Kamala Harris: The first Mixed African American and South Indian Woman to Run for President
Words by Sacha Sulaiman
Illustration by Katie Herchenroeder
The potential candidates list for the 2020 presidential elections is one of the most diverse ones our nation has ever seen. Ranging from different genders to skin colors to political affiliations, these candidates are providing the American people with a glimpse of how progressive this election will look next year.
These candidates, although not perfectly, better reflect the demographics of areas like New York City, Harlem, and this very campus. Among the candidates is Kamala Harris, who announced her decision to run on January 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As a former U.S. Senator and Attorney General of California, Harris has demonstrated her strong democratic views in the past and will continue to promote these views as her campaign moves forward.
Harris’s campaign is one “for thepeople,” and she has expressed an interest in the middle class, Medicare,immigration, and criminal justice changes. She has also expressed strongdisagreement to many of Trump’s policies including that of border security. “Weneed border security, but we need smart border security,” Harris states in aninterview with Trevor Noah in late February. She continues, “We should not havea policy or perspective that is grounded in keeping people out… We should haveborders that also allow people to come in. That is part the strength of ournation. We are a nation that was founded and has grown because we have alwayswelcome immigrants.”
In the same interview, KamalaHarris communicates her hope for the future of America, and her specific planon boosting middle class families. “If elected… when elected, it would be oneof my first orders of business. What I’m proposing, is that we change the taxcode, in a way that benefits working and middle-class families.” But Harris isnot faced with supporters in all corners. Her views on criminal justice reformshave caught criticism by a handful of people, both conservatives and liberals, whoquestion her past decisions as attorney general which seem to conflict with herproclaimed visions today.Nonetheless, with her growing fan-base, Harrisis gaining recognition fast and is considered amongst the strong contenders fora democratic candidate. If elected, she would be the first mixedAfrican-American and South Indian woman to run for president, reminding us ofthe diverse political spectrum we are about t
