Kamala Harris: A Look Back at her Early Years

From Howard University to the White House

Early Life and Education

Kamala Devi Harris was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a Tamil Indian biologist. Her father, Donald Harris, was a Jamaican economist. Harris has one sister, Maya. She attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a bachelor's degree in economics and political science.

Political Career

After graduating from law school, Harris began her political career as a prosecutor in Alameda County, California. She served as San Francisco's District Attorney from 2004 to 2011 and as California's Attorney General from 2011 to 2017. In 2016, she was elected to the United States Senate.

Vice Presidency

In 2020, Harris was selected by Joe Biden to be his running mate in the presidential election. They won the election and took office in January 2021. Harris is the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first South Asian American to serve as Vice President of the United States.