An inspiration to a nation. Young women of color inspired by Vice President Harris’ Inauguration. By Takyia Price
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epresentation matters and the historic Inauguration of Kamala Harris as the first woman, and the first woman of color as America’s Vice President is highly significant to Sha’Miya Wilson and others like her. “After so many years, the glass ceiling, that obstructs women of color from being in high level positions, has been shattered,” says Wilson, an Albany State University sophomore. It’s like an unknown weight has been lifted off my chest. I feel like I can truly succeed in the workforce.” Society seemingly has a distorted image of Black women in leadership positions. This tiresome narrative often unfavorably depicts those demographics. Under representation and negative representation shape how we as a whole view ourselves and how others view us. Vice President Harris’ rise to power as the first Black and Asian-American woman (she is a second-generation American to parents from India and Jamaica.); the first historically Black university graduate ( Howard University) and member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority to serve in National office, has given those communities a sense of pride and hope for their future. African Americans were featured performers at the inauguration festivities in many prominent, and arguably, wondrous ways. Harris’s escort to the venue was Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman. Just weeks before the inauguration, Goodman was hailed a hero after defending the building against insurrectionists. On January 6th, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in hopes of breaching the Senate and overturning the Presidential election results. In honor of his selfless actions, Goodman was promoted to the acting deputy Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate and is set to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. In tribute of Harris’ commencement, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority declared the 21st as Kamala D.
Harris Day. Members of the sorority and other women worldwide wore “Chucks and Pearls” and the sorority’s pink and green colors in support of Harris. Much like many AKA sisters, Clark Atlanta University Graduate Mariah Hill watched in support of her Soror. Hill describes the backlash many HBCU students face for attending their respective schools. “Lots of people believe that HBCUs don’t teach you the values that an Ivy League would, but this is the true definition that you could go to any university and be a leader in this world,” she argues. “If anything, Harris’ inauguration validates the HBCU experience that many minority youths seek.” Now could be the apropos time to acknowledge that HBCUs are becoming more vital to advancing our future. HBCUs produce professionals in a variety of professions. Some 80 percent of Black judges and 50 percent of Black lawyers and doctors are HBCU graduates such as VP Harris for example. The Inauguration event is widely seen as a turning point in the position and perception of minorities in American history and, arguably, signifies the possibilities for future generations. Harris’ victory is even more sentimental because of the many precedents she has set by a single vow. “When she [took] the oath of office, little girls and boys across the world [knew] that anything and everything is possible,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota. “The moment highlighted the importance of people of color having elected officials who look like them.” Experts reportedly agree that representation matters because when young Black children feel like society is against them, they can look to the experiences of those who have won a seat at the table and be reassured that they can achieve the same level of success. They can reflect on
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