I was recently in an uber, on my way to a Maxwell concert in Atlanta. My uber driver was a young black woman in her mid-twenties. Among many things, such as the ATL vibe, traffic and food, our conversation stumbled into politics. I was expecting to hear an echolalia from Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok as she gave her view of America’s political scene. As the conversation progressed, she told me that she might not vote in the upcoming presidential election. I was trying to convince her that if she did not vote, it would certainly be a vote for Trump. Her retort, surprisingly and to my chagrin, was that she would not vote for Kamala Harris because she did not feel comfortable having a woman running the country. She continued, “Women are too emotional.” I literally died a thousand deaths in the ten minutes or so riding with her. This prompted me to address her opinion: emotions versus incompetence.
Women have historically been underrepresented in leadership and political positions. Kamala Harris has defied the odds. In a series of firsts, she is the first Black and South Asian American female Vice President (VP) of the United States. She is literally the highest-ranking female official in American history. VP Harris graduated from an HBCU (Historically Black College and University), where she earned a BA in political science and economics. She later obtained her JD (Juris Doctor) in 1989. Her educational foundation laid the groundwork for her successful career in not only the legal arena but also politics. VP Harris began her legal career as a Deputy District Attorney. She was appointed to numerous Boards and Commissions by the California Assembly speaker before being elected to serve as the first Black and South Asian American female District Attorney of San Francisco. Considered tough on crime, she implemented gradual reforms in the criminal justice system, focusing on reducing recidivism and the core causes of crime. In 2010, again she became the first Black and South Asian American female to hold the position of California Attorney General. Her tenure as Attorney General established her as an objective advocate for justice.
In 2017, VP Harris was elected as the second black woman and first South Asian Senator for California. As a senator, she was known to support stricter gun laws, legalization of cannabis, and healthcare reform. She served on several Senate committees, including Budget, Environment and Public Works, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Select Committee on Intelligence. VP Harris also participated in high-profile hearings, including the Supreme Court nomination hearing of Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the impeachment of Trump. This demonstrated her ability to engage in critical national conversations on an intellectual level. VP Harris has demonstrated her ability to collaborate across party lines. This collaborative spirit is essential for a leader who must navigate a divided political landscape and unite the country. We need to elect Kamala Harris. She is “For the People” and can bring her unique experiences to this leadership role.
With credentials like these, who better to run the country—an elderly convicted felon with several pending criminal cases in Florida, Georgia, and Washington D.C. who conspired to overturn the presidential elections in 2020 and evaded the question at the presidential debate on whether he would accept the election results in 2024 if he lost? A wannabe dictator who has divided the country along racial, sexual and gender lines, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy not one time, but six times and has been banned from running any business in New York? A person whose notable “first” is the first to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives?
We need a leader who can lead. VP Harris represents a new era in US leadership, one that emphasizes progress, diversity and inclusivity. She is the most obvious candidate, emotional or not. Her career path has shown that she is more than qualified and capable to lead the country, epitomizing a blend of political and professional experience, strength, and vision. ■