Meet the nation’s first female, first Black, and first Asian American vice president — Kamala Harris!
The Associated Press projected the 2020 U.S. Presidential election in favor of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Saturday, November 7 at 11:28 AM, making history for Harris as the first Black and Asian American person to be elected as vice president of the United States.
“You make a lot of important decisions as president. But the first one is who you select to be your Vice President,” Biden wrote months earlier in an email to supporters about his vice president (VP) pick.
After a grueling campaign run, Former VP Joe Biden and California Senator Kamala Harris won the election against opponents President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, putting an end to any hope of a second term for the Trump presidency.
On November 3, election day arrived with 101 million votes already cast, per MSNBC. In an election where many said our democracy was on the ballot, Biden and Harris ran their campaign under the slogan, “Restore the Soul of America.” With this win, over the next four years, Biden and Harris will have the opportunity to do just that.t
Harris shared the news on her social media page, stating, “This election is about so much more than @JoeBiden or me. It’s about the soul of America and our willingness to fight for it. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Let’s get started.”
It was just 12 years ago that we — particularly Black Americans — were celebrating the election of our first Black president, Barack Obama, and now, history has been made again.
Months earlier, Harris made history when Biden chose her as his vice-presidential running mate on August 11, making her the first woman of color to become a major party pick for VP.
“I’m honored to join him as our party’s nominee for Vice President and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief,” Harris tweeted about accepting the nomination.
.@JoeBiden can unify the American people because he’s spent his life fighting for us. And as president, he’ll build an America that lives up to our ideals.
I’m honored to join him as our party’s nominee for Vice President, and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 11, 2020
“I need someone working alongside me, who is smart, tough, and ready to lead. Kamala is that person,” Biden added in an email to his supporters, per NBC.
The VP pick and win won’t be the first of historical moments for Harris. In 2017, Harris became the first Black woman to represent California in the U.S. Senate.
Born in Oakland, California, Harris graduated from HBCU Howard University, where she also joined the first Black woman sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. Harris shows little Black girls and women that we can achieve great things despite the daily barriers we face.
“Kamala is a reminder for Black and Asian women everywhere that we can surpass our ancestors’ wildest dreams,” Bianca Evans said in an interview with LA Times.
As people around the nation celebrate the historic win, we can only imagine what this historic win means for Black women across the world. In a political arena mostly dominated by Caucasian men, Harris represents a change not just for Black Americans but also for Black women.
In celebration of this historical moment, we gathered some of the best reactions across the web.
We did it, @JoeBiden. pic.twitter.com/oCgeylsjB4
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 7, 2020
THIS. IS. A. MASTERPIECE
pic.twitter.com/2hX3Mnhh0B
— JESSE (With No “i”) (@Mr4thAndLong) November 6, 2020
#Trump betta call #Tyrone tell him to come help you pack yo shit!! #TeamDl
— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) November 7, 2020
The people have spoken! Thank you to everyone who used your vote and your voice to make history. PRESIDENT Joe Biden and VICE PRESIDENT Kamala Harris pic.twitter.com/EdWQc5rpYD
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) November 7, 2020
We call her sister, and now the nation calls her Madam Vice President!
Congratulations to America’s first female, first Black, and first South Asian vice president-elect Kamala Harris. You represent the new face of political power and continue to be a barrier-breaker. #OurMadamVP pic.twitter.com/joIGK6LZoM— Alpha Kappa Alpha (@akasorority1908) November 7, 2020
Woooooohooooo!!!!!! PHILLY!!!!! AMERICA!!!!!! BLACK FOLK!!!! BLACK PEOPLE!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!
Now….let’s fight for that Senate!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/MAxsrFDcRp
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) November 7, 2020
Thank you, Philadelphia! On behalf of all of us, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! pic.twitter.com/3q9XfmPWEW
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) November 7, 2020
pov: tr*mp sitting in the moving truck leaving the white house pic.twitter.com/n8qusuVXo1
— Rio (@riomatt00) November 6, 2020
Her name is COMMA-LA, but you can call her MADAME VICE PRESIDENT.
— Talk to that 55% (@angela_rye) November 7, 2020
In the case of 244 year old America…
— The Maury Show (@TheMAURYShow) November 6, 2020
Congratulations to our new Vice President!
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