Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have officially become the 46th President and Vice President of the United States.
Here are five things you should know about VP Harris, who has made history becoming the first African American, South Asian, and woman vice president in U.S. history.
1. A product of ambitious immigrant parents
Born to Donald Harris, a Jamaican man, and Shyamal Gopalan, from India, Kamala Harris’ parents both moved to the United States to further their education.
2. A list of many firsts
Becoming the official vice-presidential candidate makes Kamala Harris the first Black and first South Asian-American woman to be a candidate on a major party ticket. She was also the first African-American, first woman, and first Asain-American to become attorney general of California.
3. Harris is the Second black woman to be sworn into the Senate
In 2017, Sen. Harris became only the second African American woman senator in history. Carol Moseley Braun became the first in 1993.
4. Her roots as a prosecutor have caused concern
Harris’ former role as a California prosecutor has not sat well with many black voters. She has combated these concerns by labeling herself as a “progressive prosecutor” saying that you can both support law enforcement as well as call for police reform.
5. A graduate of Howard University and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc.
Harris is a member of the first Greek-letter organization for African-American women, joining the Alpha chapter at Howard University in 1986.