The Truths We Hold: An American Journey

Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney who has served as the 49th Vice President of the United States since January 20, 2021. As of this writing, she is the 2024 presidential nominee for the Democratic party. Born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, Harris is the first female, first Black American, and first Indian American vice president in US history. Harris is married to attorney Douglas Emhoff, making him the first Second Gentleman of the United States. She is stepmother to Emhoff’s two children from a previous marriage.

Harris was born to immigrant parents: Her father, Donald Harris, is a Jamaican-born economist, and her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was an Indian-born cancer researcher. Her upbringing was significantly influenced by her mother’s Indian heritage and the civil rights movement. Harris and her younger sister, Maya, were raised in Berkeley, California, and later moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, during their teenage years due to their mother’s career.

After completing high school in Quebec, Harris returned to the United States to attend Howard University, a historically Black institution in Washington, D.C. She graduated in 1986 with a degree in political science and economics. Harris then earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1989.

Harris began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. In 2003, she was elected as the District Attorney of San Francisco, becoming the first person of color to hold this position. During her tenure, she established a significant reputation as a criminal reform advocate.

In 2010, Harris was elected as the Attorney General of California, becoming the first woman, first Black American, and first Asian American to hold this position in the state. She was re-elected in 2014. As Attorney General, Harris focused on issues such as criminal justice reform, consumer protection, and marriage equality.

In 2016, Harris was elected to the United States Senate, representing California. She became the second Black American woman and first South Asian American to serve in the Senate. During her time in the Senate, Harris served on several committees, including the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Judiciary Committee.

Harris briefly ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2019 but withdrew before the primaries began. In August 2020, Joe Biden selected her as his running mate for the 2020 presidential election. Following their victory, Harris resigned from the Senate on January 18, 2021, to assume the office of Vice President.

The Truths We Hold: An American Journey, published in 2019, is Harris’s second book. Her first book, Smart on Crime, was published in 2009. In The Truths We Hold, Harris shares her personal story and her vision for America, blending memoir with policy discussions. The book was published on January 8, 2019, while Harris was serving as a US Senator and considering a presidential run. Its publication came at a pivotal moment in Harris’s career, serving as both a memoir and a platform for her political views.

As a trailblazing figure in American politics, Harris continues to be a significant voice in shaping national policy and discourse, particularly on issues of equality, justice, and democratic values.