Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted her identity as the daughter of immigrants during her speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
She shared how her “tough and courageous” mother, Shyamala Gopalan, a cancer researcher who immigrated from India, profoundly influenced her perspective as she pursues her bid for the White House.
“My mother was a brilliant, five-foot-tall brown woman with an accent,” Harris reflected on Thursday, speaking about her mother, who passed away from colon cancer in 2009.
“As the eldest child, I witnessed how the world sometimes treated her, but my mother never lost her composure.”
Harris shared that her mother primarily raised her after her parents separated when she was in elementary school.
Her father, Donald Harris, an economist who immigrated from Jamaica, instilled in her a sense of fearlessness from a young age. “My father would often smile and say, ‘Don’t let anything stop you.'”
If Kamala Harris wins in November, she would become the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first Asian American to hold the presidency. Growing up in California, Harris lived a proudly African American life while also embracing her Indian heritage.
The convention showcased numerous speakers, including Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, and former President Barack Obama, who proudly emphasized their blended families and diverse backgrounds.
Encouraged by Harris’s campaign, they embraced the complexities of their identities, aiming to represent the diversity of the United States.
What to Know About Kamala Harris’s Parents
Shyamala Gopalan: A Pioneering Breast Cancer Scientist
Kamala Harris shared at the DNC that her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, embarked on a remarkable journey at 19, traveling alone from India to California with an unwavering dream to find a cure for breast cancer.
After earning her PhD from the University of California at Berkeley in 1964, Gopalan became a renowned breast cancer researcher, working at institutions like McGill University. Harris hailed her mother as a “trailblazer in the fight for women’s health.”
Gopalan and Donald Harris: A Love Story Born from the Civil Rights Movement
Originally set to return to Chennai for a traditional arranged marriage, Gopalan’s life took a different path when she met Donald J. Harris, a Jamaican student, during their graduate studies at Berkeley in the 1960s.
Their shared passion for civil rights led to their marriage and the birth of Kamala and her sister Maya.
Harris fondly recalls growing up immersed in the ideals of the civil rights movement, with her parents instilling in her the importance of taking action against injustice.
Raising Strong Black Daughters
Shyamala Gopalan was deeply aware of the challenges her daughters would face growing up as Black women in America.
In her memoir, Harris wrote that her mother was determined to raise them as confident and proud Black women, despite the world seeing them through a different lens.
Embracing both their Indian heritage and Black identity, Harris attended Howard University, a historically Black college, where she solidified her sense of self.
Donald Harris: An Economist Who Shaped Jamaica’s Future
Donald Harris made significant contributions to Jamaica’s economy, earning national recognition and the prestigious Order of Merit.
His work in economic reform and development was instrumental in shaping the country’s future.
Harris, who became the first Black person to receive tenure in Stanford’s economics department, also made sure his daughters connected with their Jamaican roots, taking them on visits to his homeland to broaden their understanding of the world.
The Coconut Tree: A Symbol of Harris’s Campaign
A phrase often repeated by Shyamala Gopalan has taken on a life of its own in Harris’s campaign.
The saying, “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” has become a viral symbol of support for Harris, inspiring memes, merchandise, and social media icons.
Inspiration for a Career in Law
Kamala Harris’s desire to become a lawyer was deeply influenced by her parents, who introduced her to civil rights leaders like Thurgood Marshall.
Her path was further shaped by her high school best friend, Wanda Kagan, whose experience with abuse led Harris to pursue a career as a prosecutor, driven by her belief in the right to safety, dignity, and justice for all.
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