Trailblazing Woman: Kamala Harris

KAMALA HARRIS (b. 1964)

Kamala Harris served as Vice President of the United States from 2021-2025 and was the first woman and person of color to serve in that office. She was the first woman and the first African American attorney general in California, the first Indian American to serve as a U.S. senator, and only the second Black female in the U.S. Senate.

Harris was born in Oakland, California to immigrant parents; her father immigrated to the US from Jamaica and her mother from India. They were both active in the Civil Rights movement and inspired Harris at a young age to get involved in politics. Kamala’s name — pronounced COMMA-la — means lotus flower, in homage to an important symbol in Indian culture.

Harris received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and economics from Howard University in and her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She was the first woman and the first African American attorney general in California, where she served until her election as U.S. vice president in 2021.

During her time in the Senate, Harris served on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on the Budget.

As a trailblazer throughout her entire career, the former Vice President is committed to fulfilling her mother’s advice: “Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last.”

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Trailblazing Woman: Kamala Harris, 49th Vice President of the United States

Where to purchase this original art print:

The kiddos also decided they wanted to get in on the fun and drew their own portraits of Kamala Harris. Aren’t they amazing!!

To see more of the Trailblazing Women series, you can find it here. Or you can follow along in real time on Instagram.

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