Born in Oakland, California, to two immigrant parents – an Indian-born mother and Jamaican-born father – her parents divorced when she was five and she was primarily raised by her Hindu single mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a cancer researcher and civil rights activist.
She grew up engaged with her Indian heritage, joining her mother on visits to India, but Ms Harris has said that her mother adopted Oakland’s black culture, immersing her two daughters – Kamala and her younger sister Maya – within it.
Her biracial roots and upbringing mean she embodies and can engage with and appeal to many American identities. Those parts of the country which have seen rapid demographic change, enough change to alter a region’s politics, see an aspirational symbol in her.
But it was her time at Howard University, one of the nation’s preeminent historically black colleges and universities, which she has described as among the most formative experiences of her life.
I – Word Understanding
Immerse – to be fully involved / engaged in a certain activity or interest
Demographic – a group of people that has a particular set of qualities
Preeminent – important / highly ranked
II – Have Your Say
1, What do you know about US VP-elect Kamala Harris? What do you think is the impact of her being a woman, and bi-racial?
2, What are your concerns and hopes now that the US has newly elected leaders?
3, How do you think this will impact your country?
4, What do you think about the political structure in your country in comparison with the US?
5, What do you think about having female leaders?
782 Kamala Harris: The many identities of the first woman vice-president
