Halle Coleman
Staff Writer/ MC 301 Student
Political tensions are high as the climate of the country shifts amid racial indifferences and injustices. However, the Democratic Party is making history as Kamala Harris has been announced as the potential next Vice President of the United States.
Harris, the only black woman in the U.S. Senate, was elected in 2016 after serving as California’s attorney general. Prior, she served as San Francisco’s district attorney.
Harris received her baccalaureate degree from Howard University before receiving her law degree from the University of California. While at Howard, Harris became a member of “The Mother Chapter” of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., being initiated in 1986.
Throughout both her individual and joint campaign with Joe Biden, Harris acknowledged her sorority and the strong impact it has had on her as a woman.
“Family,” Harris said during her democratic nominee acceptance speech, “is my beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha.”
Harris brings to the campaign a built-in base of more than 300,000 women. The sorority itself does not endorse candidates. However, many individual members have been showing their support.
Many members have organized voter registration drives, fundraising events, and campaign material station on behalf of the Biden-Harris campaign.
Armani Wooden, a junior business administration major from Dallas, Texas, and a spring 2020 initiate of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc., recognizes the magnitude of this year’s election from a sorority standpoint.
“I believe Soror Kamala’s campaign and political position is not only positive for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., but also for the NPHC as a whole,” Wooden stated.
She continued, “The founders who built this organization had great plans, but during the socially unjust times that they were living in, I don’t think that a black woman could hold the position as Vice President of the United States, let alone a Soror. I am just blessed to be living in a time to be able to see history be made.”
Other members of the Divine Nine have attempted to make it to the presidential level such as Shirley Chisholm of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Jesse Jackson of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., but if elected, Harris will be the first to be successful. Many members of other organizations have rallied in her support.
Destiny Sears, a junior early childhood education major from Memphis, Tenn. and a spring 2020 initiate of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., agreed that while Harris is not her Soror, she still sees this as a win.
“I believe Kamala Harris’s political position is bringing a positive light to the D9. We have a lot of powerful people within the D9, but this is like the ultimate position, outside of the actual President,” said Sears.
Miah Townsend, a freshman political science major from Canton, Miss., is not affiliated with any Greek organization but understands the excitement.
“I have family members who are Greek and therefore I see why Kamala Harris is considered a big deal. If elected, I know everybody will be happy,” said Townsend.
If elected, Harris would be the nation’s first female, first Black, first Asian-American, and first Greek Vice President.
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