In a historic win for a woman of Colour, Joe Biden has picked Kamala Harris as his running mate. Harris will be the first Black woman and first Asian American on a major party’s presidential ticket.
Joe Biden has this week announced California senator Kamala Harris as his vice-presidential running mate. Harris is the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, is the first Black woman and the first Asian American to be nominated for a major party’s presidential ticket.
Following the announcement, Harris said on Twitter that she was “honoured” to join Biden on the Democratic ticket and pledged to “do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief”.
Harris has been a strong supporter and a voice of authority on issues of racial justice in an election year which has been framed by nationwide protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Harris is one of the most prominent Black women in American politics, and previous to her political career served six years as the attorney general of California, becoming only the second black woman to ever serve in the chamber.
Commenting on the news, Barack Obama said: “Joe Biden nailed this decision… By choosing Senator Kamala Harris as America’s next vice president, he’s underscored his own judgment and character. Reality shows us that these attributes are not optional in a president. They’re requirements of the job.”
