NEW YORK (NewsNation Now) — With Joe Biden’s victory as the next president-elect, comes a new era in American politics. Sen. Kamala Devi Harris is set to be the first woman of color and woman to be the vice president of the United States.
“We did it. We did it, Joe. You’re going to be the next President of the United States,” exclaimed Vice President-elect Harris on Instagram after hearing of Biden’s projected victory.
At 56-years-old, the lawyer turned politician is now reaching the highest position a woman has ever held in the U.S. government. It’s an inspiration to many of her supporters.
“I never thought it would happen,” said supporter Louise Foster.
“It’s inspiring. It gives me chills just talking about it,” said Army veteran Sherlynn James.
Glynda C. Carr is the President, CEO and Co-Founder of Higher Heights for America. Her organization focuses on educating, engaging and promoting women leadership in politics.
She says Harris’ win was decades in the making.
“We are all living in the tradition of Shirley Chisholm — who is over my shoulder. So Kamala Harris is a direct descendant of Shirley Chisholm legacy and today she steps into the next chapter of her HER-Story,” said Glynda C. Carr.
Carr said she believes Harris will forever change the path of leadership in this nation and make headway for other women in the future, just as women before her have made.
These include activists and political figures like Shirley Chisholm. Chisholm was the first Black woman to be elected to Congress in 1968 and attempted a run for presidency on a major party ticket.
Born in Oakland, California. Harris reflects the ideal “American Dream,” according to her supporters. She’s the daughter of immigrants. Her father is from Jamaica and her mother is from India. She’s the oldest of two children .
Vice President-elect Harris graduated from Howard University and the University of California Hastings College of the Law. She then went on to become district attorney of the city and county of San Francisco. Then became the first African American and first woman to serve as California’s Attorney General. It is a position she served for two terms.
Then in 2017, she was sworn in as the second Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to become a United States Senator.
“So at the end of the day, she is the poster child of leadership. Here is a woman who ran in government on the local level, on the statewide executive level, and as a US senator. Now is about to take the oath as a Vice President,” Carr said.
Carr said seeing a woman run for office whether they win or lose is helping to push through discriminatory barriers established through years of systemic racism and voter suppression.
But she said the battle for equality will continue long after Harris takes office.
“And so that is what we need to do… find the next Kamala Harris’ who are running for school boards, who are in city council across this country. If we want to build an America that we can all believe in, those decision making tables need to be diverse. So by having women, women of color and Black women at those decision making tables we’re going to make a better America,” Carr said.
Although there have been incremental gains of women running for office and winning. Historically, Black women are underrepresented and underserved in American democracy. Harris supporters say they believe her legacy will help pave the way for others to come.
