Harris is the first Indian American selected as a presidential running mate. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a breast cancer scientist, endocrinologist and civil rights activist. Harris wrote: “The cycle of history repeats itself in remarkable ways, small and large, across the generations of us Jamaicans, though we may be scattered around in the diaspora and far away from home where it all started. It is up to each generation to play its part, using well the legacy it inherits from the previous generation, so as to leave behind something of value for those who follow.” Harris West Indian roots were instilled in her through visits to the island with her father and connections with family members, though her parents divorced when she was 7 years old. In a 2018 article titled “Reflections of a Jamaican Father,” Mr. According to his Stanford bio, he served as an economic consultant to the Jamaican government and advisor to several Jamaican prime ministers. Harris is the first Jamaican American woman selected as a presidential running mate. Her father, Donald Harris, is a retired Stanford University professor emeritus of economics who immigrated from Jamaica. Harris is also a graduate from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Howard University in Washington, D.C., and the first member of the first Black Greek fraternal organization in the US, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., to be chosen as a presidential running mate on a major party ticket. To help put the significance of Harris’ nomination into perspective, women received the right to vote in 1919 but women of color did not receive the full right to vote until 1965, just 55 years ago. Only one person of color has served in either of these capacities, President Barack Obama.

In the 244-year history of the United States, a woman has never served as president or vice president. She is also the third woman to be on a major party ticket in the VP slot following Geraldine Ferrara in 1984 and Sarah Palin in 2008. Harris is the first West Indian American and South Asian candidate to be selected as a presidential running mate. Kamala Harris’ modus operandi is to break ground. Yet, the selection of Harris has made ground-breaking history in many ways. The 55-year-old was rumored to be a frontrunner for months before the announcement. It wasn’t much of a surprise when the news broke on the afternoon of Tuesday, Augthat California Senator Kamala Harris was chosen as Joe Biden’s running mate on the presumptive Democratic party ticket for the United States presidency. “I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked - a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants - as my running mate.” - Joe Biden, Twitter, August 11, 2020

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