All Hail Queen Kamala
Illustration by Carolyn Burt | The Corsair
To have a woman that looks like me, that bleeds like me, that has felt oppressed like me holding the second highest office in the country; this is a feeling that brings tears to my face and relief in my heart.
The fact that Kamala Harris is the first at so many things this late in our nation’s history exposes how stagnant we have been as a country to welcome change. She is the first female, the first Black person, the first Asian person to hold the title as Vice President of the United States.
As a woman living through this historic time, it baffles me how females represent 50% of the population and how this is the first time we have held a title as VP. Harris joyfully disrupts the timeline of 48 middle-aged white men that acted as VP before her. I can feel our communal ancestors rejoicing.
Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, California to immigrant parents. Her father is from Jamaica and her mother is from India. I myself, a daughter of immigrants, shed tears of hope for our country. I can feel the release of joy from women everywhere, not just in the United States, but from all around the world. I can picture melanin girls everywhere dressing up as Kamala Harris, raising their heads high and reminding the world, “I am Speaking.” Women everywhere are finally seeing themselves as prominent leaders. Immigrant parents are rejoicing and are given a glisten of hope that their sacrifices to come to America are not in vain.
Trailblazing women throughout history deserve a moment of celebration and gratitude. From Harriet Tubman to Stacey Abrams, and to all the brave women that continue to create opportunities, thank you. During her speech in accepting the vice presidential nomination in August, Kamala Harris thanked her idol, the first African American woman elected to US Congress, Shirley Chisholm. She served in Congress from 1969-1983. In 1972, Chisholm became the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Having a woman in the White House as Vice President of the United States is truly indescribable. She spoke with so much joy, pride, optimism, and lightness in her heart the day she won; heaviness was lifted from my heart, as I felt a release of deep suppressed pressure. With her undeniable femininity and nurturing energy, us women welcomed it; 2020 owed us a win.
This is history. As Kamala stated during her victory speech in Delaware on November 7, “While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.” Millions of little girls, young women, and grown women — for the first time in our history as a nation — saw themselves through Kamala Harris on the screen. For the first time, they were affirmed. I can do that, too.
So, I thank you Kamala. Thank you for having the courage, the tenacity, and undeniable skillset to finally break the barrier. Your brilliance, advocacy, and preparedness awarded you with the opportunity to provide hope to our country.
To witness the beautiful variety of color, a biracial couple, and combined family dynamics is a welcome change from the vanilla flavor we've been experiencing for the past 231 years. I have no doubt that Kamala Harris as VP will better us for generations to come. Her victory speech alone inspired the world.
“To the children of this country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message: dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourself in a way that others may not. Simply because they’ve never seen it before.”
America welcomes you with open arms. We are ready to have more women in leadership. We are excited to see you in action. We look forward to watching you grow into your role, and to witnessing you lead with kindness, compassion, and resilience to our most pressing issues as a nation.
