Kamala Harris

A biography that places a life and achievements in the context of modern American history, particularly the rise of multiculturalism, race relations, women’s equality, and growing political polarization.

A biography that places a life and achievements in the context of modern American history, particularly multiculturalism, race relations, women’s equality, and growing political polarization.

The daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India who met at UC Berkeley and were involved in the civil rights movement, Kamala Harris understood early in life the importance of social justice and political engagement. This volume highlights Harris’s journey from her childhood in Oakland, CA through her 2024 presidential campaign; from her family and cultural influences to her education at Howard University and then law school; from her early legal and political career in the San Francisco Bay Area to her election as the first African American and first woman to serve as California Attorney General, as well as her years in the US Senate—all which paved the way for Harris to become the first woman to ever serve as vice president.

A useful first-stop resource for students of American history, political science, and women's studies, this biography places each of Harris's milestone accomplishments in its historical context, illuminating not only the current political landscape but her significance to the contemporary challenges women of color continue to face in US politics. A detailed chronology, curated sidebars, narrative sequencing, and a comprehensive bibliography of vetted sources guide readers through the topics and to a better understanding of Kamala Harris’s legacy in American history.