My Grandmother was born in the Jim-Crow era South, and lived through the civil rights movement. These laws were nearly completely overturned by the supreme court in 1964, and she saw that, but still did not have the same representation and rights that were easily accessible to white America. And I now think, though she isn’t here to see Kamala Harris, she would be moved and thrilled to see how far Mrs. Harris has come and how much hope she is instilling into my generation just for running.
I was born in a time of possibilities, 2008 America saw its first black President. Currently, we’re seeing the first female, Black American, and Southeast Asian running to be president of the United States of America. Most of generation Z, my generation, were introduced to her when she became our country’s first female Vice President. For me it was yet another shift in our political landscape that invited me into the conversation.
The truth is, it’s validating when you see yourself represented in society, and as a minority woman of color and mixed race, it simply does not happen often for me. Kamala Harris symbolizes the work that has gone into creating an America that has become more reflective of our actual country. In the past, politics sparsely had representation outside of the white man, with an onset of a small portion of white women in the late 80s. Kamala Harris represents a demographic that felt, at best invisible and at worst ignored.
As of right now 28% of congress identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian American, American Indian, Alaska Native or multiracial. Granted this is an amazing jump from 1945 America when only 1% identified as such. However for congress to truly represent America the numbers would have to be at 41% to look like our population. Even more staggering is that women make up 28% of congress (6 of them non-voting from the District of Columbia, etc) whereas our female population is 51%. Change is coming, and seeing women like Kamala Harris punctuates that sentiment.
Kamala Harris represents something larger, even after she loss the presidential race. She is an embodiment of the values our Country was built on, “All men are created equal,” yet at the same time her existence defies all expectation and tradition. From laws permitting women to vote or hold office, interracial relationships being seen as illegitimate along with their children, we are witness to the principle of ‘All men created equal’ truly reflecting all humans.
So for many Kamala Harris is a political conversation. For some she is a decisive conversation. For me, an African American and Mexican 17 year-old high school student, about to enter the world as a contributing member of society, she is a beacon. She is the representation my grandmother hoped for in the 60s. She is a role model that in her mere existence says we all matter.
