientifically proven to improve one’s motivation and future aspirations. For Sydney Wilson (11), Harris’s success in her journey to vice presidency has solidified her desire to become a lawyer.

“I plan on going into the same career field as Kamala Harris when she began her career… I actually want to go to Howard just like she did… seeing her succeed is very inspiring.”

Many others, like Sydney, have gained further interest in pursuing law and/or politics after watching Harris’s ascent in both domains. By the same token, students’ interests in attending an historically black college or university (HBCU) have spiked. Debunking many false beliefs about receiving a limited education from attending an HBCU, Harris and several other notable African American Howard alumnus, from Chadwick Boseman to Thurgood Marshall, have proved that attending an HBCU only expands one’s education.

At Howard, Harris “found [her] sense of being and meaning and reasons for being.” She realized that it is not a niche to be Black in America. She unlearned the narrowly defined traits of Blackness, as she was immersed in a student body ranging from first generation college students to children of professionals. Harris admired how the story of Black Americans was central to every class, as opposed to being compressed into single units or a sole department.

Genevieve Bavisotto (11) admires Harris for a different aspect of her historic election. Genevieve has been an advocate for women’s rights for several years. In 6th grade, she bought her teacher a “girls rule the world” plaque after noticing his preferable attitudes and greater trust to the boys in the classroom. For Genevieve, Harris’s executive position is both monumental and inspirational.

“I don’t know if I would want to do anything related to what Kamala Harris does, but she definitely inspires me to break social norms in the workforce - especially by holding jobs dominated by men in the past.”

But with a background and track record full of firsts, attacks and skepticism from both politicians and the American people about Harris’s qualifications and experience for the job will endure. Many GOP politicians have attacked Harris for her inexperience and several other criticisms they have of her present and past work. Some, including Former President Donald Trump, have been extremely blunt with their disapproval.

“We’re not going to have a socialist president,” Trump said at a rally. “Especially not a female socialist president. We’re not gonna have it. We’re not gonna put up with it!”

And at another rally, he touched more on her identity and spoke in line with racial stereotypes surrounding Black women.

“Kamala, Kamala. You know, if you don’t pronounce her name exactly right, she gets very angry at you. And then she starts - you know what she does when she gets angry? She starts laughing… uncontrollably laughs. That means she’s angry.”

Amid all of the criticism, Harris continues to debate with assertiveness, speak with eloquence, and converse with kindness, all contributing to the admiration that much of America feels towards her. From elementary schoolers to elders, Harris provides hope and inspiration, especially for women and people of color, not only in regards to America’s political system, but also the future. While Harris’s vice presidency is not a sign that our country has reached a comfortable level of embracing, or even accepting, diversity, it is a huge step forward in a positive direction - one that has proved impactful for future generations of America’s leaders.