Kamala Harris has made history as the first woman and first woman of color to serve as the Vice President of the United States. But, as a former California attorney general and U.S. Senator Harris has broken barriers throughout her career. Written by the well-known writer and journalist Chidanand Rajghatta, “Kamala Harris: Phenomenal Woman” is a biography that shows the many identities of Kamala Harris. The book includes her involvement in California polities and the Senate before her presidential run.
Here are 5 lessons I learned from the book –
- Break Patriarchy – Kamala Harris broke the glass ceiling of patriarchy, misogyny, and sexism in the US to reach where she is today. The book focuses on Kamala’s challenges and her victory despite criticism coming from people. The book celebrates the barrier-breaking path as the woman of color occupies one of the highest offices in the USA. Kamala Harris is an inspirational figure and truly an icon of achievement, ambition, and empowerment.
- Clear Aim – Chindanand Rajghatta has beautifully penned down the life of Kamala Harris. Her rise to her candidature, her struggles, and finally surviving in the middle of all this makes it an engaging read. Kamala Harris has outshined even after being told that her race, caste, creed, and immigration status are likely to come in the way of her success.
- Determination – Now Kamala’s dealing with the reality of being vice-president, traditionally a thankless role, and struggling with historically low 28-per-cent approval ratings from a still angrily gridlocked electorate. Her supporters say she’s been front-loaded with too much work and some of the problems she’s been tasked with are intractable like the Mexican border crisis. They also say she’s being attacked because she’s a woman and of color.
- Notable Accomplishments – Harris began her legal career as deputy district attorney in Alameda County, Calif. From there, she became managing attorney of the Career Criminal Unit in San Francisco and in 2000 became chief of the San Francisco Community and Neighborhood Division of the DA’s office, where she established the state’s first Bureau of Children’s Justice.
- Published Works – Harris has published three books. Her first was in 2009. Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safer explores her philosophy and ideas for criminal-justice reform. Two other books appeared in early 2019: The Truths We Hold: An American Journey is a memoir that reflects on her personal relationships and upbringing, and Superheroes Are Everywhere, a picture-book autobiography for children.
About the Author
Chidanand Rajghatta is currently the foreign editor and U.S bureau chief of the Times of India. In an expansive career, Chidanand has often written the first draft of history from the geopolitical frontiers of India, the United States, and their engagement with the world. In earlier roles, Rajghattahas worked with India’s leading brands, including The Indian Express, where he began his journalism career, The Telegraph of Kolkata, India Today, and The Sunday Times of India. Rajghatta Lives with his wife Dr. Mary Breeding and their three children in Maryland, USA.
