Since 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and its members have made their mark across several industries and impacted communities and regions.
Other influential members include Phylicia Rashad, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Maya AngelouToni Morrison, and Vice President Kamala Harris, according to ESSENCE.
Harris was officially sworn in as the vice president of the United States on January 20, 2021, making her the first woman, Black, and South Asian American to be elected to the office. Although this historical landmark is notable, it was not the beginning of his story.
Kamala Harris’ Path To Howard University
A native of Oakland, CA, Harris’ roots in education and public service begin with the influence of his mother, Shyamala Gopalan. According to a report from the White House, Gopalan received his doctorate in 1964, the same year Harris was born, and worked as a breast cancer scientist.
Harris’ father, Donald J. Harris, came to the United States from Jamaica to study economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently a distinguished professor of economics at Stanford University.
Influenced by the academic work of his mother and father, Harris graduated from Westmount High School near Montreal, Canada, where he moved with his mother after his parents at home they are divorced. Then Harris began his schooling back in the US to Howard University. Attending one of the nation’s HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) may have been influenced by his parents’ cultural and social background.
In her memoir, “The Truth We Lived: An American Journey,” she discusses her parents’ work and involvement during the Civil Rights movement as well as her mother’s appreciation for her upbringing. she and her sister, Maya, as Black girls in America.
“My mother understood very well that she was raising two Black daughters,” Harris wrote in the memoir. She knew that her adopted country would see Maya and I as Black girls, and she was determined to make sure that we would grow up to be confident Black women, who are proud.”
During her time at the HBCU, Harris was involved with the College of Arts and Sciences Student Council, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and the debate team, according to the Howard University position.
Harris majored in political science and economics, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986. He described his time at Howard as critical, calling it his “formative years.”
“The thing that Howard taught me is that you can make a collection of things, not one thing without the other. You can be homecoming queen and valedictorian. There are no fake votes at Howard,” Harris said. said a Howard University profile.
From Law School to The White House
After graduating from Howard, Harris attended law school at the University of California Hastings, College of Law.
While there in February 1989, Harris advocated for Black students after a Black History Month exhibit was marred by racial slurs. According to Politico, Harris stood before about 300 students, faculty and staff, detailed the incident and called for change.
His law school education led him to become a prosecutor, attorney general, United States senator from California and vice president of the United States.
Kamala Harris Launches Presidential Campaign
Harris is running a historic campaign for president of the United States. After President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential election, Harris took over his campaign, which led to an increase in donations.
According to a separate report by Politico, Harris’ Democratic campaign currently has $377 million in cash, which is $50 million more than Trump’s campaign.
Morehouse College students called 1867 PAC. In addition, Harris has experienced strong support from members of the Divine Nine, which consists of nine recognized Black Greek letter organizations (BGLOs).
According to Inside Higher Ed, BGLO members, especially Alpha Kappa Alpha, supported the vice president’s campaign for president.
A large number of AKA members joined the Zoom call of 44,000 people. The group, Win With Black Women, organized the rally on the day President Biden withdrew from the presidential race. During this meeting, the organization collected $ 1.5 million for the Harris campaign, according to The New York Times.
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