Kamala Harris Makes History as The First Black and South Asian Woman To Run For VP of the United States

On August 11, Joe Biden formally announced his running mate for the 2020 U.S. Elections: lawyer, California senator, and former presidential candidate, Kamala Harris. This nomination, according to the New York Times, makes her the first Black and South Asian woman to be nominated “for national office by a major party, and only the fourth woman in U.S. history to be chosen for a presidential ticket.”

According to the Times, Biden sent out a text and email to his supporters, saying: “Joe Biden here. Big news: I’ve chosen Kamala Harris as my running mate. Together, with you, we’re going to beat Trump.”

This comes after months of speculation that Biden would be choosing a woman as his running mate, with names like Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts in the list. 

Harris has long been an outspoken critic of the Trump Administration, and recently even became a presidential nominee. In U.S. politics, she’s been the subject of both praise as well as criticism, for her work in the Senate and in her time as a presidential nominee, notably during the hearing against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and her “tendency to waffle on issues,” per the Cut.

This is a historic moment in the United States, and definitely a step in the right direction for society, and for any young girl who’s dreamt of leading a nation—especially young girls of color. While Harris is not the perfect candidate—no one is—she represents hope and change. By becoming the Vice Presidential nominee, she becomes the face of empowerment. 

Lead photo from @kamalaharris