Throughout my rather short life so far, I have quickly learned that being a black woman in America is no easy task. We are constantly oppressed, hated, and unappreciated by society. We are underrepresented in esteemed places of the public gaze and find it difficult, to nearly impossible, to reach the same dreams that men and women of other races so effortlessly achieve. That is why in the eyes of a young black woman like me, Kamala Harris is a heroine.
She is breaking down barriers and establishing a place for black women where we have never before been allowed. I find it crucial to reflect on this monumental historical event, especially for those who don’t understand why her nomination as Joe Biden’s running mate is such a big deal.
Before we plunge any deeper into why Kamala Harris is a heroine, I first want to clarify that this is not a political piece. Though her political accomplishments can be talked about extensively, her status as a heroine transcends far beyond political views and party affiliations. She has earned this title because of her place as a role model that little girls can look up to and now have certified hope in their dreams of working in esteemed positions in society.
Tangibles
She serves as what may be the first vice president who is female and a female of color at that. This is such a critical point because we must realize that as women of color, we are told that legally we are allowed to be whoever we want to be and do whatever it is we want to do. The stark reality of things is that we have never been allowed to even dream of holding positions such as president or vice president. That is unless we wanted to live a life in the disappointment of a dream that could never be realized.
It has been a combination of two barriers that create this sad reality for women of color: being female and being a minority. But now, that narrative is starting to change, because for once, we have a tangible example of a black woman who made it there. The fact that Kamala Harris is able to break both of these barriers simultaneously is an astonishing feat that should not be taken lightly. She is a declaration to the country that all girls of color can finally dare to dream of becoming whatever we want to be, and with hard work put behind those dreams, anything can be achieved.
Success Story
Kamala is the success story of a girl who grew up with a world against her and found a way to overcome that. She is the success story of immigrants coming to America and creating a better life for their family. The success story of a black woman who succeeded at an HBCU and was uplifted by submerging herself in a community of her black sisters. The success story of a woman who saw no one like her in the place she wanted to be, so she became the first. Kamala Harris is the success story of the underdog who paved the way for many more like her in the future.
Her story is the triumph of the American dream becoming a reality. She is a beacon of hope for all young girls and women who are told they cannot reach the dreams they so desperately want. She inspires us to let our lights shine, and if the world tries to dim us, then we will not bend or concede, but force the world to change, to accept our lights in all their bright, golden glory.
