Kamala Harris’s Path to Presidency: Navigating Identity Politics & Overcoming Obstacles

On 21 July 2024 at around 1346 hrs,  Joe Biden announces his decision to quit the presidential race with a tweet. At around 1413 hrs he endorsed Kamala Harris as his successor on the ticket and at 1648 hrs paperwork was filed converting the Biden campaign into the Harris campaign.

By the following afternoon, her campaign had reportedly raised 81 million dollars in donations. By the time Joe gave his actual address to the nation Kamala Harris was clear. She was endorsed by not only the president but also by her potential rivals for nomination as well.

Kamala felt poised to run down for the presidential race as the first black / Asian woman to lead a party ticket. But the path to presidentship of United States is seldom easy. Sooner her arrival in the race was announced, news of her scandal was making headlines, dragging her a few notches down in the race.

Laura Loomer who is a right-wing activist, charged the vice president of having spurious connection with the former mayor of San Francisco. These claims though apparently false, highlights the extent to which we undermine women or portray them as unqualified for roles they may excel in. Doesn’t matter in which age we survive when it comes to women holding the control we strive to keep them away from reaching the high table. Even though American women vote more than men still they do not send more women to offices. This highlights the irony we today live in. We consider women the best to make decisions regarding our daily life, but we don’t hold the same confidence in them when we cast our votes.

In the present scenario, here is a woman who has been a trailblazer throughout her 30 years of travails as a public servant. She has an added experience of 3 years as the vice president, having dealt with politics and law from close quarters. Technically she is everything you would want in a candidate. However, the one thing that bothers people is ‘who’ she is and where she comes from. This has become more about them and less about their love for the country. One should certainly have concerns as to who leads the country but these questions should be more about work and ethics, not about gender and race. Imagine if Kamala Harris the vice president has to face this, then what the common women across the country face on a daily basis?

This draws to light the unsurmountable insecurity prevalent in today’s society despite it being the 21st century. America, one of the most liberal and advanced nations tells you that, you could be the most suitable candidate for the job, but if people are deciding your accountability based on race and gender, it has already failed as a nation and none of it would matter if they don’t choose to trust you enough.

Recently at a heated convention the black journalist raised another argument towards Kamala, ‘Is she Indian or is she black?’

At the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago on Wednesday, Trump made a controversial remark, stating, “He wasn’t aware she was Black until several years ago when she suddenly identified as Black, and now she wants to be recognized as Black. So he’s unsure—Is she Indian or Black?”

“She was Indian all along and now she’s black?”, or “Was she shy from her black identity.?” Donald Trump’s big dig at the former vice president.

In response, Ms. Harris criticized Trump’s comments as part of the ongoing pattern of “divisiveness and disrespect.” She argued that such remarks highlight a troubling lack of respect for diverse identities. Harris asserted, “The American people deserve more. We need a leader who recognizes that our differences do not separate us—they are a vital source of our collective strength.”

As the campaign progresses, it will be crucial for voters to focus on Harris’s qualifications and her vision for the country. The challenges she faces are emblematic of broader societal issues, but they also offer an opportunity for growth and change. Harris’s candidacy represents a significant step forward in American politics, and her ability to navigate these challenges will be a testament to her resilience and leadership. As she moves forward, the focus should remain on her capabilities and policies that she professes, ensuring that the nation supports a candidate based on merit and vision rather than identity politics. The future of American leadership thus depends on embracing diversity and recognizing the value that different perspectives bring to the table.