In a choice where race and gender are the most crucial parameters, US Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden announced Senator Kamala Harris as his vice presidential pick and a potential White House successor. She is the first Asian American and first Black woman in American history on a major party ticket. Today in this article, we will know about her.
Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris said that it would be a matter of pride to associate the word Vice President with my name, but even then, to be called ‘Momala’ would always be dear to her. Harris said in an interview to a magazine, ‘Family is everything to me as well. Both children (stepchildren) call me by the name of Momala. This address means a lot to me. Harris prefers to be called American instead of associating herself with any colour or country.
Harris’s maternal uncle Gopalan Balachandran lives in New Delhi. According to him, Harris likes India. She loves American food and South Indian cuisine equally. She also loves Indian music.
Kamala Harris was born on 20 October 1964 in Auckland (California). Her full name is Kamala Devi Harris. Kamala’s father Donald Harris has been a professor of economics at Stanford University. Her mother Shyamala Gopalan was a breast cancer specialist, who died in 2009. Her maternal grandfather PV Gopalan, was an eminent Indian civil servant and freedom fighter. Kamala used to visit Basant Nagar, Chennai, where her maternal grandfather lived. In childhood, she used to walk on the beach with her maternal grandfather. Kamala said, “I was not intelligent then, but the influence of those days made me who I am today.”
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Harris was raised by her mother Shyamala after her parents’ divorce. She attended Westmount High School in Washington DC. She was also elected to the Student Council. Later, She Graduated in 1986 from Harvard University and took a law degree from Hastings College in 1989.
In 2014, Kamala is married to lawyer Douglas Emhoff. After which she became the step mother of two children Cole and Ella. Emhoff and Kamala met suddenly. But later, due to some differences, they got divorced.
Harris became the first Indian-American to become a US Senator in 2016. She was also the Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2016.
Harris has also written three books named, Smart on Crime, The Truths We Hold: An American Journey and Superheroes Are Everywhere.
Kamala had also claimed the presidency from the Democratic Party. However, her campaign was engulfed in controversy when she withdrew her name in December 2019.
Kamala’s skilled orator-ship brought her in recognition throughout America. She was known as a rising star in the party.