Kamala Harris Is a Light Shining in the Darkness for All Girls in America
She is a role model on the path to greatness for my daughters and granddaughters to see.
Over three months ago, I listened to Kamala Harris’s speech to the Democratic National Convention when she accepted the nomination to be the 2020 Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate. I sat in awe of this powerful woman who now walks beside the President of the United States.
Her presence and voice shone as a beacon of hope. At least, for me it did. I swelled with pride knowing we will have a strong woman who will stand up for equality and justice for all Americans.
Kamala spoke eloquently about the great women who preceded her, the personal experience of race and family, and service to others.
Shoulders of Giants
One of the first women Kamala mentioned was Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator, humanitarian, and civil rights activist. Ms. Bethune also rallied for women’s right to vote and sat as an advisor to five Presidents.
I pointed out to my granddaughters I learned about this giant of a woman in my Black History class, a required subject in 1972 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
We read about her empathy stretching across racial barriers. For instance, Ms. Bethune reached out to a man who threatened her students with a rifle. She sought him out as an ally, and eventually, he became a staunch protector of her and her students.
As a girl of thirteen, I remember when Shirley Chisolm ran as a Democratic Presidential candidate in 1972 and marveled that a woman could have such a large presence and voice — for herself and women in America. I don’t know her stature, however, in my memory, she seemed to physically dwarf the men who surrounded her.
Shirley Chisolm articulated clearly that she stood for the inclusion of all people’s right to equality and justice. Kamala Harris’s charismatic voice is similar because she fights for all ethnicities of Americans, including the ones she was born into — Indian and Jamaican-American.
Race and Family
One comment that resonated with me was when Kamala intimated she did not choose her family of origin, but she chose her family to love. I explained to my granddaughters that this is true in our case as well.
However, unlike her parents who were scientists and civil rights activists, my original family were blue-collar workers of the racist variety.
Vice-President Kamala’s Indian mother surrounded her with role models that instilled Judeo-Christian values along with Hindu temple experiences and mythology. In contrast, my parents were Christian bigots that denied our Native roots.
Despite our differing backgrounds, Kamala and I chose to love and marry men outside our race. We raised our children to be proud of their heritage regardless of color.
I taught my daughters and granddaughters about their African-American ancestry along with the Scots-Irish, Native, and German backgrounds. Just like Kamala, we are people of varying skin tones who love and care for each other.
That could be a lesson to the rest of America: open your hearts and see the possibilities. When we love each other, and we reach out to be of service to one another.
Service to Others
In the opening statements of her acceptance speech, Kamala talked about her mother who said service to others gives life purpose and meaning. I know this to be true because I’ve spent my life serving the disenfranchised, disaster victims, and little children who need my care.
Besides her history of elected service, Kamala Harris ran the Family and Children’s Services Division representing child abuse and neglect cases and created a Hate Crime Unit focusing on hate crimes against LBGTQ students. She also raised two step-children to be strong and proud Americans.
I worked for various non-profits such as domestic violence and homeless shelters for women and children. I, also, fought for my right as a grandmother to be a guardian for one little baby, and two more children, twelve years later. I am raising them to respect all the different ancestries that flow through their veins.
Kamala Harris believes that we, as the people of America, have to do the work to fulfill the promise of justice under the law. She begs the question, “What will our children say?” Will they ask us what was it like and what did we do to bring about change?
The fact Kamala is standing before us as the Vice-President is a testimony to our girls and myself that the opportunity to succeed and live a life of meaning and purpose is possible.
This country, like my family, is one where we rise to help one another, reach down to lift one another, and reach out to extend a hand to one another.
Will you do the same?
.jpg){kind=link}