Politics
What 'Vice President Kamala Harris' Means to Marginalized People
There's an outpouring of admiration on social media by those who feel seen by Harris's glass ceiling-smashing run.Â
November 07 2020 12:17 PM EST
May 31 2023 5:28 PM EST
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Madam Vice President Kamala Harris has a beautiful ring to it, and there's a massive outpouring of admiration on social media for the woman who's shattered the vice presidency's glass ceiling with several firsts. She's the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first person of South Asian heritage to be elected to either of the two highest offices in the country.
A U.S. senator from California, Harris is the daughter of two immigrants -- her mother was born in India and her father in Jamaica. She became only the third Black woman to seek a major party's presidential nomination when she ran in the Democratic primary opposite Joe Biden, now president-elect.
Not long after CNN called the election for Biden and Harris, she tweeted that she was ready to get to work.
\u201cThis election is about so much more than @JoeBiden or me. It\u2019s about the soul of America and our willingness to fight for it. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Let\u2019s get started.\nhttps://t.co/Bb9JZpggLN\u201d— Kamala Harris (@Kamala Harris) 1604768104
Biden announced that Harris was his pick for the ticket in August when he said in a tweet that she is "a fearless fighter for the little guy and one of the country's finest public servants."
A graduate of one of the country's preeminent historically Black colleges, Howard University, and University of California Hastings College of the Law, Harris was elected to the Senate in 2016. She served on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she was lauded for her tough questioning of Donald Trump's cronies Jeff Sessions, Bill Barr, and Brett Kavanaugh.
Harris began her career in the district attorney's office in California's Alameda County before becoming DA for the city and county of San Francisco and then California's attorney general. Long an LGBTQ+ ally, Harris as AG refused to defend Proposition 8, the voter-approved ballot initiative that revoked marriage equality in California in 2008. She also led the charge to abolish gay and trans panic defenses in criminal trials.
While Harris has a long history with the LGBTQ+ community, often appearing at Pride events, her rise to the vice presidency has inspired so many, especially those people who feel represented by her identities.
Take a look at what Harris's visibility means to so many.
\u201cI\u2019m beyond thrilled that my friend @JoeBiden and our first Black and Indian-American woman Vice President, @KamalaHarris, are headed to restore some dignity, competence, and heart at the White House. Our country sorely needs it.\u201d— Michelle Obama (@Michelle Obama) 1604773213
\u201cTHERE IS A PERSON WHO LOOKS LIKE ME ON THEIR WAY TO THE 2nd HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE UNITED STATES. I CANNOT OVERSTATE MY FEELINGS AT THIS TIME. \n\nCongratulations, Joe Biden, and thank you, thank you, THANK YOU Kamala Harris. You are a dream affirmed for so many little Black girls.\u201d— Kimberly Eaton (@Kimberly Eaton) 1604768159
\u201cOMG, I gotta get my Timbs cleaned for Inauguration Day!!!!!!!!\u201d— Kimberly Eaton (@Kimberly Eaton) 1604768350
\u201cfirst woman, first black, first asian, first HBCU grad.\u201d— king crissle (@king crissle) 1604768568
\u201cI feel like we didn\u2019t focus enough on the fact that someone in the Trump campaign meant to schedule the \u201cfour seasons hotel\u201d but definitely accidentally scheduled this \u201cfour seasons landscaping\u201d store and they had to follow through with it. Veep was not this good.\u201d— Alex Sexton (@Alex Sexton) 1604773257
\u201c\u201cMadam Vice President\u201d is no longer a fictional character. @KamalaHarris\u201d— Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@Julia Louis-Dreyfus) 1604769146
\u201cThere's much to celebrate, but more than anything, I'm excited to celebrate calling my friend @KamalaHarris Madam Vice President. \n\nShe's made history as the first woman, first Black person, first South Asian elected VP. Congratulations, Kamala! Ready to get to work.\u201d— Kirsten Gillibrand (@Kirsten Gillibrand) 1604769001
\u201cKamala Harris makes history as first woman and first person of color to be elected VP.\u201d— Pop Crave (@Pop Crave) 1604670920
\u201cKamala Harris has made history as the first Black woman to become VP. \n\nShe is also the first person of South Asian descent to hold the role. \n\nShe will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government. \n\nThe future is bright, indeed. \n\n#Election2020\u00a0#Trailblazer\u201d— Billie Jean King (@Billie Jean King) 1604767361
\u201cToday, we celebrate the historic win of VP Elect, #KamalaHarris. The election is over, but we'll cont to hold this incoming administration accountable.\n\nHere's how:\n- Demand COVID relief legislation\n- Demand sweeping criminal justice reform\n\nLearn more: https://t.co/gWBQSL7dTY\u201d— ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) 1604768175
\u201cThe first woman / Black woman / Indian woman / Asian-American woman / HBCU graduate / AKA to become Vice President of these United States!!! @KamalaHarris \n\nhttps://t.co/oBjwqayjUl \ud83d\uddfd\u201d— Arlan \ud83d\udc4a\ud83c\udffe (@Arlan \ud83d\udc4a\ud83c\udffe) 1604767735
\u201cVice President-elect Kamala Harris. I wrote about what that means for black women https://t.co/HyKmgQX5hW\u201d— Jemele Hill (@Jemele Hill) 1604768361
\u201cLittle girls everywhere are going to grow up knowing there is no limitation to their dreams and abilities. Thank you for being our champion and smashing that glass ceiling, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris \ud83d\ude4c\ud83c\udffc\u201d— Amirose Eisenbach (@Amirose Eisenbach) 1604769742
\u201cLadies and gentlemen, I present to you....\n\nVICE PRESIDENT @KAMALAHARRIS!!!!!\u201d— Van Jones (@Van Jones) 1604769621
\u201cWe congratulate Joe Biden on becoming President, and particularly Kamala Harris, on becoming the country\u2019s first woman - a Black woman - to serve as Vice President.\u00a0\n\nPresident Trump must concede. And that means dropping his bogus lawsuits to challenge the results.\u201d— Black Lives Matter (@Black Lives Matter) 1604768286
\u201c@KamalaHarris @JoeBiden CONGRATULATIONS KAMALA!!! CONGRATULATIONS JOE!!! WHAT A JOYOUS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!\u201d— Kamala Harris (@Kamala Harris) 1604769807
\u201cThis news has brought me to tears. I was overwhelmed with relief for this country. I was overwhelmed for Kamala and the inspiration that she brings to girls everywhere. Van Jones made me cry ugly tears. This country has so much work to do to come together. I pray we can do it. \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— P!nk (@P!nk) 1604767943
\u201cMadame Vice President. Damn that feels good to say.\u201d— jurnee smollett (@jurnee smollett) 1604771585
\u201cI\u2019m beyond thrilled that my friend @JoeBiden and our first Black and Indian-American woman Vice President, @KamalaHarris, are headed to restore some dignity, competence, and heart at the White House. Our country sorely needs it.\u201d— Michelle Obama (@Michelle Obama) 1604773213
\u201cCrying and holding my daughter, \u201clook baby, she looks like us.\u201d\u201d— Mindy Kaling (@Mindy Kaling) 1604769990
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Tracy E. Gilchrist
Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP of Editorial and Special Projects at equalpride. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.
Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP of Editorial and Special Projects at equalpride. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.