On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris became the Vice President of the United States of America. She is not only an American Vice President, but the first woman and first Black and Asian-American to occupy this role. Her role will make her husband, Doug Emhoff, the United State’s first second gentleman!

Kamala Harris is the daughter of two immigrant parents, a Jamaican father and an Indian mother. Fun Fact: her mother chose her name in honor of her Indian heritage—Kamala means “lotus” and is another name for the Hindu goddess Lakshmi—and the empowerment of women. Kamala was born in Oakland, California and is a Howard University alumna.

Kamala received her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. After school, she worked for eight years as a prosecutor. From 1998-2003 she was the managing attorney for the San Francisco District Attorney's Career Criminal Unit and spent time in her later years with the Division on Families and Children. She was elected San Francisco District Attorney in 2003 and 2007 and won the election as state attorney general in 2010 and 2014. Preceding her current role as Vice President of the U.S., she held a U.S. Senate seat from California.

There is no doubt that Kamala Harris is a change maker, trailblazer and a hustler! Wait, there’s more. . . She is also the author of three books (yes, three!!), a memoir, The Truths We Hold: An American Journey, a children’s book, Superheroes Are Everywhere and Smart on Crime. The only question I have for her is, How can I #doit like you?! If you want to read with her, pick up some of her favorite books, Native Son by Richard Wright, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, or The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.

“My mother would look at me and she’d say, ‘Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last.’”

KAMALA HARRIS,

It is hard to believe that Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President, is more similar to us than she is different. She is an avid cook and her go-to dish is a simple roast chicken. Kamala is also known to be an early riser. She wakes up around 6am and her go-to workout is elliptical or soul cycle. Her morning fuel often consists of Raisin Brand with almond milk and tea.

She is the step-mother to Doug Emhoff’s two children, Cole and Ella Emhoff. Doug Emhoff is proudly embracing his historic role as the second gentlemen and wrote in GQ , "Here’s the truth: generations of women before me have used this platform to advocate for causes they believe in and build trust in our institutions at home and abroad—often without much accolade or acknowledgment. . . It’s on their shoulders I stand. And it’s their legacy of progress I will try to build on as second gentleman."

January started with some historical markers for America and women. If Kamala isn’t the last then I think it’s time to get to work.

xoxo