5 Facts About Kamala Harris The First Female U.S. Vice President

Kamala Harris is the first woman and the first black woman to hold the office of U.S. Vice President. We will tell you five facts you should definitely know about the power woman.

Kamala Harris made history on January 20, 2021, as the Democrat was sworn in as the first woman to hold the office of U.S. Vice President. Since then, she has been leading the United States alongside President Joe Biden for at least until 2024.

Not an easy task, since after four years under Donald Trump‘s administration, the United States was more divided than ever before. The electoral victory of Biden and Harris raised hope in Americans and people around the world for a better and, most importantly, a united future.

And one thing was certain: Kamala Harris was going to be an important part of that future. In her November 2020 victory speech, this politician declared, “While I may be the first woman in the office, I won’t be the last.” That powerful quote alone shows what an admirable woman is now at the helm of the United States. Let us tell you more about her: in the following comes five facts about Kamala Harris that you may not have known.

Kamala Is a Lawyer

Facts About Kamala Harris

Much like Barack Obama, Kamala Harris was a lawyer before her career in politics. She earned her law degree from the University of California in 1989 and was admitted to the bar a year later. Kamala then served as a district attorney in Alameda County in San Francisco, working, inter alia, to provide former criminals with a second chance through rehabilitation. By 2016, Kamala had ended her legal career for the time being to run in the U.S. Senate election. She became the first person with Indian roots to be sworn in as a U.S. senator in January 2017.

Kamala Supports the LGBTQ* Community

Already in her office as state attorney general, Kamala Harris has supported the fight to legalize same-sex marriage. In addition to stricter gun laws, an effective climate policy, and women’s equality, rights for the LGBTQ* community are high on Kamala’s political agenda with President Biden.

As the first future U.S. president ever, in his victory speech, Biden made mention of the transgender community. He also promised to pass the Equality Act in a timely manner. The act, which aims to protect the LGBTQ* community from discrimination, will add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” factors to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Kamala Stands up for Women’s Rights

Kamala Harris isn’t just a pioneer for gender equality because of her career. She also actively advocates for women’s rights. She was a speaker at the Women’s March in Washington D.C. in 2017, clearly speaking out against sexist president Trump. During her speech at the time, Kamala stated, “There is nothing as powerful as a group of determined sisters […] standing up for what is right. And the right thing is prioritizing issues that affect women.”

Following the 2020 Biden-Harris election victory, Kamala turned up for her victory speech in a white pantsuit – and this outfit was no accident. Because white is the color of the suffragette movement, who successfully fought for women’s right to vote in the early 20th century, and to this day, this color still stands for female solidarity and the uprising against patriarchy.

Kamala Wanted to Be U.S. President

Before campaigning alongside Joe Biden, Kamala Harris ran for president herself in 2019. In fact, she competed against Biden in a televised Democratic debate. Because of low poll numbers, though, thereafter, she withdrew her candidacy. But there is still room for improvement for Kamala because, as vice president, she has a good chance of taking over the office of the U.S. president later on. After Biden’s maximum eight-year term, Kamala would only be 62 and could definitely still run for election. She would then be “the first woman” in the office again. We certainly would like her to be!

Kamala’s Parents Were Immigrants

While Kamala Harris herself was born in Oakland, California, both her parents immigrated to the United States. In 1960, her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, immigrated from India. Her mother is a cancer researcher. And her father, Donald J. Harris, is a business professor originally from Jamaica. Kamala has a younger sister, Maya Harris, also an attorney and news anchor for the U.S. channel MSNBC. She also was a part of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign team and the head of Kamala’s campaign last year.

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